CONNECTING ROBOTIC MOVING SMART BUILDING FURNISHINGS

• US 20180299864A1
• Filed: 04/18/2017
• Published: 10/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Byers, Charles Calvin, Clarke, Joseph Michael, Salgueiro, Gonzalo, Thubert, Pascal
• Granted Patent: US 10,838,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/402 characterised by control arrangements for positioning, e.g. centring a tool relative to a hole in the workpiece, additional detection means to correct position G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2625 Sprinkler, irrigation, watering
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33192 Radio link, wireless
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 Machine learning
• 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: Y10S 901/01 Mobile robot

Abstract

In one embodiment, a device in a network receives a set of sensor data from a plurality of sensors deployed in a location. The device determines a physical layout for furnishings in the location based on the received set of sensor data. One or more of the furnishings is equipped with one or more actuators configured to move the equipped furnishing in one or more directions. The device generates an instruction for the one or more actuators of a particular one of the furnishings based on the determined physical layout for the furnishings. The device sends the instruction to the one or more actuators of the particular furnishing, to implement the determined physical layout.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a device in a network, a set of sensor data from a plurality of sensors deployed in a location;

determining, by the device, a physical layout for furnishings in the location based on the received set of sensor data, wherein one or more of the furnishings is equipped with one or more actuators configured to move the equipped furnishing in one or more directions;

generating, by the device, an instruction for the one or more actuators of a particular one of the furnishings based on the determined physical layout for the furnishings; and

sending, by the device, the instruction to the one or more actuators of the particular furnishing, to implement the determined physical layout.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the one or more actuators of the particular furnishing comprise:

a wireless receiver to receive the sent instruction;

at least one wheel;

a wheel motor coupled to the at least one wheel; and

a processing circuit coupled to the wireless receiver and to the wheel motor, wherein the instruction indicates that the wheel motor should be actuated, and wherein the processing circuit sends a control command to the motor based on the instruction received via the wireless receiver to move the particular furnishing.

3. The method as in claim 2, wherein the one or more actuators of the particular furnishing further comprise:

a z-axis motor drive coupled to the processing circuit and configured to raise or lower the particular furnishing when actuated, wherein the instruction indicates that the z-axis motor should be actuated, and wherein the processing circuit sends a control command to the z-axis motor based on the instruction received via the wireless receiver.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein the device is a fog computing device, the method further comprising:

receiving, at the device, at least a portion of the set of sensor data from one or more other fog computing devices in the network that use sensor fusion to process the portion of the set of sensor data.

5. The method as in claim 4, wherein the fog computing device is a network router.

6. The method as in claim 1, wherein determining the physical layout for the furnishings in the location comprises:

predicting, by the device and using a machine learning model, desired layouts for the furnishing that are desired by a set of occupants of the location; and

using, by the device, the predicted desired layout to determine the physical layout for the furnishings.

7. The method as in claim 6, wherein the predicted desired layouts are based on input from a social media system or from a conference scheduling system.

8. The method as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is part of a fire safety system, and wherein the determined layout optimizes an exit path for the location or optimizes the distribution of water from a sprinkler system to the area based on the fire safety system detecting a potential fire.

9. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

providing power, via the network, to the one or more actuators.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a housing configured to couple to a furnishing in a location;

a wireless receiver to receive a sent instruction;

at least one wheel;

a wheel motor coupled to the at least one wheel; and

a processing circuit coupled to the wireless receiver and to the wheel motor, wherein the instruction indicates that the wheel motor should be actuated, and wherein the processing circuit sends a control command to the motor based on the instruction received via the wireless receiver to move the furnishing.

11. The apparatus as in claim 10, further comprising:

a power supply that powers the wheel motor; and

a power over Ethernet (PoE) link configured to charge the power supply.

12. The apparatus as in claim 10, further comprising:

a z-axis motor drive coupled to the processing circuit and configured to raise or lower the furnishing when actuated, wherein the instruction indicates that the z-axis motor should be actuated, and wherein the processing circuit sends a control command to the z-axis motor based on the instruction received via the wireless receiver.

13. An apparatus comprising:

one or more network interfaces to communicate with a network;

a processor coupled to the network interfaces and configured to execute one or more processes; and

a memory configured to store a process executable by the processor, the process when executed configured to;

receive a set of sensor data from a plurality of sensors deployed in a location;

determine a physical layout for furnishings in the location based on the received set of sensor data, wherein one or more of the furnishings is equipped with one or more actuators configured to move the equipped furnishing in one or more directions;

generate an instruction for the one or more actuators of a particular one of the furnishings based on the determined physical layout for the furnishings; and

send the instruction to the one or more actuators of the particular furnishing, to implement the determined physical layout.

14. The apparatus as in claim 13, wherein the one or more actuators of the particular furnishing comprise:

a wireless receiver to receive the sent instruction;

at least one wheel;

a wheel motor coupled to the at least one wheel;

a processing circuit coupled to the wireless receiver and to the wheel motor, wherein the instruction indicates that the wheel motor should be actuated, and wherein the processing circuit sends a control command to the motor based on the instruction received via the wireless receiver to move the particular furnishing; and

a z-axis motor drive coupled to the processing circuit and configured to raise or lower the particular furnishing when actuated, wherein the instruction indicates that the z-axis motor should be actuated, and wherein the processing circuit sends a control command to the z-axis motor based on the instruction received via the wireless receiver.

15. The apparatus as in claim 13, wherein the apparatus is a fog computing device, and wherein the process when executed is further configured to:

receive at least a portion of the set of sensor data from one or more other fog computing devices in the network that use sensor fusion to process the portion of the set of sensor data.

16. The method as in claim 15, wherein the fog computing device is a network router.

17. The method as in claim 13, wherein the apparatus determines the physical layout for the furnishings in the location by:

predicting, using a machine learning model, desired layouts for the furnishing that are desired by a set of occupants of the location; and

using the predicted desired layout to determine the physical layout for the furnishings.

18. The apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the predicted desired layouts are based on input from a social media system or from a conference scheduling system.

19. The apparatus as in claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is part of a fire safety system, and wherein the determined layout optimizes an exit path for the location or optimizes the distribution of water from a sprinkler system to the area based on the fire safety system detecting a potential fire.

20. The apparatus as in claim 13, wherein the process when executed is further configured to:

determine the physical layout for the furnishings automatically and not in response to a request for the physical layout from a user interface.