Autonomous robot auto-docking and energy management systems and methods

Abstract

A method for energy management robotic device includes providing a base station for mating with the robotic device, determining a quantity of energy stored in an energy storage unit of the robotic device, and performing a predetermined task based at least in part on the quantity of energy stored. Also disclosed are systems for emitting avoidance signals to prevent inadvertent contact between the robot and the base station, and systems for emitting homing signals to allow the robotic device to accurately dock with the base station.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method comprising:
 directing a cleaning robot about a room to clean the room and determining an amount of the room remaining to be cleaned; and   charging an energy storage unit of the cleaning robot such that the energy storage unit is charged to an amount that is a function of the amount of the room remaining to be cleaned, the energy storage unit being charged by a base station.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein charging the energy storage unit comprises charging the energy storage unit such that the energy storage unit is only partially charged as a function of a portion of the room remaining to be cleaned before leaving the base station to continue cleaning the room. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein charging the energy storage unit comprises charging the energy storage unit such that the energy storage unit is partially charged as a function of a first portion of the room remaining to be cleaned before leaving the base station to continue cleaning the room. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein charging the energy storage unit comprises charging such that the energy storage unit is fully charged as a function of a second portion of the room remaining to be cleaned before continuing cleaning the room, the second portion of the room being larger than the first portion of the room. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein determining the amount of the room remaining to be cleaned comprises determining the amount of the room remaining to be cleaned based on a coded signal received from the base station. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein determining the amount of the room remaining to be cleaned comprises determining the amount of the room remaining to be cleaned based on a cleaning route of the cleaning robot. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising, following charging the energy storage unit, directing the cleaning robot to an uncleaned portion of the room. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein directing the cleaning robot about the room to clean the room comprises restricting movement of the cleaning robot to an area within the room. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein directing the cleaning robot about the room comprises directing the cleaning robot about the room along a path selected by the cleaning robot. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein directing the cleaning robot about the room comprises:
 generating a control signal; and   communicating the control signal to the cleaning robot to direct the cleaning robot about the room.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising generating data for representing a map of the room with respect to an object in the room as a point of reference. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the object comprises the base station. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the object comprises a wall of the room. 
     
     
         44 . An autonomous cleaning robot comprising:
 a motive system to support the autonomous cleaning robot on a floor surface in a room, the motive system configured to move the autonomous cleaning robot about the room; and   an energy storage unit configured to be charged while the autonomous cleaning robot is positioned at a base station,   wherein the autonomous cleaning robot is configured to operate the motive system to:
 move the autonomous cleaning robot about the room to clean a first portion of the room, 
 based on an energy level of the energy storage unit, move the autonomous cleaning robot to the base station to initiate charging of the energy storage unit to an amount that is a function of a second portion of the room remaining to be cleaned, and then 
 move the autonomous cleaning robot about the room to clean the second portion of the room. 
   
     
     
         45 . The autonomous cleaning robot of  claim 44 , wherein:
 configurations of the autonomous cleaning robot to operate the motive system to move the autonomous cleaning robot about the room to clean the second portion of the room comprise configurations of the autonomous cleaning robot to receive an external signal to cause the autonomous cleaning robot to operate the motive system to move the autonomous cleaning robot about the room to clean the second portion of the room.   
     
     
         46 . The autonomous cleaning robot of  claim 44 , wherein the autonomous cleaning robot is configured to generate data for representing a map of the room with respect to an object in the room as a point of reference as the autonomous cleaning robot operates the motive system to move the autonomous cleaning robot about the room to clean the first portion of the room. 
     
     
         47 . The autonomous cleaning robot of  claim 46 , wherein the object comprises a base station. 
     
     
         48 . The autonomous cleaning robot of  claim 46 , wherein the object comprises a wall. 
     
     
         49 . The autonomous cleaning robot of  claim 44 , wherein the autonomous cleaning robot is configured to provide data to an external processor for determining the energy level of the energy storage unit. 
     
     
         50 . A method comprising:
 determining an energy level of a cleaning robot positioned at a base station, the cleaning robot and the base station being positioned within a room;   charging the cleaning robot such that the cleaning robot is charged to an amount that is a function of an amount of an uncleaned portion of the room, the cleaning robot being charged by the base station; and   transmitting a signal to the cleaning robot to cause the cleaning robot to move to the uncleaned portion of the room and clean the uncleaned portion of the room.