Patent ID: 7113847

Claim:
An autonomous robotic vacuum ( 10 ), including: a self-propelled controller ( 12 ), including: a vacuum source ( 36 , 38 ); a dirt receptacle ( 32 ) in fluidic communication with the vacuum source; a controller processor ( 74 ) providing mapping, localization, planning, and master control functions; and a power source ( 56 , 268 ) for distributing power; a self-propelled cleaning head ( 14 ) in communication with the controller, the cleaning head including; a suction inlet ( 24 ) in fluidic communication with the dirt receptacle; and a cleaning processor ( 90 ) providing slave control functions; and an interconnecting hose ( 16 ) connecting the cleaning head to the controller and providing a suction airflow path from the suction inlet to the dirt receptacle; wherein the controller and cleaning head cooperatively traverse a surface area in tandem when the interconnecting hose is connected between the cleaning head and the controller.