Method, mobile device and cleaning robot for specifying cleaning areas

Abstract

A method for specifying a cleaning area to a cleaning robot without an in-built map provides a hand-held mobile device capturing a two-dimensional code label arranged on a top of a cleaning robot parked on a charging base, and obtaining a positional relationship between the mobile device and the cleaning robot through the captured image. The cleaning robot is controlled to enter a cleaning mode under the guidance of the mobile device. With captured images, a user can specify an area within the environment for cleaning, and through a touch display screen can control the cleaning robot to go to the specified cleaning area for cleaning. The mobile device and the cleaning robot employing the method are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for specifying a cleaning area, the method comprising:
 establishing, by a cleaning robot, a wireless communication connection with a mobile device according to a wireless communication method specified in a two-dimensional code label arranged on a top of the cleaning robot;   transmitting, by the cleaning robot, an indoor two-dimensional map comprising a positional information of a coordinate origin to the mobile device;   obtaining, by the cleaning robot, an initial positional information of the mobile device on the indoor two-dimensional map;   entering a person following mode, by the cleaning robot, according to a person following command transmitted form the mobile device and the initial positional information;   receiving, by the cleaning robot, a plurality of coordinate values of the cleaning area on the indoor two-dimensional map transmitted by the mobile device; and,   entering a cleaning mode, by the cleaning robot, according to a cleaning command transmitted from the mobile device and moving to the cleaning area corresponding to the plurality of coordinate value for cleaning.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 determining, by the cleaning robot, whether a user who is carrying the mobile device passes through one of a plurality of reference points on the indoor two-dimensional map;   correcting, by the cleaning robot, a current position of the mobile device according to coordinate values of the plurality of reference points when it is determined that the user has passed through one of the plurality of reference points.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
 selecting, by the cleaning robot, the plurality of reference points and record the coordinate values of the plurality of reference points while establishing the indoor two-dimensional map wherein a rule of the selecting o the plurality of reference points comprise: narrow walkways, obstacles, and must-pass passages.   
     
     
         4 . A cleaning robot for specifying a cleaning area, comprising: a memory storing instructions; and a processor coupled to the memory and, when executing the instructions, configured for:
 establishing, by a cleaning robot, a wireless communication connection with a mobile device according to a wireless communication method specified in a two-dimensional code label arranged on a top of the cleaning robot;   transmitting, by the cleaning robot, an indoor two-dimensional map comprising a positional information of a coordinate origin to the mobile device;   obtaining, by the cleaning robot, an initial positional information of the mobile device on the indoor two-dimensional map;   entering a person following mode, by the cleaning robot, according to a person following command transmitted form the mobile device and the initial positional information;   receiving, by the cleaning robot, a plurality of coordinate values of the cleaning area on the indoor two-dimensional map transmitted by the mobile device; and,   entering a cleaning mode, by the cleaning robot, according to a cleaning command transmitted from the mobile device and moving to the cleaning area corresponding to the plurality of coordinate value for cleaning.