Patent ID: 8118943

Claim:
A method of controlling the directional movement of a self-propelled robotic pool cleaner comprising the steps of: a. providing a pool cleaner having a first and second pair of dual brushes co-axially mounted at opposite ends of the pool cleaner for rotation on axles that are transverse to the direction of movement, the first pair of brushes being mounted on one side and the second pair of brushes mounted on the opposite side of the cleaner, the pool cleaner being propelled by the synchronous rotation of the first and second pairs of brushes, said pool cleaner having at least one drive motor operatively connected to the first pair of brushes for synchronous drive; b. activating the at least one drive motor to propel the pool cleaner in a first direction along a substantially straight path by the synchronous rotation of the first and second pair of brushes; c. stopping and reversing the drive motor to disengage the second pair of brushes to thereby rotate the first pair of brushes at a greater angular rotational velocity than the second pair of brushes thereby pivoting the pool cleaner through a predetermined angular change in direction; and d. engaging the second pair of brushes to thereby resume the synchronous rotation of the second pair of dual brushes with the first pair of brushes, whereby the pool cleaner moves in a second direction along a substantially straight path that is angularly displaced from the first direction.