Automatic swimming pool cleaner with debris monitoring

Abstract

Systems and associated methods may monitor debris collected by an automatic swimming pool cleaner and/or water flowing through the automatic swimming pool cleaner. The systems and methods may utilize one or more sensors within the automatic swimming pool cleaner that characterize the debris collected by the automatic swimming pool cleaner and/or characterize water flowing through the automatic swimming pool cleaner.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . An automatic pool cleaner (APC) for a swimming pool or spa, the APC comprising at least one sensor within the APC and configured to detect at least one characteristic of debris in a debris path of the APC. 
     
     
         2 . The APC of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a shape, color, size, speed, quantity, thickness, opacity, mass, and/or type. 
     
     
         3 . The APC of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises an optical sensor, a camera, or a turbidity sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The APC of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is an optical sensor, and wherein the optical sensor comprises at least one of a visible light sensor, a UV light sensor, or an IR light sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The APC of  claim 1 , wherein the APC is configured to generate an output based on the detected at least one characteristic of the debris. 
     
     
         6 . The APC of  claim 5 , wherein the APC is configured to generate the output by at least one of adjusting a cleaning pattern, generating an alert on the APC, sending an alert to a remote device, adapting a cleaning cycle duration, adjusting a navigation of the APC within the pool, monitoring a filling of a filter, obtaining a state of pump wear, optimizing pump motor energy consumption, detecting a water/air limit, identifying water turbidity, detecting a waterline, generating a dirt map, displaying the dirt map, controlling a future cleaning cycle, and/or providing a recommendation about filter type and/or mesh size. 
     
     
         7 . The APC of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is in the debris path. 
     
     
         8 . The APC of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is in a filter of the APC. 
     
     
         9 . The APC of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is a first sensor of a plurality of sensors. 
     
     
         10 . The APC of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least two different types of sensors. 
     
     
         11 . An automatic pool cleaner (APC) for a swimming pool or spa, the APC comprising at least one sensor configured to (i) characterize debris collected by the APC and/or (ii) detect at least one characteristic of water in a water flow path of the APC. 
     
     
         12 . The APC of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one sensor is within the APC. 
     
     
         13 . The APC of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one sensor is at least one of an ORP sensor, a pH sensor, a temperature sensor, or a salinity sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The APC of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one sensor is within a filter of the APC. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising collecting debris from a pool or spa using an automatic pool cleaner (APC) and (i) characterizing the debris collected using a sensor within the APC and/or (ii) analyzing water flowing through the APC using the sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising generating an output based on the characterization of the debris collected. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein generating the output comprises at least one of adjusting a cleaning pattern of the APC, generating an alert on the APC, sending an alert to a remote device, adapting a cleaning cycle duration, or adjusting a navigation of the APC within the pool. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein generating the output comprises at least one of monitoring a filling of a filter, obtaining a state of pump wear, or optimizing pump motor energy consumption. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein generating the output comprises at least one of identifying water turbidity, generating a dirt map, or displaying the dirt map. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein generating the output comprises at least one of detecting a water/air limit, detecting a waterline, controlling a future cleaning cycle, or providing a recommendation about filter type and/or mesh size.