Smart home robot assistant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home robotic systems are limited to remaining within designated areas and lack the capability to seamlessly interact with smart home automation systems for tasks such as transporting objects across boundaries, including entering or leaving the system's monitored area without triggering alarms.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that enable a mobile robotic device to determine the presence of objects to be transported across the boundary of a home automation system, temporarily deactivate security systems, retrieve the object, transport it across the boundary, and reactivate the system, using sensors and communication with the home automation system for authorization and navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a mobile robotic device transports objects across the boundary of a home automation system, then delivery functionality is improved, but security system reliability deteriorates due to temporary deactivation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting the presence of delivery personnel or packages before actual delivery occurs. The robotic device is dispatched in advance to retrieve items, and the security system is temporarily deactivated only when genuinely needed, rather than remaining deactivated continuously. This approach maintains security reliability while enabling delivery functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The security system's operational state is made dynamic rather than static. The system transitions between active and deactivated states based on real-time delivery needs, with automatic reactivation after delivery completion. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting security levels to actual operational requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the mobile robotic device exits the home automation system boundary, then object transportation capability is improved, but system control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic device maintains continuous communication with the home automation system through feedback mechanisms. Sensors on the robotic device provide real-time status information to the system, and the system can send control commands back to the device. This feedback loop ensures system control is maintained even when the robotic device operates outside the physical boundary of the home automation system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication layer between the robotic device and the home automation system. This intermediary mechanism coordinates the device's actions, tracks its location, and maintains control protocols, thereby managing the complexity of external operations without requiring direct constant intervention.
3Reliability
If the security system remains continuously activated, then security reliability is improved, but delivery efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The security system operates in periodic cycles rather than continuously. It remains activated during normal periods for security purposes, then temporarily deactivates during scheduled delivery windows when delivery personnel are expected. This periodic activation pattern maintains security reliability while improving delivery efficiency by eliminating unnecessary continuous deactivation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of delivery personnel or packages before triggering security deactivation. By detecting delivery-related signals in advance, the system can maintain security activation longer, then briefly deactivate only when actual delivery interaction is needed, thereby improving overall delivery efficiency without compromising security reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are described for robot transportation of objects into or out of a home automation system. One example may include determining, by a mobile robotic device, that an object is available to cross a boundary of the home automation system. The method may include deactivating at least a portion of the home automation system. The method also include retrieving, by the mobile robotic device, the object and transporting, by the mobile robotic device, the object across the boundary. The method further includes leaving, by the mobile robotic device, the object at a drop-off location. The method may also include reactivating at least the portion of the home automation system.