Method compensating gyro sensor for robot cleaner

1. A method of compensating for error in an output value of a gyro sensor of a robot cleaner, comprising:

changing to a compensation mode if a sum of angles of rotation of the robot cleaner measured by the gyro sensor during a cleaning operation is more than a compensation reference amount; and

compensating for the error in the output value of the gyro sensor by use of an upper camera.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the compensating step comprises:

determining a traveling path by use of the upper camera;

calculating a first angle between the traveling path and a previous traveling direction;

calculating a second angle of the traveling path from the output value of the gyro sensor during traveling the traveling path by use of the upper camera;

calculating a difference between the first angle of the traveling path and the second angle of the traveling path; and

compensating for the error in the output value of the gyro sensor by use of the difference.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the determining the traveling path step comprises extracting a marking point corresponding to objects on a ceiling from a ceiling image photographed by the upper camera and selecting a present position and a traveling destination of the robot cleaner by use of the marking point.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the traveling destination is selected to have a certain angle with respect to a previous traveling direction of the robot cleaner.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the certain angle is less than approximately ±90°.

6. A method of controlling a robot cleaner, comprising:

calculating a planned traveling path for cleaning of an area to be cleaned;

controlling the robot cleaner to travel along the planned traveling path by moving the robot cleaner through angles of rotation based on an output value of a gyro sensor of the robot cleaner; and

determining a compensation value for the output value of the gyro sensor if a sum of the angles of rotation measured by the gyro sensor during a cleaning operation is greater than a compensation reference amount, the compensation value being based at least in part on an image taken by an upper camera of the robot cleaner.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein determining the compensation value comprises the steps of:

determining a first angle between a current traveling direction (Y) and a desired traveling direction (P) via the image;

reading the output value of the gyro sensor during movement of the robot cleaner along the desired traveling direction to calculate a second angle;

determining an angular difference between the first angle and the second angle; and

setting the angular difference as the compensation value.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein determining the first angle comprises:

extracting a marking point from the image; and

selecting a present position of the robot cleaner and a traveling destination of the robot cleaner from the marking point, wherein the desired traveling direction is defined between the present position and the traveling destination.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising selecting the traveling destination so that the first angle is less than approximately ±180°.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising selecting the traveling destination so that the first angle is less than approximately ±90°.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the compensation reference is input into the robot cleaner by a user.

12. The method of claim 6 , wherein determining the compensation value comprises transmitting a signal from the robot cleaner to an external device so that the external device can determine the compensation value.