Patent ID: 8438695

Claim:
An autonomous robot comprising: a body; right and left driven wheels coupled to the body, the robot maneuverable over a cleaning surface by the right and left driven wheels; a vacuum assembly configured to suction waste from the cleaning surface; a collection volume disposed within the body, the collection volume in fluid communication with the vacuum assembly for collecting waste suctioned by the vacuum assembly, and the body defining a first opening through which the collected waste is removable from the collection volume; a seal movable to interrupt at least a portion of the fluid communication between the vacuum assembly and the collection volume; and a biased-to-drop suspension system coupled to the driven wheels, the biased-to-drop suspension system having a top position and a bottom position, and the seal being coupled to the suspension system and movable to interrupt at least a portion of the fluid communication between the vacuum assembly and the collection volume as the biased-to-drop suspension system moves from the top position to the bottom position.