US-12616087-B2 - System for depredator and predator control using a robot and sensory controlling apparatus

US12616087B2US 12616087 B2US12616087 B2US 12616087B2US-12616087-B2

Abstract

This invention is a system to control depredators and predators having a configurable ground utility robot where the robot has an all-terrain autonomous mobile apparatus that can navigate in both structured and unstructured environments, a processor, at least one sensor that communicates with the processor, and at least one computer program that performs at least the following functions: receives and interprets data from the at least one sensor; controls the mobile apparatus; at least one control device; and where the ground utility robot is powered by renewable energy.

Inventors

Georgios Chrysanthakopoulos
Dan Abramson

Assignees

Georgios Chrysanthakopoulos
Dan Abramson

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20201207

Claims (15)

1 . A system to control depredators and predators comprising: a configurable ground utility robot comprising: an all-terrain autonomous mobile apparatus that can navigate in both structured and unstructured environments; a processor; at least one sensor that communicates with said processor; where said at least one sensor receives data from the environment; at least one computer program that performs at least the following functions: receives and interprets data from said at least one sensor; processor formulates an action in response to said received data; generates a command to control said mobile apparatus in response to said environment data; at least one control device attachable to said ground utility robot; said control device is a physical apparatus that threatens or scares the depredators or predators using movement of said control device; where said at least one control device performs an action in response to said command designed to elicit a sensory reaction in said depredator or said predator; and the ground utility robot and control device constantly move and roam around the environment to increase response efficacy in depredators or predators.
2 . The depredator and predator control system of claim 1 where said control device is powered by said ground utility robot and said ground utility robot is powered by renewable energy.
3 . The depredator and predator control system of claim 2 where said control device is controlled by said ground utility robot.
4 . The depredator and predator control system of claim 1 where said control device is self-powered.
5 . The depredator and predator control system of claim 1 , where said control device is a sky puppet and where said sky puppet comprises: a motor; a fan; and a windsock.
6 . The depredator and predator control system of claim 5 , where said sky puppet further comprises: a trailer that houses said sky puppet; and where said trailer is attachable to said ground utility robot.
7 . The depredator and predator control system of claim 1 , said control device comprises: a windmill having one or more blades.
8 . The windmill of claim 7 further comprising: a motor; and where wind or wind and said motor turn said one or more windmill blades.
9 . A system to control depredators and predators comprising: a configurable ground utility robot comprising: an all-terrain autonomous mobile apparatus; a processor; at least one sensor that communicates with said processor; where said at least one sensor receives data from the environment and from depredators and predators; at least one computer program that performs at least the following functions: receives and interprets data from said at least one sensor; processor formulates an action in response to said received data; generates a command to control said mobile apparatus in response to said environment data and from said depredator and predator data; and learns to react to different situations from past acquired data; a control device attachable to said ground utility robot; where the control device is a sky puppet; and said control device performs actions designed to elicit a sensory reaction in said depredator or said predator.
10 . The system to control depredators and predators of claim 9 the system that learns from the past acquired data and uses that learning to react differently to depredators and predators.
11 . The system to control depredators and predators of claim 9 , where learned actions include changing patterns of movement to more effectively control depredators and predators in the future.
12 . The system to control depredators and predators of claim 9 where the control device is the sky puppet and one or more other control devices.
13 . The system to control depredators and predators of claim 9 where the control devices are powered by the ground utility robot and the ground utility robot is powered by renewable energy.
14 . The system to control depredators and predators of claim 9 where the control devices are self-powered.
