Service robot and method of operating same
In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a service robot, such as a robotic cleaner, can be configured to more effectively service an environment. The service robot can include one or more sensors that sense its location, the location of objects, or both, and can also include noise reduction elements. The service robot can determine that it is under a “furnishing” and implement a different servicing pattern.
1. A method of performing robotic servicing using a servicing robot and global location awareness, the method comprising:
storing in a storage media an electronic map of an environment, the environment comprising a plurality of locations to be serviced;
the service robot automatically servicing each of the different locations according to an electronic service plan, including the service robot automatically navigating through the environment using the electronic map;
during the servicing, one or more of the service robot or other robot or control system in communication with the service robot:
tracking the servicing of the different locations and sensing a service state of each of the different locations;
recoding completion of the servicing, including associating a data and time of cleaning in the database with the location;
determining a frequency of servicing of the different locations within the environment based on the service states at each of the different locations; and updating the service plan based on the determined frequency of servicing.
2. The method of claim 1 , further including the service robot tailoring servicing routes to optimally service all locations.
3. The method of claim 2 , further including the service robot servicing high-use locations with greater frequency than lower-use locations.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the service robot is a robotic cleaner.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the robotic cleaner is a robotic vacuum.
6. The method of claim 1 , further including tracking dirt levels at each location and varying cleaning activity to clean high dirt level locations with increased frequency.
7. The method of claim 1 , the electronic service plan comprising:
labels assigned to each location; and
at least some of the plurality of locations associated with specific times of the day, outside which cleaning should be performed in those locations.