Automated waste cleaning devices, systems and methods

Abstract

A system for collecting waste from an area includes a robotic device including a housing, a control system within the housing, which includes a processor system and a memory system in operative connection with the processor system, a power system in operative connection with the control system, a sensor system in operative connection with the control system, one or more drive wheels (each of the drive wheels being in operative connection with a motor which is in operative connection with the power system and with the control system), a waste retrieval system in operative connection with the power system and with the control system, and a receptacle compartment within the housing. The control system includes one or more location/identification algorithms stored in the memory system and executable by the processor system to locate an object of animal waste in the area based upon data received from the sensor system. The control system further includes one or more positioning algorithms stored in memory and executable by the processor system to position the robotic device relative to the object of animal waste to enable collection of the object of animal waste via the waste retrieval system. Additionally, the control system includes one or more retrieval algorithms to actuate the waste retrieval system and control the waste retrieval system to bring the object of animal waste into the receptacle compartment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for collecting waste from an area, comprising: a robotic device comprising:
 a housing,   a control system within the housing, the control system comprising a processor system and a memory system in operative connection with the processor system,   a power system in operative connection with the control system,   a sensor system in operative connection with the control system,   one or more drive wheels, each of the drive wheels being in operative connection with a motor which is in operative connection with the power system and with the control system,   a waste retrieval system in operative connection with the power system and with the control system, and   a receptacle compartment within the housing, the control system comprising one or more location algorithms stored in the memory system and executable by the processor system to locate an object of animal waste in the area based upon data received from the sensor system, the control system further comprising one or more positioning algorithms stored in memory and executable by the processor system to position the robotic device relative to the object of animal waste to enable collection of the object of animal waste via the waste retrieval system and one or more retrieval algorithms to actuate the waste retrieval system and control the waste retrieval system to bring the object of animal waste into the receptacle compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the control system comprises one or more routing algorithms saved in the memory system and executable by the processor system to control motion of the robotic device over a defined area. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the sensor system comprises at least one of a proximity sensor, a thermal sensor, a position sensor, or an infrared sensor to provide data to the control system. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the sensor system further comprises a camera. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the one or more location algorithms of the control system comprises one or more object recognition algorithms stored in the memory system and executable by the processor system to recognize an object as an object of animal waste. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  further comprising a source of UV light. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the waste retrieval system comprises at least one of an inclined ramp and a moveable retrieval arm comprising an abutment member on a distal end thereof which is controllable by the control system to draw the object of waste onto the inclined ramp. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the waste retrieval system comprises a vacuum system configured to create a pressure differential upon activation by the control system. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the waste retrieval system further comprises a vacuum system configured to create a pressure differential upon activation by the control system, the vacuum system being in fluid connection with the inclined ramp and the receptacle compartment via a conduit such that the object of waste, after being drawn onto the inclined ramp, is drawn into the receptacle compartment via the conduit by the pressure differential created by the vacuum system. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the robotic device further comprises a source of a flexible enclosing material to enclose object of waste before it enters the receptacle compartment. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the robotic device further comprises a closing mechanism configured to seal the object of waste within a length of the flexible enclosing material. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the closing mechanism comprises a shutter-leaf mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the robotic device comprises a first drive wheel in operative connection with a first motor, which is in operative connection with the control system, and a second drive wheel in operative connection with a second motor, which is in operative connection with the control system, the control system being configured to independently control the first motor and the second motor to effect differential steering. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the power system comprises a rechargeable battery and the system further comprises a docking station configured to recharge the rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the robotic device further comprises a communication system in operative connection with the control system, the communication system being adapted to communicate with a personal communication device of a user of the system. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the robotic device further includes a spray system in operative connection with a source of fluid comprising at least one of a disinfectant, a neutralizer, or a deodorant, the spray system comprising one or more spray nozzles to spray the fluid onto an area in which an object of waste has been determined to be present. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the sensor system further comprises one or more chemical sensor to sense one or more chemical analytes associated with the presence of an object of animal waste. 
     
     
         18 . A method for collecting waste from an area, comprising:
 providing a robotic device comprising a housing, a control system within the housing, the control system comprising a processor system and a memory system in operative connection with the processor system, a power system in operative connection with the control system, a sensor system in operative connection with the control system, one or more drive wheels, each of the drive wheels being in operative connection with a motor which is in operative connection with the power system and with the control system, a waste retrieval system in operative connection with the power system and with the control system, and a receptacle compartment within the housing,   executing one or more location algorithms stored in the memory system and executable by the processor system to locate an object of animal waste in the area based upon data received from the sensor system,   executing one or more positioning algorithms stored in the memory system and executable by the processor system to position the robotic device relative to the object of animal waste to enable collection of the object of animal waste via the waste retrieval system, and   executing one or more retrieval algorithms to actuate the waste retrieval system and control the waste retrieval system to bring the object of animal waste into the receptacle compartment.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the waste retrieval system comprises at least one of an inclined ramp and a moveable retrieval arm comprising an abutment member on a distal end thereof which is controllable by the control system to draw the object of waste onto the inclined ramp. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the waste retrieval system further comprises a vacuum system configured to create a pressure differential upon activation by the control system, the vacuum system being in fluid connection with the inclined ramp and the receptacle compartment via a conduit such that the object of waste, after being drawn onto the inclined ramp, is drawn into the receptacle compartment via the conduit by the pressure differential created by the vacuum system.