Autonomous concessions robots

• US 10,248,122 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2018
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2017
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Cronin, John, Goguen, Jonathan T., D'Andrea, Michael Glynn
• Primary Examiner(s): Waggoner, Timothy R
• Application Number:
  US15/906,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20180246513A1
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0212 with means for defining a desired trajectory involving a plurality of land vehicles G05D1/0287
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0282 generated in a local control room
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/46 from movable storage containers or supports
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/002 Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines

Abstract

Systems and methods for autonomous concessions robots are described herein. An exemplary concessions robot device may include a body comprising a dispensing container for holding one or more items to be dispensed, a motor, wheels, a communication interface that receives instructions sent over a communication network regarding a designated route, and a processor that executes the received instructions to automatically power up the motor, propel the body forward, and steer the wheels along the designated route. The items from the dispensing container may be dispensed at one or more points on the designated route.

Claims

1. A concessions robot device, the device comprising:

a body comprising a dispensing container for holding one or more items to be dispensed;

a motor within the body;

a plurality of wheels;

a communication interface configured to receive instructions sent over a communication network regarding a designated route; and

a processor configured to execute the received instructions, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor automatically;

powers up the motor, wherein the body is propelled forward, and

steers the wheels along the designated route, wherein the one or more items are dispensed at one or more points on the designated route, and

wherein the concessions robot moves autonomously along the designated route which is determined according to correlations between actual staff density and a historic staff density level.

2. The concessions robot device according to claim 1, further comprising an electronic lock,

wherein execution of the instructions by the processor automatically engages the electronic lock to close the dispensing container while the concessions robot is moving on the designated route.

3. The concessions robot device according to claim 2, further comprising a payment terminal,

wherein execution of the instructions by the processor automatically disengages the electronic lock to open the dispensing container at a time of payment to the payment terminal.

4. The concessions robot device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an imaging sensor placed within the dispensing container to capture a retrieved item from the dispensing container; and

a payment terminal;

wherein execution of the instructions by the processor automatically charges a fee corresponding to the retrieved item to a payment method used at the payment terminal.

5. The concessions robot device according to claim 1, wherein the concessions robot moves autonomously along the designated route which is determined according to correlations between at least one of concession consumption data stored in a concession consumption database and patron position data stored in a patron position database.

6. The concessions robot device according to claim 1, wherein

the designated route is determined to tend to avoid a specific area after it is determined that the actual staff density at the area is greater than the historic staff density level at the area.

7. A method for controlling a concessions robot device which includes a body comprising a dispensing container for holding one or more items to be dispensed, a motor within the body, a communication interface configured to receive instructions sent over a communication network regarding a designated route;

and a processor configured to execute the received instructions;

the method comprising;

forwarding instructions to the processor regarding the designated route; and

upon receipt of the instructions via the communication interface, providing power to the motor, which is configured to propel the body forward in accordance with the designated route;

wherein the one or more items are dispensed at one or more points on the designated route, and

wherein the concessions robot moves autonomously along the designated route which is determined according to correlations between actual staff density and a historic staff density level.

8. The method of controlling a concessions robot device according to claim 7, wherein the concessions robot moves autonomously along the designated route which is determined according to correlations between at least one of concession consumption data stored in a concession consumption database and patron position data stored in a patron position database.

9. The method of controlling a concessions robot device according to claim 7, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor automatically engages an electronic lock provided on the concessions robot device to close the dispensing container while the concessions robot is moving on the designated route.

10. The method of controlling a concessions robot device according to claim 9, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor automatically disengages the electronic lock to open the dispensing container at a time of payment via a payment terminal provided on the concessions robot device.

11. The method of controlling a concessions robot device according to claim 10, further comprising:

capturing an image of a retrieved item which is taken from the dispensing container by a customer, said image being captured by an image sensor;

wherein execution of the instructions by the processor automatically charges a fee corresponding to the retrieved item to a payment method used at the payment terminal provided on the concessions robot device.

12. The concessions robot device according to claim 7, wherein

the designated route is determined to tend to avoid a specific area after it is determined that the actual staff density at the area is greater than the historic staff density level at the area.

13. A system for controlling routing of an autonomous concessions robot device around a venue, the system comprising:

the autonomous concessions robot device comprising;

a body comprising a dispensing container for holding one or more items to be dispensed;

a motor within the body;

a plurality of wheels;

a communication interface configured to receive instructions sent over a communication network regarding a designated route; and

a processor configured to control the motor to move the concessions robot device autonomously along the designated route;

a first tracking device configured to sense a position of the autonomous concessions robot device in the venue; and

a server configured to;

store in one or more databases records of concession consumption data and of the position and number of patrons within the venue sensed at a plurality of different times;

calculate, based on correlations between actual staff density and a historic staff density level, the designated route; and

transmit the designated route to the autonomous concessions robot device to control the autonomous concessions robot device to move the concessions robot device autonomously along the calculated route.

14. The concessions robot device according to claim 13, wherein

the designated route is determined to tend to avoid a specific area after it is determined that the actual staff density at the area is greater than the historic staff density level at the area.