15 . A system to control depredators and predators comprising: a configurable ground utility robot comprising: an all-terrain autonomous mobile apparatus; a processor; at least one sensor that communicates with said processor; where said at least one sensor receives data from the environment; at least one computer program that performs at least the following functions: receives and interprets data from said at least one sensor; processor formulates an action in response to said received data; generates a command to control said mobile apparatus in response to said environment data; a physical apparatus attachable to said ground utility robot; where said physical apparatus performs an action in response to said command designed to elicit a sensory reaction in said depredator or said predator.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION FIGS. 11-24 show a visual, tangible deterrent that is a Sky Puppet and the different ways and means of implementing the Sky Puppet with the robot. One specific type of visual, tangible, physical deterrent is an apparatus that visually threatens or scares a depredator or predator by its movement, such as a windsock, skypuppet, air puppet, sky dancer or variants thereof. Such devices are often used outdoors for advertising purposes (e.g., outside of car dealerships or other businesses and are used to advertise sales or special events). They can also be used as a stationary device, where the location of the base of the apparatus does not change, to scare birds and other predators. The prior art for such apparatuses typically includes an electrically driven motor 821, a fan 822 and a windsock 823 or skypuppet sock. The power drives the motor 821, the motor 821 turns the fan 822 and the fan 822 fills the windsock 823. The sock 823 then flops, moves, and dances around in order to, for example, attract customers or scare birds. The basic apparatus for the skypuppet 819 in the present invention is shown in FIGS. 11 through 24. It includes a motor 821, a fan 822 and the skypuppet windsock 823. The present invention incorporates the ground utility robot and adds constant moveability and roaming ability to the skypuppet 819. When attached to the robot 800 the skypuppet 819 moves as the ground utility robot moves, thus increasing the efficacy of the threat or scare because, for example, the distance or angle between the skypuppet 819 and the predator can be controlled. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The current invention relates to a robot system that can include an energy collection system, an energy supply docking system, autonomous cooperative robots, payloads or apparatus attachable to the autonomous robots to perform functions or tasks and a control company or means to oversee and control robot reservations, robot delivery, operation and retrieval, to control energy collection and dissemination, and general maintenance and control of the robot system. This invention also relates to a human assisted machine learning system whereby humans are used to help train the robots to learn or perform functions. Finally, it relates to using the robots as cooperative or collaborative units whereby the robots can be used in unison to perform tasks that an individual robot cannot perform; or to assist other robots when needed, such as when a robot gets stuck in a field and needs assistance with movement, or a task; or to take over when another robot runs out of charge or fails to perform for whatever reason. The invention relates first to the field of autonomous, modular, ground utility robot units, or GURU, to perform tasks. Nothing currently exists that is truly similar to the embodiments disclosed herein. In one embodiment the GURU accepts attachments that perform tasks, such as snow removal. In another embodiment the GURU is capable of moving cargo around. In another embodiment the GURU accepts payloads, such as a focused energy apparatus attachment that utilizes focused energy beams or lenses to focus light to perform a variety of tasks, such as weed suppression and control, pest or insect control, crop harvesting, and predator control. In yet another embodiment the payload weed suppression attachment apparatus is a screw device that will eradicate or remove a weed. In all applications the systems preferably utilize clean sources of energy and the entire systems are made from recycled or easily recycled materials and parts. The autonomous robot of the present invention relates to an autonomous, cooperative machine, in the form of a lightweight insectoid mobile robot, or in the form of a mobile wheeled robot, or any other type of mobile robot, that can be deployed in farms, fields or large open crop raising areas to control weeds, control pests, harvest crops, scare predators, monitor weather, monitor livestock health, monitor soil, aerate soil, provide security, move “stuff” around, transport cargo, or any of a variety of chores and tasks assigned to the robots. Further, it is an autonomous robot system comprising an autonomous robot, allocation software that will allow a user to log onto a platform and enter information so that the control company can compile the information and then allocate the robots to the job. Once the robots are delivered to the job the system further has software that will allow the robot to navigate in either a structured or unstructured environment where the robot can perform a variety of tasks. It is also possible that there will be a system that can collect energy and utilize the energy either to run the robots on the work site or to use the energy to power robots at other proximate sites. Finally, it is an autonomous robot system that has the control company or means to deliver the robots to their jobs, to maintain the robots while at the job, to collect data, to collect energy when