Smart home robot assistant

• US 10,464,206 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2017
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Frisby, Wes, Matsuura, Craig, Davis, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Mott, Adam R
• Application Number:
  US15/593,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20170246739A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2201/00 Robotic cleaning machines, i.e. with automatic control of the travelling movement or the cleaning operation
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/008 Manipulators for service tasks
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/006 by means of a wireless system for controlling one or several manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0003 Home robots, i.e. small robots for domestic use
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1679 characterised by the tasks executed
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 1/002 controlled by automatically acting means for powered-operated mechanisms E05F15/70
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/611 for swinging wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25011 Domotique, I-O bus, home automation, building automation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25168 Domotique, access through internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39001 Robot, manipulator control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0282 generated in a local control room
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 Mobile robot

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for robot transportation of objects into or out of a home automation system. One example may include determining, by a mobile robotic device, that an object is available to cross a boundary of the home automation system. The method may include deactivating at least a portion of the home automation system. The method also include retrieving, by the mobile robotic device, the object and transporting, by the mobile robotic device, the object across the boundary. The method further includes leaving, by the mobile robotic device, the object at a drop-off location. The method may also include reactivating at least the portion of the home automation system.

Claims

1. A method for robotic delivery in a home automation system, comprising:

determining a time window for delivery of a delivery package;

identifying, via one or more sensors of a mobile robotic device, that the delivery package is located outside a boundary of a home automation system during the time window and is available to cross the boundary of the home automation system;

deactivating at least a portion of the home automation system by deactivating a security lock or alarm system for a door associated with the home automation system;

retrieving, by the mobile robotic device, the delivery package;

transporting, by the mobile robotic device, the delivery package across the boundary of the home automation system through the door;

leaving, by the mobile robotic device, the delivery package at a drop-off location; and

reactivating at least the portion of the home automation system.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by the mobile robotic device, the delivery package via the one or more sensors of the mobile robotic device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the mobile robotic device, a notification from the home automation system identifying the delivery package,

wherein determining that the delivery package is available to cross the boundary of the home automation system is based at least in part on the notification.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the mobile robotic device, an instruction from the home automation system to retrieve the delivery package.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the delivery package has been delivered via tracking information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the drop-off location for the delivery package based at least on a name on the delivery package, a type of one or more items delivered, a code on the delivery package, tracking information, instructions from the home automation system, instructions from an administrator of the home automation system, or combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an alert to an administrator of the home automation system that the delivery package has arrived;

requesting an authorization to deactivate the portion of the home automation system based at least in part on an arrival of the delivery package;

receiving the authorization to temporary deactivate at least the portion of the home automation system;

wherein deactivating at least the portion of the home automation system is only performed upon receiving the authorization.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing an alert to the administrator based at least in part on the deactivating.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a safety inspection of the delivery package, wherein transporting the delivery package across the boundary is only performed when the delivery package passes the safety inspection.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery package is a package to be delivered, garbage, recycling, one or more plants, a pet, or an item requested by a user of the home automation system.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting the drop-off location as a clear space to place the delivery package.

12. A mobile robot device, comprising:

one or more sensors or devices configured to;

determine a time window that a delivery package is expected to arrive based on tracking information;

identify, using sensor data, that the delivery package is located outside a boundary of a home automation system during the time window and is available to cross a boundary of the home automation system;

deactivate at least a portion of the home automation system;

retrieve the delivery package;

transport the delivery package across the boundary;

leave the delivery package at a drop-off location; and

reactivate at least the portion of the home automation system.

13. A home automation system apparatus, comprising:

one or more sensors to detect that the delivery package is available to cross a boundary of the home automation system;

a processor to;

determine a time window that the delivery package is expected to arrive based on tracking information;

identify the delivery package using sensor data during the time window;

determine action instructions for a mobile robotic device to retrieve the delivery package; and

temporarily deactivate at least a portion of a security system of the home automation system apparatus during a duration of the retrieval; and

a transmitter to communicate the action instructions to the mobile robotic device that causes the mobile robotic device to retrieve the delivery package, transport the delivery package across the boundary of the home automation system, and leave the delivery package at a drop-off location.

14. The home automation system apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more sensors to detect that the delivery package is available further comprises:

scan a delivery area with one or more cameras;

detect a new object within the scanned delivery area; and

determine that the new object is the delivery package.

15. The home automation system apparatus of claim 13, the processor to further:

request an authorization from an administrator of the home automation system to temporarily deactivate at least the portion of the security system of the home automation system apparatus for retrieval of the delivery package;

receive the authorization to temporarily deactivate at least the portion of the security system; and

temporarily deactivate at least the portion of the security system only in response to receiving the authorization.

16. The home automation system apparatus of claim 13, the processor to further:

determine a door of a building associated with the home automation system for which the delivery package should pass through;

deactivate the security system for the door;

monitor a location of the mobile robotic device; and

reactivate the security system for the door once the mobile robotic device has crossed the door with the delivery package.

17. The home automation system apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processor is further to:

determine a drop-off location for the delivery package based on one or more of the tracking information or information located on the delivery package; and

include the drop-off location in the action instructions.