Systems and methods for using robots to monitor environmental conditions in an environment

• US 9,437,097 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2014
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Poursohi, Arshan, Hickman, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US14/455,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20140347182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 759 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/539.26, 700/245, 700/246, 318/568.12, 901/46
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/161 Hardware, e.g. neural networks, fuzzy logic, interfaces, processor
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1671 characterised by simulation, either to verify existing program or to create and verify new program, CAD/CAM oriented, graphic oriented programming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/00 Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39168 Multiple robots searching an object
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/008 based on physical entities controlled by simulated intelligence so as to replicate intelligent life forms, e.g. based on robots replicating pets or humans in their appearance or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/00 Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold

Abstract

Methods and devices are disclosed for monitoring environmental conditions in one or more environments. In one embodiment, the method includes maintaining a plurality of environmental-condition thresholds, each of which corresponds to an environmental condition and is predetermined based on data corresponding to the environmental condition that is received from a plurality of robots. The method further includes receiving from a first robot first data corresponding to a first environmental condition in a first environment. The method may still further include making a first comparison of the first data and a first environmental-condition threshold corresponding to the first environmental condition and, based on the first comparison, triggering a notification. Triggering the notification may comprise transmitting to the robot instructions to transmit the notification to at least one of a call center and a remote device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

maintaining, by a cloud server, an environmental-condition threshold that corresponds to an environmental condition and is determined based on data corresponding to the environmental condition that is received via a network interface of the cloud server from a plurality of robots, wherein the received data is indicative of measured levels of the environmental condition in respective environments of the plurality of robots;

receiving, via the network interface and from a first robot, first data corresponding to the environmental condition in a first environment of the first robot;

making, by the cloud server, a first comparison of the first data and the environmental-condition threshold; and

based on the first comparison, triggering a notification.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the environmental-condition threshold comprises a running mean of the data corresponding to the environmental condition and received from the plurality of robots.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein triggering the notification comprises causing the first robot to transmit the notification.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the notification to at least one of an emergency call center and a remote device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from a second robot second data corresponding to the environmental condition in a second environment; and

making a second comparison of the second data and the environmental-condition threshold,

wherein triggering the notification further comprises triggering the notification based on the first comparison and the second comparison.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein triggering the notification based on the first comparison comprises triggering the notification based on the first comparison being indicative that the environmental condition is at an unacceptable level.

7. A cloud server, comprising:

a network interface;

at least one processor; and

data storage comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor to;

maintain an environmental-condition threshold that corresponds to an environmental condition and is determined based on data corresponding to the environmental condition that is received via the network interface from a plurality of robots, wherein the received data is indicative of measured levels of the environmental condition in environments of the plurality of robots;

receive from a first robot first data corresponding to the environmental condition in a first environment of the first robot;

make a first comparison of the first data and the environmental-condition threshold; and

based on the first comparison, trigger a notification.

8. The cloud server of claim 7, wherein the environmental-condition threshold comprises a running mean of the data corresponding to the environmental condition and received from the plurality of robots.

9. The cloud server of claim 7, wherein triggering the notification comprises causing the first robot to transmit the notification.

10. The cloud server of claim 7, further comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor to transmit the notification to at least one of an emergency call center and a remote device.

11. The cloud server of claim 7, further comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor to:

receive from a second robot second data corresponding to the environmental condition in a second environment; and

make a second comparison of the second data and the environmental-condition threshold,

wherein triggering the notification further comprises triggering the notification based on the first comparison and the second comparison.

12. A method comprising:

receiving, via a network interface of a robot and from a cloud server, an indication of an environmental-condition threshold that corresponds to an environmental condition and is determined based on data corresponding to the environmental condition that is received by the cloud server from a plurality of robots, wherein the received data is indicative of measured levels of the environmental condition in environments of the plurality of robots;

obtaining, by the robot, first data corresponding to the environmental condition in a first environment of the robot;

making, by the robot, a first comparison of the first data and the environmental-condition threshold; and

based on the first comparison, triggering a notification.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting to the cloud server a request for the environmental-condition threshold.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein obtaining the first data corresponding to the environmental condition in the first environment of the robot comprises collecting first data corresponding to the environmental condition in the first environment using at least one on-board sensor of the robot.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one on-board sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a compass, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, a light sensor, an infrared sensor, an optical sensor, a biosensor, a radio sensor, a Radio Frequency identification (RFID) system, a wireless sensor, a camera, a light sensor, a motion sensor, a range sensor, a microphone or other audio sensor, a speaker, a radar, a capacitive sensor, a touch sensor, a smoke sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, a natural gas sensor, a pyro sensor, a heat sensor, a water sensor, and a biometric sensor.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein obtaining the first data corresponding to the environmental condition in the first environment of the robot comprises obtaining first data corresponding to the environmental in the first environment using at least one remote sensor interface coupled to at least one remote sensor.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one remote sensor is selected form the group consisting of:

a light sensor, an infrared sensor, an optical sensor, a biosensor, a radio sensor, a Radio Frequency identification (RFID) system, a wireless sensor, a camera, a light sensor, a motion sensor, a range sensor, a microphone or other audio sensor, a speaker, a radar, a capacitive sensor, a touch sensor, a smoke sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, a natural gas sensor, a pyro sensor, a heat sensor, a water sensor, a biometric sensor, an appliance, a washing machine, a dryer, a refrigerator, an oven, a stove, a toaster, a coffee maker, a furnace, an air conditioning unit, a heating unit, a television, a computer, a fire alarm, and a security system.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising verifying the first data using at least one on-board sensor of the robotic device prior to transmitting the notification.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting the notification to at least one of an emergency call center and a remote device.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein triggering the notification based on the first comparison comprises triggering the notification based on the first comparison being indicative that the environmental condition is at an unacceptable level.