AUTONOMOUSLY MOBILE OUTDOOR DEVICE WITH A SURVEILLANCE MODULE

• US 20190028675A1
• Filed: 07/23/2018
• Published: 01/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vorwerk & Company Interholding Gesellschaft Mit Beschrã¤Nkter Haftung (Vorwerk & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: Vorwerk & Company Interholding Gesellschaft Mit Beschrã¤Nkter Haftung (Vorwerk & Company KG)
• Inventors: HACKERT, Georg, HELMICH, Martin, HILLEN, Lorenz, HOLZ, Christian, ISENBERG, Gerhard, KOETZ, Hendrik, MOSEBACH, Andrej, ORTMANN, Roman, DULINSKI, Robin
• Granted Patent: US 11,265,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/248 involving reference images or patches
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/196 using television cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19647 Systems specially adapted for intrusion detection in or around a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/18 Prevention or correction of operating errors G08B29/02, G08B29/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A system consisting of a vehicle which is autarchically mobile in the outdoor area on a property and a surveillance module which can be attached to the vehicle, wherein the surveillance module has surveillance sensors for carrying out surveillance of the property. The surveillance module can be replaced with a work module. Plant care activities can be performed with the work module.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a vehicle which is independently mobile in an outdoor area and has a running gear that is controlled by a controller, wherein the controller uses control data acquired by sensors of a sensor system and optionally a mapping function stored in a memory element, and

at least one module selected from the group consisting of a surveillance module equipped with surveillance sensors, and a work module configured to carry out a cleaning or tending activity.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle has a module carrier configured for accommodation of the surveillance module or the work module.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a communication device configured for exchanging data with a base station and/or with a second vehicle in the form of a work unit used in an interior of a building.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the second vehicle has a running gear controlled by a controller, wherein the controller is configured to use control data acquired by sensors of a sensor system and optionally a mapping function stored in a memory element.

5. A method for operating a vehicle according to claim 1 for assuring surveillance of an outdoor area,

comprising equipping the vehicle with the surveillance module for a surveillance period, and

equipping the vehicle with the work module having a tool for a working period.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

capturing with the vehicle current features of the surroundings continuously during a surveillance pass through an outdoor area,

storing the current features in a memory,

comparing the current features of the surroundings with a captured and stored record of the features of the surroundings acquired in at least one previous surveillance pass,

analysing a deviation between the current features of the surroundings and the stored features of the surroundings both quantitatively and qualitatively, and

evaluating said deviation in order to issue an alarm.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

capturing the spatial change of objects, and

forwarding data characterizing the spatial structure of the object to a surveillance device which is arranged in an interior of a building.