Methods and apparatus for enabling a self-propelled robot to create a map of a work area

摘要

A robot includes an obstacle sensing mechanism for sensing an angle formed between a first wall and a forward travel direction of the robot. The robot then travels parallel to the first wall while the obstacle sensing mechanism senses a front distance of the robot from a wall located in front of the robot and sideward distances of the robot from walls located to respective sides of the robot. In response to the sensing of changes in the sideward distances, the robot is able to divide the area into separate cells which together define an environmental map of the area. That map is stored in the robot's memory.