Robot Ball Detection Device
AssigneeState Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
InventorsNathan L. Tofte, Brian N. Harvey, Vicki King, Joseph P. Harr
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for detecting blockages and/or leaking in a piping system. The travel speed, travel time, movement, images, audio, odor, and/or other data provided by a robot ball moving through the piping system may indicate if a blockage or leak exists. An electronic notification may be sent detailing the blockage and/or leak, which may include a location and corrective action.
Claims22
A computer-implemented method of detecting blockages or leaking pipes via a water-resistant spherical robot or robot ball that travels through a piping system and identifying a corrective action associated with a blockage or leak, the computer-implemented method comprising:
- tracking, via one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, and/or sensors, a water-resistant spherical robot or robot ball traveling through one or more piping systems;
- estimating, retrieving, or determining, via the one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, and/or sensors, a travel speed or travel time of the robot ball through the one or more piping systems;
- determining or detecting, via the one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, and/or sensors, that a blockage or leak in the one or more piping systems exists based upon the robot ball (i) travel speed, (ii) travel time, (iii) movement through the one or more piping systems, (iv) images or image data, (v) audio or acoustic data, (vi) odor data, or (vii) other data sets;
- and
- when a blockage or leak exists:
- generating and transmitting, via the one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, and/or sensors, an electronic notification detailing one or more corrective actions to mitigate an impact of the blockage or leak to a mobile device of a user or home owner.
A computer system for detecting blockages or leaks in pipes or piping systems via a water-resistant spherical robot or robot ball that travels through a piping system and identifying a corrective action associated with a blockage or leak, the computer system comprising:
- one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, and/or sensors;
- and
- one or more robot balls or spherical robots;
- the one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, and/or sensors configured to:
- track a robot ball traveling through one or more piping systems;
- estimate, retrieve, or determine a travel speed or travel time of the robot ball moving through the one or more piping systems;
- determine or detect that a blockage or leak in the one or more piping systems exists based upon the robot ball (i) travel speed, (ii) travel time, (iii) movement through the one or more piping systems, (iv) images or image data, (v) audio or acoustic data, (vi) odor data, or (vii) other sensor data;
- and
- when a blockage or leak exists:
- generate and transmit an electronic notification detailing one or more corrective actions to mitigate an impact of the blockage or leak to a mobile device of a user or home owner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.