METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR AUTOMATICALLY RELOCATING A PEST DETERRENT SYSTEM

Abstract

Systems and methods for chasing birds and other unwanted pest animals from a particular area. A robot system is used to relocate a pest deterrent in an area where a pest has been identified. The robot is programmed to move toward the pest animal within a geofenced area until the pest animal leaves the geofenced area. Robots (either ground based or flying robot drones) are programmed to move pest deterrent systems from one area to another to not allow a pest to become accustomed to the system. Two or more robots can be used in cooperation to adopt a complex strategy in chasing birds and other unwanted pest animals from a particular area.

Claims

1. A system for directing a pest animal out of a geofenced area, comprising: a robot having a piloting system; a detector for detecting a presence of a pest animal in the geofenced outdoor area; and a processor configured to execute software instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the software instructions are configured to 1) electronically define the geofence area in a particular outdoor area, and 2) to direct the first robot to a location and deploy a deterrent system against the pest animal as long as the pest animal is detected to be within the geofenced outdoor area.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein detecting a presence of a pest animal comprises using a computer vision system to identify the pest animal.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the robot is equipped with a camera for determining where to land and deploy the deterrent system.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the robot piloting system comprises a system for identifying the pest animal.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the deterrent system is onboard with the first robot.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the detector is a motion activated visual detector.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system is completely autonomous once the system is engaged.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the robot, the detector, and the software instructions is initiated manually by a user.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the robot is manually engaged once the pest animal is detected to be in the geofenced area.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the robot comprises a probe and the robot orients itself while moving toward the pest animal such that the probe will be oriented toward the pest animal.

11. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a second robot within the geofenced outdoor area, wherein the software instructions are configured to direct the second robot to a location and deploy a deterrent system against the pest animal as long as the pest animal is detected to be within the geofenced outdoor area.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the second robot cooperates with the first robot to adopt a complex strategy in directing the pest animal out of the geofenced area.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the complex strategy comprises the first robot driving the pest animal toward the second robot.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the complex strategy comprises the first and second robots both circling and spiraling down to the pest animal.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein the complex strategy comprises each of the first and second robots repeatedly attacking and withdrawing relative to the pest animal.

16. The system according to claim 12, wherein the complex strategy comprises the first and second robots serially attacking the pest animal.

17. The system according to claim 12, wherein the complex strategy comprises the first robot scattering a group of pest animals while the second robot circles the group.

18. A method for directing a pest animal out of a particular outdoor area, comprising: a) electronically defining a geofenced outdoor area; b) electronically detecting a presence of a pest animal in the geofenced outdoor area; c) engaging a robot with a piloting system software associated with the robot that continuously directs the robot's piloting system to move toward the pest animal as long as the pest animal is detected within the geofenced outdoor area; and d) disengaging the robot when there are no pest animals in the geofenced outdoor area.

19. The method according to claim 11 wherein the robot is equipped with a probe and the robot orients itself while moving toward the pest animal such that the probe will be oriented toward the pest animal.

20. The method according to claim 11 wherein detection is accomplished by using a motion detector that operates within the geofenced outdoor area.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of geofenced area in which a robot drone is resting on a control platform having a sensor, according to aspects of the current inventive subject matter.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the geofenced area of FIG. 1, in which the robot drone has launched from the control platform, in order to activate a deterrent from a new location.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the geofenced area of FIG. 1, in which the robot drone has activated a deterrent, causing the bird to flee.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a geofenced area having two robot drones, resting on two separate control platforms.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the geofenced area of FIG. 4, in which both robot drones have launched, and are flying toward a bird, in order to activate deterrents from new locations.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the geofenced area of FIG. 4, in which both robot drones have activated their respective deterrents from new locations, causing the bird to flee.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, properties such as concentration, reaction conditions, and so forth, used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the invention are to be understood as being modified in some instances by the term about. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments of the invention may contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.

[0023] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of a, an, and the includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of in includes in and on unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0024] Unless the context dictates the contrary, all ranges set forth herein should be interpreted as being inclusive of their endpoints, and open-ended ranges should be interpreted to include only commercially practical values. Similarly, all lists of values should be considered as inclusive of intermediate values unless the context indicates the contrary.

[0025] The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value with a range is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. such as) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.

[0026] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.

[0027] The following discussion provides many example embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed.

[0028] As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term coupled to is intended to include both direct coupling (in which two elements that are coupled to each other contact each other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms coupled to and coupled with are used synonymously.

[0029] As used herein, the term automated system refers to a system which detects defined pest animals in a geofenced area, launches a robot, and the robot relocates a deterrent device to chase away the pest animal from the geofenced area without human intervention once the system is initiated. In other embodiments, individual steps may be either automatically or manually initiated.

[0030] As used herein, the term pest animal refers to any unwanted animal such as birds, pigeons, geese, coyotes, and the like which are large enough to be a nuisance on a given piece of property.

