Preventive action based on estimated intent

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use in conjunction with an electronic device, the computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions, wherein, when executed by the computer system, the program instructions cause the computer system to perform one or more operations comprising:

• acquiring, using one or more sensors, a measurement in an environment that is external to the electronic device, wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more of:
• a radar sensor, a first optical sensor configured to acquire information in an acoustic band of frequencies, or a second optical sensor configured to acquire information in an infrared band of frequencies, wherein the measurement provides information associated with an object, and wherein the measurement comprises a non-contact measurement performed at a distance from the object;
• detecting the object based at least in part on the measurement;
• estimating an intent of the object based at least in part on the measurement;
• and
• when the estimated intent is associated with a type of adverse event, performing a preventive action prior to an occurrence of the type of adverse event, wherein the preventive action reduces a probability of the occurrence of the type of adverse event or an amount of financial damage associated with the occurrence of the type of adverse event, and
• wherein the preventive action comprises:
• when a lock controlled by the electronic device is in an unlocked state, providing an electronic signal that sets the lock into a locked state;
• or
• when the lock is in a locked state, leaving the lock in the locked state, disabling an ability to change the state of the lock, or both the leaving and the disabling.

A method for performing a preventive action, comprising:

• by an electronic device:
• acquiring, using one or more sensors, a measurement in an environment that is external to the electronic device, wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more of:
• a radar sensor, a first optical sensor configured to acquire information in an acoustic band of frequencies, or a second optical sensor configured to acquire information in an infrared band of frequencies, wherein the measurement provides information associated with an object, and wherein the measurement comprises a non-contact measurement performed at a distance from the object;
• detecting the object based at least in part on the measurement;
• estimating an intent of the object based at least in part on the measurement;
• and
• when the estimated intent is associated with a type of adverse event, performing the preventive action prior to an occurrence of the type of adverse event, wherein the preventive action reduces a probability of the occurrence of the type of adverse event or an amount of financial damage associated with the occurrence of the type of adverse event, and
• wherein the preventive action comprises:
• when a lock controlled by the electronic device is in an unlocked state, providing an electronic signal that sets the lock into a locked state;
• or
• when the lock is in a locked state, leaving the lock in the locked state, disabling an ability to change the state of the lock, or both the leaving and the disabling.