Navigating autonomous coverage robots

摘要

A method of navigating an autonomous coverage robot between bounded areas includes positioning a navigation beacon in a gateway between adjoining first and second bounded areas. The beacon configured to transmit a gateway marking emission across the gateway. The method also includes placing the coverage robot within the first bounded area. The robot autonomously traverses the first bounded area in a cleaning mode and upon encountering the gateway marking emission in the gateway, the robot remains in the first bounded area, thereby avoiding the robot migration into the second area. Upon termination of the cleaning mode in the first area, the robot autonomously initiates a migration mode to move through the gateway, past the beacon, into the second bounded area.

主权项

1. A method of navigating an autonomous coverage robot between first and second bounded areas adjoined by a gateway, the method comprising:
emitting, from a navigation beacon, a gateway beam directed across the gateway, from one lateral edge of the gateway toward an opposing lateral edge of the gateway; emitting, from the navigation beacon, a marker indicating a proximity zone laterally about the navigation beacon; in a cleaning mode, redirecting the coverage robot to stay within the first bounded area in response to any one of the marker indicating the proximity zone and the gateway beam being detected; in a migration mode, maneuvering the coverage robot past the navigation beacon and through the gateway into the second bounded area, wherein maneuvering the coverage robot in the migration mode comprises avoiding a collision with the navigation beacon in response to detecting the marker indicating the proximity zone; transmitting a directed emission, from the navigation beacon, into the first bounded area and in the migration mode, maneuvering the coverage robot toward the navigation beacon upon detecting the emission.