A robot cleaner capable of returning to an external recharging device. The robot
cleaner includes a driving portion for driving a plurality of wheels, at least
one camera installed on a body of the robot cleaner, the camera for photographing
external surroundings, and a controller for photographing an image through a camera
for recognition of a connection position where the external recharging device is
connected with the robot cleaner and stores the photographed image, and controls
the driving portion so that the robot cleaner can move from the external recharging
device to a destination when an operation start signal is received in the robot
cleaner connected to the external recharging device, and for tracing a path to
the connection position of the external recharging device and the robot cleaner
during a robot cleaner's return to the external recharging device while comparing
a current image currently taken by the camera with a stored image of the connection
position of the robot cleaner and the external recharging device. Returning of
the robot cleaner is carried out when the robot cleaner, separated from the external
recharging device, completes its job or needs a recharging, by using the previously
stored image and an image currently taken by the camera. Accordingly, an error
in the location process, mainly caused due to external interference signals, is
decreased, and errors in tracing a path and connecting to the external recharging
device can also be decreased.