Robotic Manual Control Automation for Offline Smart Home Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and complexity of outfitting properties with connected devices for smart home automation, as well as the need for alternative solutions when existing connected devices fail due to issues like battery drain or network disconnection, create challenges in maintaining connected home functionality.
Innovation Solution
A monitoring system that employs a robotic device, such as a drone, to manipulate manual controls throughout a property, using sensors and a monitoring unit to determine the state of devices and systems, and autonomously navigate to and adjust controls like light switches, thermostats, and garage doors, thereby providing cost-effective and efficient automation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional connected devices are installed throughout a property to enable smart home automation, then connected home functionality is achieved, but the cost and complexity of installation increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A robotic device acts as an intermediary between the user and the manual controls. The robot navigates to devices, manipulates switches and controls, and reports status, eliminating the need for users to directly interact with complex installation infrastructure while still achieving automation goals
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual model of the property's manual controls and their locations. The robotic device uses this copied representation to navigate and manipulate physical controls, allowing automation without requiring physical connected devices at every control point
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple connected devices are deployed throughout a property, then automation coverage is improved, but the cost of hardware and installation increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single robotic device performs multiple functions: it navigates to different locations, identifies various types of manual controls, manipulates different switches and controls, and reports status of multiple devices. This universal robot replaces the need for multiple specialized connected devices throughout the property
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines navigation, control manipulation, and status monitoring functions into a single integrated robotic platform. This merging of functions reduces the total number of devices needed while maintaining comprehensive automation coverage across the property
3Adaptability or versatility
If connected devices are installed to provide automation, then smart home control is achieved, but reliability decreases when devices fail due to battery drain or network disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic device autonomously monitors the state of manual controls and devices, navigates to them independently, and manipulates controls without requiring continuous network connectivity or power to the controlled devices. The robot serves itself by making decisions based on sensor data and pre-programmed logic
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares for potential failures by having a robotic backup that can manually intervene. When connected devices fail, the robot can physically manipulate manual controls to maintain functionality, cushioning against the failure impact and ensuring continuous operation
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a storage device, for using a robotic device to manipulate a manual control of a device. In one aspect, the system includes a robotic device, a first device that is located at a property and that has a manual control, and a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit may include a network interface, a processor, and a storage device that includes instructions to cause the processor to perform operations. The operations may include determining an operating state of the first device, determining the state of the monitoring system, determining whether one or more of the manual controls associated with the first device should be manipulated to alter the operating state of the first device, and transmitting one or more instruction to the robotic device that instruct the robotic device to manipulate one or more manual controls that are associated the first device.