Methods for repurposing temporal-spatial information collected by service robots
First Claim
1. A method of servicing a facility, the method comprising:
- an autonomous first robot self-navigating through an environment while performing a first service function, wherein the first service function is a cleaning or an environmental control function;
the first robot sensing and storing temporal-spatial information while performing the first service function;
the first robot communicating the temporal-spatial information to an autonomous second robot or to control system; and
repurposing the temporal-spatial information by the second robot or the control system using at least some of the temporal-spatial information for a second service function, which is different from the first service function.
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Abstract
Robots and methods implemented therein implement an active repurposing of temporal-spatial information. A robot can be configured to analyze the information to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the primary service function that generated the information originally. A robot can be configured to use the information to create a three dimensional (3D) model of the facility, which can be used for a number of functions such as creating virtual tours of the environment, or porting the environment into video games. A robot can be configured to use the information to recognize and classify objects in the facility so that the ensuing catalog can be used to locate selected objects later, or to provide a global catalog of all items, such as is needed for insurance documentation of facility effects.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of servicing a facility, the method comprising:
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an autonomous first robot self-navigating through an environment while performing a first service function, wherein the first service function is a cleaning or an environmental control function; the first robot sensing and storing temporal-spatial information while performing the first service function; the first robot communicating the temporal-spatial information to an autonomous second robot or to control system; and repurposing the temporal-spatial information by the second robot or the control system using at least some of the temporal-spatial information for a second service function, which is different from the first service function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A service robot system, comprising:
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a first robot comprising; a platform supporting a first servicing subsystem; a navigation controller coupled to a drive mechanism and configured to autonomously self-navigate the platform through an environment; one or more sensors configured to collect temporal-spatial information while performing a first service function, wherein the first service function is a cleaning function; a storage media on which the temporal-spatial information is stored; a communication module configured to communicate the temporal-spatial information to an autonomous second robot or to control system; and wherein the second robot or control system is configured to repurpose at least some of the stored temporal-spatial information for a second service function, which his different from the first service function. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification