Removing debris from cleaning robots

1. A robotic cleaner maintenance station, comprising:

a station housing and a platform configured to support a robotic cleaner during servicing, the station housing defining an evacuation passageway exposed to the robotic cleaner, for evacuating debris from the robotic cleaner during servicing;

a collection bin removably attached to the station housing, the collection bin being in pneumatic communication with the evacuation passageway and configured to be disengaged from the station housing in a vertical direction relative to the station housing;

a filter arranged to filter air passing from the collection bin to outside the maintenance station; and

an air mover configured to draw air from the evacuation passageway and into the collection bin to evacuate a robotic cleaner supported on the platform, wherein the air mover comprises a bagless cyclonic vacuum configured to divert debris from an incoming flow using centripetal acceleration of the debris.

2. The maintenance station of claim 1 , further comprising a user interface device configured to wirelessly communicate with a communication module on the maintenance station, the user interface device including a maintenance station collection bin full indicator.

3. The maintenance station of claim 2 , wherein the user interface device is further configured to wirelessly communicate with a compatible communication facility on the robot.

4. The maintenance station of claim 2 , wherein the maintenance station further comprises a controller configured to operate the maintenance station as directed by commands received by the user interface device.

5. The maintenance station of claim 4 , wherein the user interface provides visual feedback in response to the commands received by the user interface device.

6. The maintenance station of claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to control a device compatible with the maintenance station.

7. The maintenance station of claim 6 , wherein the device is an auxiliary brush cleaner.

8. The maintenance station of claim 1 , wherein the station housing further comprises a station cover pivotally attached to the top portion of the station housing.

9. The maintenance station of claim 1 , wherein the collection bin and filter are removable from the station housing as an assembly that also includes a graspable handle.

10. The maintenance station of claim 1 , wherein the collection bin and filter are separately removable from the station housing.

11. The maintenance station claim 1 , wherein the maintenance station further comprises a locking assembly configured to secure the robotic cleaner to the platform, the evacuation passageway being substantially sealed to a cleaning bin of the robotic cleaner supported on the platform.

12. A cleaning robot system comprising:

a robot comprising:

a chassis,

a drive system supporting the chassis and configured to maneuver the robot as directed by a controller in communication with the drive system;

a cleaning assembly carried by the chassis comprising a first cleaning brush rotatably coupled to the chassis to rotate substantially parallel to a cleaning surface; and

a cleaning bin carried by the chassis and configured to receive debris agitated by the cleaning assembly, the cleaning bin defining a service opening in a bottom portion of the cleaning bin for removing debris held in a debris holding area of the cleaning bin; and

a robotic cleaner maintenance station comprising:

a station housing defining an evacuation passageway exposed to the robotic cleaner, for evacuating debris from the robotic cleaner during servicing;

a collection bin removably attached to a top portion of the station housing, the collection bin being in pneumatic communication with the evacuation passageway and configured to be disengaged from the station housing in a vertical direction relative to the station housing; and

an air mover configured to draw air from the evacuation passageway and into the collection bin to evacuate a robotic cleaner, wherein the air mover comprises a bagless cyclonic vacuum configured to divert debris from an incoming flow using centripetal acceleration of the debris.

13. The cleaning robot system of claim 12 , the robot maintenance station further comprising a user interface device configured to wirelessly communicate with a communication module on the maintenance station, the user interface device including a maintenance station collection bin full indicator.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the user interface device is further configured to wirelessly communicate with a compatible communication facility on the robot.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the maintenance station further comprises a controller configured to operate the maintenance station as directed by commands received by the user interface device.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the user interface device provides visual feedback in response to the commands received by the user interface device.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein the collection bin and filter are removable from the station housing as an assembly that also includes a graspable handle.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the collection bin and filter are separately removable from the station housing.

19. The system claim 12 , wherein the maintenance station further comprises a locking assembly configured to secure the robotic cleaner to the maintenance station, the evacuation passageway being substantially sealed to a cleaning bin of the robotic cleaner.