Robot cleaner and method for controlling a robot cleaner

Abstract

A robot cleaner 100 having a monitoring function and minimizing power consumption and/or securing communication efficiency and a method of controlling a robot cleaner 100 are provided. The robot cleaner 100 may include at least one sound obtaining device 130; at least one image obtaining device 140; and a controller 110 configured to determine whether a sound obtained through the at least one sound obtaining device 130 is abnormal, sense a direction in which an abnormal sound is generated, and obtain images in the direction in which the abnormal sound is generated. The robot cleaner 100 may automatically recognize a surrounding situation, and when necessary, the robot cleaner 100 may rotate and/or move in a corresponding direction and/or position to obtain images or transmit the obtained images to a remote terminal 200, thereby minimizing power consumption of the robot cleaner 100 with limited power.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a robot cleaner performing a monitoring function and a control method thereof. Background technique [0002] In general, robots are developed for industrial use and serve as a part of factory automation. Recently, the field of application of robots has expanded, and medical robots, aerospace robots, etc. have been developed, and household robots that can be used in ordinary homes have also been produced. [0003] As a representative example of the aforementioned household robots, there is a robot vacuum cleaner, which is a type of electric appliance that sucks in surrounding dust or foreign matter while driving in a predetermined area to clean itself. [0004] Recently, robot cleaners equipped with various functions in addition to the above-mentioned basic cleaning function have been developed, among which robot cleaners equipped with a monitoring function for monitoring a predetermined area and sensing abnormal condit...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0005] As an example, it is proposed that a robot cleaner located at a specific location within a predetermined area transmits four images taken by sequentially rotating 90 degrees around the current position to a registered remote terminal. There is limited power stored in the battery of the robot, and it will continue to rotate and shoot images, so there is a problem in terms of power consumption, and since the captured images are continuously transmitted to the remote terminal, there is also a problem in the communication efficiency of the robot vacuum cleaner. question

[0006] On the other hand, when the robot vacuum cleaner cleans the cleaning area according to the user's command or the set program (schedule), if the entire cleaning area is continuously cleaned, the robot vacuum cleaner with limited power will lose power in terms of power consumption. There is a problem, so there is an inevitable constant movement from the current location to the charging station

Images