1. A robot comprising: a robot housing; a drive system housed by the robot housing and configured to maneuver the robot with respect to a wall; at least one sensor component housed in the robot housing and directed outwardly for detecting the presence of a wall surface, the sensor component comprising: an emitter that emits a directed signal having a defined field of emission; and a detector located forward of the emitter on the housing and having a defined field of view directed to intersect the field of emission of the emitter, the intersection of the field of emission and the field of view defining a volume of intersection space laterally adjacent the robot housing; and a circuit in communication with the detector and the drive system for maneuvering the robot and the intersection space as a function of the orientation of the robot with respect to the wall as determined by detection of the signal in the intersection space.