Moving apparatus for cleaning, collaborative cleaning system, and method of controlling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021068605-A1
Application number	US-201816959485-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 19, 2018
Priority date	Jan 3, 2018
Publication date	Mar 11, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a moving apparatus for cleaning, a collaborative cleaning system, and a method of controlling the same, the moving apparatus for cleaning including: a cleaner configured to perform cleaning; a traveler configured to move the moving apparatus; a communicator configured to communicate with an external apparatus; and a processor configured to identify an individual cleaning region corresponding to the moving apparatus among a plurality of individual cleaning regions assigned to the moving apparatus and at least one different moving apparatus based on current locations throughout a whole cleaning region, based on information received through the communicator, and control the traveler and the cleaner to travel and clean the identified individual cleaning region. Thus, the individual cleaning regions are assigned based on the location information about the plurality of cleaning robots, and a collaborative clean is efficiently carried out with a total shortened cleaning time.

First claim

1 . A moving apparatus for cleaning, comprising:
a cleaner configured to perform cleaning; a traveler configured to move the moving apparatus; a communicator configured to communicate with an external apparatus; and a processor configured to:
identify an individual cleaning region corresponding to the moving apparatus among a plurality of individual cleaning regions assigned to the moving apparatus and at least one different moving apparatus based on current locations throughout a whole cleaning region, based on information received through the communicator, and
control the traveler and the cleaner to travel and clean the identified individual cleaning region.

2 . The moving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each current location of the moving apparatus and at least one different moving apparatus corresponds to a location of a charging station.

3 . The moving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to identify the current location of the moving apparatus based on data obtained by a detector for detecting an environment around the moving apparatus.

4 . The moving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to map the current locations of the moving apparatus and the at least one different moving apparatus on a map comprising the whole cleaning region, and controls the plurality of individual cleaning regions to be assigned based on the mapping current locations.

5 . The moving apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to generate a first map based on data obtained by a detector for detecting an environment around the moving apparatus, and map the current locations of the moving apparatus and the at least one different moving apparatus on the generated first map.

6 . The moving apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to:
generate a merged map by receiving a second map comprising an individual cleaning region corresponding to the at least one different moving apparatus, and merging the received second map and the first map, and control the plurality of individual cleaning regions to be assigned based on the merged map.

7 . The moving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to control the traveler so that the moving apparatus can move to and clean another individual cleaning region based on a finished clean of the identified individual cleaning region.

8 . A collaborative cleaning system comprising:
a plurality of moving apparatuses for cleaning; and a terminal apparatus, the terminal apparatus comprising:
a communicator configured to communicate with the plurality of moving apparatuses; and
a processor configured to
assign a plurality of individual cleaning regions based on current locations of the plurality of moving apparatuses, throughout a whole cleaning region, based on information received through the communicator, and
control a command, which is issued to clean the individual cleaning regions assigned to the plurality of moving apparatuses, to be transmitted through the communicator.

9 . The collaborative cleaning system according to claim 8 , wherein
the terminal apparatus further comprises a display configured to display a user interface (UI), and the processor is configured to control the plurality of individual cleaning regions to be assigned to the plurality of moving apparatuses based on a user input to the UI.

10 . The collaborative cleaning system according to claim 9 , wherein the UI comprises a plurality of items to input a setting value for assigning the individual cleaning regions to the plurality of moving apparatuses.

11 . The collaborative cleaning system according to claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to display a map of the whole cleaning region on the display, and assign the plurality of individual cleaning regions to the plurality of moving apparatuses based on a user input to the displayed map.

12 . The collaborative cleaning system according to claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to generate a map of the whole cleaning region based on data received from at least one moving apparatus through the communicator.

13 . The collaborative cleaning system according to claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to receive location information from the plurality of moving apparatuses through the communicator, and control the display to map and display the received location information on the map.

14 . The collaborative cleaning system according to claim 9 , wherein
the display is configured to display a UI to set priority with regard to the plurality of moving apparatuses for cleaning, and the processor is configured to transmit priority information set through the UI to a matching moving apparatus through the communicator.

15 . A collaborative clean control method of a plurality of moving apparatuses for cleaning, comprising:
assigning a plurality of individual cleaning regions to the plurality of moving apparatuses capable of communicating with one another based on current locations; and allowing the plurality of moving apparatuses to travel and clean the assigned individual cleaning region.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Injoo
• So Jeayun
• Kim Jinhee
• Shin Dongmin
• Yoon Sangsik
• Lee Jusang
• Chang Hwan
• Hong Junpyo

Classifications

• A47L2201/022

  Recharging of batteries · CPC title

• A47L9/2894

  Details related to signal transmission in suction cleaners · CPC title

• A47L9/2857

  User input or output elements for control, e.g. buttons, switches or displays · CPC title

• A47L9/2852 Primary

  Elements for displacement of the vacuum cleaner or the accessories therefor, e.g. wheels, casters or nozzles · CPC title

• A47L2201/04

  Automatic control of the travelling movement; Automatic obstacle detection · CPC title