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

• US 10,242,549 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2017
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: X Development LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: X Development LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Poursohi, Arshan, Hickman, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US15/794,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20180047275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 340521
• 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:

receiving, by a computing device, first data corresponding to an environmental condition in a first environment, wherein the first data is collected by a first remote sensor in the first environment;

making, by the computing device, a first comparison of the first data and an environmental-condition threshold that corresponds to the environmental condition;

determining, by the computing device and based on the first comparison, that the first data is indicative that the environmental condition in the first environment is at an unacceptable level;

responsive to the determining, transmitting, by the computing device, instructions to a first robot that cause the first robot to verify the first data corresponding to the environmental condition in the first environment; and

verifying, by the first robot, the first data corresponding to the environmental condition in the first environment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first robot comprises a mechanical actuator and an on-board sensor, and wherein the transmitted instructions comprises instructions to:

move to a location of the first remote sensor using the mechanical actuator;

collect second data at the location of the first remote sensor using the on-board sensor; and

provide the second data to the computing device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

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

based on the first comparison and the second comparison, triggering a notification.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first robot comprises a remote sensor interface, and wherein the transmitted instructions comprise instructions to:

collect second data from a second remote sensor in the first environment using the remote sensor interface; and

provide the second data to the computing device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

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

based on the first comparison and the second comparison, triggering a notification.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the environmental-condition threshold is determined based on data corresponding to the environmental condition that is received from a plurality of robots.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising triggering a notification based on the first comparison after the first robot verifies the first data.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising transmitting the notification to a remote device, wherein reception of the notification causes the remote device to responsively provide a visible or audible notification.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining that the notification comprises an emergency notification; and

responsively transmitting the notification to an emergency call center.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a request for the environmental-condition threshold to another computing device; and

receiving the environmental-condition threshold from the other computing device.

11. A first robot comprising:

at least one processor; and

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

receive first data corresponding to an environmental condition in a first environment, wherein the first data is collected by a first remote sensor in the first environment,

make a first comparison of the first data and an environmental-condition threshold that corresponds to the environmental condition,

determine, based on the first comparison, that the first data is indicative that the environmental condition in the first environment is at an unacceptable level, and

responsive to the determining, verify the first data corresponding to the environmental condition in the first environment.

12. The first robot of claim 11, further comprising a mechanical actuator and an on-board sensor, wherein verifying the first data comprises:

moving to a location of the first remote sensor using the mechanical actuator; and

collecting second data at the location of the first remote sensor using the on-board sensor.

13. The first robot of claim 12, further comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor to:

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

based on the first comparison and the second comparison, trigger a notification.

14. The first robot of claim 11, further comprising a remote sensor interface, wherein verifying the first data comprises:

collecting second data from a second remote sensor in the first environment using the remote sensor interface.

15. The first robot of claim 11, further comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor to trigger a notification based on the first comparison after the first robot verifies the first data.

16. The first robot of claim 15, further comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor to transmit the notification to a remote device, wherein reception of the notification causes the remote device to responsively provide a visible or audible notification.

17. The first robot of claim 15, further comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor to:

determine that the notification comprises an emergency notification; and

responsively transmit the notification to an emergency call center.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored therein instructions, that when executed by one or more processors of a first robot, cause the first robot to perform functions comprising:

receiving first data corresponding to an environmental condition in a first environment, wherein the first data is collected by a first remote sensor in the first environment;

making a first comparison of the first data and an environmental-condition threshold that corresponds to the environmental condition;

determining, based on the first comparison, that the first data is indicative that the environmental condition in the first environment is at an unacceptable level; and

responsive to the determining, verifying the first data corresponding to the environmental condition in the first environment.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the first robot comprises a mechanical actuator and an on-board sensor, and verifying the first data comprises:

relocating to a location of the first remote sensor using the mechanical actuator; and

collecting second data at the location of the first remote sensor using the on-board sensor.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the first robot comprises a remote sensor interface, and wherein verifying the first data comprises:

collecting second data from a second remote sensor in the first environment using the remote sensor interface.