Aerial drone cleaning device and method of cleaning a target surface therewith

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9963230-B2
Application number	US-201614992195-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2016
Priority date	Jan 11, 2016
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

A drone which can be piloted by a user. The drone has at least one or both of a depending head and an outwardly extending elongate handle. A cleaning sheet may be removably disposed on the head, to clean a target surface, such as a floor or countertop. A duster may be removably disposed on the handle, to clean a target surface, such as an elevated surface or clean personal items.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A drone suitable for cleaning tasks, said drone comprising:
A chassis for holding components of the drone;
at least one rotary wing driven by a respective motor;
a controller for piloting the drone in speed and altitude relative to a target surface;
at least one strut depending from the chassis;
a head connected to said at least one strut, the head having a downwardly facing surface to removably receive a cleaning sheet thereon; and
a shock absorber operatively mounted between said at least one strut and said head for absorbing compressive forces between said head and a target surface.

2. A drone according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of grippers disposed on the head, the grippers being usable to removably attach a cleaning sheet to the head.

3. A drone according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of hooks disposed on the downwardly facing surface of the head, the hooks being usable to removably attach a cleaning sheet to the head.

4. A drone according to claim 1 wherein said strut is a telescoping strut.

5. A drone according to claim 4 further comprising a cleaning sheet removably disposed on the head.

6. A drone according to claim 1 further comprising at least one of a vacuum source and a beater bar disposed on the head and being usable to collect debris from a target surface.

7. A drone according to claim 6 wherein the vacuum source or beater bar are driven by a dedicated electric motor, the dedicated motor not being configured to drive a rotor.

8. A method of cleaning a target surface using a drone, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a drone suitable for cleaning tasks, the drone comprising: a chassis for holding components of the drone; at least one rotary wing driven by a respective motor; a controller for piloting the drone in speed and altitude relative to a target surface; and
at least one of an elongate handle connected to said chassis at a proximal end and extending outwardly therefrom to a distal end, said handle being configured to removably receive a cleaning duster thereon and a head having a downwardly facing surface to removably receive a cleaning sheet thereon;
providing a duster or a cleaning sheet complementary to said handle or to said head, respectively;
removably disposing said duster or said sheet onto said handle or said head;
piloting said drone to a target surface, and
said step of piloting said drone comprises piloting said drone to clean a floor and comprises the step of piloting said drone to clean a table or countertop; and
contacting said duster or a cleaning sheet with the target surface to clean debris therefrom.

9. A method according to claim 8 having a duster disposed on a complementary handle, and said step of piloting said drone comprises piloting said drone to an elevated position outside the reach of the user to clean debris therefrom.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said step of piloting said drone comprises piloting said drone outdoors.

11. A method according to claim 8 comprising the step of cleaning a table or countertop before cleaning a floor.

12. A method according to claim 8 comprising the step of removably disposing both a cleaning sheet and a duster on said head and said handle, respectively.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Borman Michelle Lynn
• Bradbury Glenn Allen
• Chang Su Yon
• Huston Larry L

Classifications

• B08B1/006

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B64C39/024 Primary

  of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV · CPC title

• G05D1/0094

  involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target · CPC title

• A47L5/12

  with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum · CPC title

• G05D1/101 Primary

  specially adapted for aircraft · CPC title