A system and method for controlling a robot cleaner

摘要

The robot cleaner performs a working operation while moving over a floor 15, and comprises a main body 12, a driving unit 20 for driving a plurality of wheels 21, 22 disposed on a bottom portion of the main body, and a downward-looking camera 50 disposed in the region of the wheels on the bottom portion of the main body. The downward-looking camera is arranged to photograph images of the floor along an axis substantially perpendicular to the driving direction of the robot cleaner. A control unit 40 is provided for recognising the driving distance and direction of the wheels using image information of the floor photographed by the downward-looking camera. The control unit also controls the driving unit to corresponding to a target work operation by using the recognised distance and the direction of the wheels. Preferably an upward-looking camera 30 photographs a ceiling of the work area and which can send information relating to the position of the robot. Preferably a light source 55 is provided to enable the downward-looking camera to detect minor differences in the floor's surface. The operation of the robot cleaner may be possible by a remote controller 60.