[0031] As used herein, the term particular outdoor area refers to an area wherein the user of the system wants to keep the area free from invasion of pest animals. This might be a back yard, an airport area, an industrial site, a golf course, and the like.

[0032] As used herein, the term geofence refers to the establishment of a digital map of the particular outdoor area that is electronically part of the system such that it can detect when a pest animal is in the particular geofenced outdoor area. It need not sense outside the area, and if the geofence cannot detect any movement, it needs no more input to operate. Geofencing is well known in the art.

[0033] As used herein, the term robot with a piloting system refers to a flying drone or ground unit with an operating system which allows the robot to visually inspect the geofenced area for pest animals in the geofenced area such that the software controlled interaction causes the robot to move a deterrent to a particular area where a pest animal may exist in the geofenced area as long as it remains in the geofenced area. Once the pest animal leaves the geofenced area, the robot returns to its original path to finish its patrol and, if no further pest animals are detected, the robot then returns to its docking station, or the like. While this can be automatic, in one embodiment a user has to initiate the system when notified of an intrusion into the geofenced area. A flying robot could be utilized for flying pest animals, like birds and bats, while a ground robot could be utilized for ground limited animals, like coyotes. Preferred robots are flying drones.

[0034] As used herein, the term detector is a device for identifying a pest animal and determining when and where there is a pest animal in the geofenced area. It can be located anywhere, including in or on the robot, a separate device, as shown in the figures, and the like.

[0035] As used herein, the term software that directs the robot's piloting system refers to software on a computer, on the web, on the robot, on multiple places, or any other place which coordinates the activity of measuring the location of the pest animal in the geofenced area with the robot such that the robot locate itself into the area of the pest animal and then activates a deterrent until it leaves the geofenced area.

[0036] In use, the geofence system monitors inside the geofenced area for anything moving in that area of a certain size. In one embodiment, it is a recognition system that can tell the difference between a pest animal and something mechanical like another robot. If a pest animal is detected, the robot is activated (manually or automatically) and directed to locate a pest deterrent to an area where there is a detected pest animal until the pest animal is no longer detected in the geofenced area.

[0037] In FIG. 1, geofence software 102 determines where the geofenced area 103 is located. Once the geofenced area 103 is determined, a detector 116 monitors for pest animals 110 inside the geofenced area 103. Once a pest animal 150 is detected, software 106 guides a robot 113 with a piloting system (e.g., a drone) to move to the area where the pest animal 150 is detected, and deploy a pest deterrent system. If the pest animal 150 moves to another area within the geofenced area 103, the software 106 again guides the robot 113 to move to that area and deploy a pest deterrent system, until the pest animal 150 is no longer within the geofenced area 103. When the pest animal 150 is no longer detected by the detector system 114, the robot 113 returns to its home base platform 114. A land-based device 104 is placed a geofenced area 103 (shown in two-dimensional view for clarity) defined by software. It is contemplated that the detector system 116 (which could also be on the drone 113, which could also be a land-based platform 114) operates to detect pest animals 115 (in this embodiment a bird) inside the geofenced area 103.

[0038] In FIG. 2, drone 213 has taken off docking station 214 and is flying towards a bird 250.

[0039] In FIG. 3, drone 313 deploys the deterrent device 316 (e.g., emitting sounds of a predatory bird) and driven the bird 350 out of the geofenced area 312. If the bird 350 moves to another location within the geofenced area 312, the drone 313 is programmed to move to that location and deploys the deterrent device 316, until the bird 350 leaves the geofenced area 312. Once the bird 350 leaves, the drone 313 can either return to its docking station 314 or pick up on its patrol mission where it left off.

[0040] In FIG. 4, there are two platforms (414 and 424) and two drones (413 and 423). The second drone 423 cooperates with the first drone 413 to adopt a strategy in directing the pest animal 450 out of the geofenced area 403.

[0041] In FIG. 5, drones 513 and 514 both take off their platforms (514 and 524) and are flying towards a bird 550 detected within the geofenced area 503.

[0042] In FIG. 6, drones 613 adopts a deterrent device 616, while drones 623 adopts another deterrent device and 626. Drones 613 and 623 cooperate to adopt a strategy in directing the pest animal 650 out of the geofenced area. If the bird 650 moves to another location within the geofenced area 612, the drones 613 and 623 are programmed to move to that location and deploy the deterrent devices 616 and 626, until the bird 650 leaves the geofenced area 612.

[0043] Contemplated complex strategies include: the first drone driving a target pest animal toward the second drone; the first and second drones both circling and spiraling down to a target pest animal; the first and second drones repeatedly attacking and withdrawing relative to a target pest animal; the first and second drones using different fuzzy boundaries; the first and second drones serially attacking a target pest animal; the first drone scattering a group of target pest animals while the second drone circles the group; and the first drone and the second drone simultaneously approach the pest animal from opposite directions; and each of the first and second drones lying in wait. It is further contemplated that multiple drones can use cooperative swarming when flying together

[0044] It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms comprises and comprising should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refer to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.