IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,591,255
Granted Patent B2
US 12,591,255 · App. 18/743,576 · Granted Mar 31, 2026

Mobile robot and control method therefor

Inventors: Minwoo Ryu (Suwon-si, KR); Jinhee Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Sangsik Yoon (Suwon-si, KR); Donghun Lee (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
G05D1/648
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,591,255
App. No.
18/743,576
Granted
Mar 31, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a robot. The robot according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a memory for storing at least one program; and a processor for executing instructions stored in the at least one program, wherein the processor can divide a travel map into a plurality of cleaning areas on the basis of one or more boundaries, identify, if at least some of the boundaries are identified as a protrusion, the type of protrusion on the basis of the cleaning progress of one area in which the robot is located from among the plurality of cleaning areas, and control in any one of a plurality of travelling patterns on the basis of the identified type of the protrusion.

Claims (47)

1 . A robot, comprising:

a body;

a spin module on a lower side of the body;

a pop-out module connected to the spin module;

a sensor which is distance sensor or a gyro sensor;

a memory storing at least one instruction; and

a processor configured to execute the at least one instruction to:

divide a driving map into a plurality of cleaning areas based on one or more boundaries,

based on a boundary of the one or more boundaries being identified as a protruding portion, identify a type of the protruding portion based on a cleaning progress for an area where the robot is located among the plurality of cleaning areas,

identify a stuck state using the sensor, and

when the stuck state is identified, control the pop-out module to protrude the spin module outside of the body.

2 . The robot of claim 1 , wherein

the processor is configured to execute the at least one instruction to perform control to drive the robot with any one of a plurality of driving patterns based on the identified type of the protruding portion,

the plurality of driving patterns include a first driving pattern for climbing over the protruding portion and a second driving pattern for avoiding the protruding portion, and

the processor is configured to execute the at least one instruction to perform control with the first driving pattern based on the protruding portion being identified as a first type of protruding portion and perform control with the second driving pattern based on the protruding portion being identified as a second type of protruding portion.

3 . The robot of claim 2 , further comprising:

a bumper sensor configured to detect an obstacle in front of the robot,

wherein the processor is configured to execute the at least one instruction to disregard a sensing signal generated by the bumper sensor when performing control with the first driving pattern.

4 . The robot of claim 2 , further comprising:

an anti-fall sensor configured to detect a height step,

wherein the processor is configured to execute the at least one instruction to, when performing control with the first driving pattern, decrease a sensitivity of the anti-fall sensor, deactivate the anti-fall sensor, or disregard a sensing signal generated by the anti-fall sensor.

5 . The robot of claim 2 , wherein

the spin module has an attaching portion to which a mop cloth is attachable, on a lower side of the spin module, and

the processor is configured to execute the at least one instruction to stop rotating the spin module when performing control with the first driving pattern, and rotate the spin module when performing control with the second driving pattern.

6 . The robot of claim 5 , wherein:

the processor is configured to execute the at least one instruction to, when performing control with the first driving pattern and the spin module protrudes outside the body by the pop-out module, move the spin module inside the body.

7 . The robot of claim 2 , further comprising:

a vibration module on a lower side of the body,

wherein the vibration module has an attaching portion to which a mop cloth is attachable, on a lower side of the vibration module, and

wherein the processor is configured to execute the at least one instruction to stop vibrating the vibration module when performing control with the first driving pattern, and to vibrate the vibration module when performing control with the second driving pattern.

8 . The robot of claim 2 , wherein

the body includes an inclined protrusion at a front of the body, and

the first driving pattern includes climbing over forward of the body.

9 . The robot of claim 2 , wherein

the body includes a rear slope structure, and

the first driving pattern includes climbing over rearward of the body.

10 . The robot of claim 1 , wherein

the spin module includes a left spin module and a right spin module, and

the processor is configured to execute the at least one instruction to, when performing control with an escape pattern based on the stuck state being identified, perform control to escape from the stuck state by rotating the left spin module or the right spin module to generate a frictional force which combines any one of a forward movement frictional force and a rear movement frictional force, a left moment frictional force, and a right moment frictional force.

11 . The robot of claim 1 , wherein

the spin module includes a left spin module and a right spin module, and

the processor is configured to execute the at least one instruction to, when performing control with an escape pattern based on the stuck state being identified, identify a tilt of the body using the gyro sensor, select the spin module located in a direction in which the body is tilted of the left spin module or the right spin module, and rotate the selected spin module.

12 . A method for controlling a robot that includes a body, a spin module on a lower side of the body, a pop-out module connected to the spin module, and a sensor which is distance sensor or a gyro sensor, the method comprising:

dividing a driving map into a plurality of cleaning areas based on one or more boundaries;

based on a boundary of the one or more boundaries being identified as a protruding portion, identifying a type of the protruding portion based on a cleaning progress for an area where the robot is located among the plurality of cleaning areas;

identifying a stuck state using the sensor; and

when the stuck state is identified, controlling the pop-out module to protrude the spin module outside of the body.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 26, 2024
From: RYU, MINWOO; KIM, JINHEE; YOON, SANGSIK; LEE, DONGHUN
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 067843/0330 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2022-0008606 · Jan 20, 2022 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTKR2022018436 · Nov 21, 2022
Related Publication 20240329660A1 · Oct 3, 2024
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