WO2025081210A1 - Drone having an alarm function - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a drone (1) comprising a drone body (2), blades (3) adjustably mounted on the drone body (2), and a flight-control device (4) which is configured to adjust the blades (3) and to control the speed and rotational direction of the blades (3), wherein the drone (1) comprises at least one sensor (5a) for detecting environment characteristics, in particular a microphone, thermometer, moisture sensor, movement sensor, gas sensor, camera for visible light, thermal-imaging camera, etc., and a controller (5) which communicates with the at least one sensor (5a), wherein the controller (5) is designed to identify, from the signals received from the sensor (5a), an unusual environment state and to generate and optionally emit a corresponding alarm signal.

Description

Drone with alarm function

The invention relates to a drone having a drone body, wings adjustably mounted on the drone body, and a flight control device configured to adjust the wings and to control the speed and direction of rotation of the wings.

Drones are now used for a variety of tasks. Initially, they were primarily used in the private sector to take photos and videos from a bird's eye view. They have now become indispensable in TV broadcasts of sporting events for tracking athletes.

Alarm systems have also been around for a long time and are used to protect buildings and homes from burglars and to alert the police or security services when unauthorized access is detected. Alarm systems usually include a variety of permanently mounted detectors, such as motion detectors, window and door opening contacts, and the like. This makes it possible to effectively secure apartments and houses. The disadvantages of these alarm systems, however, are the high installation effort and the lack of flexibility of the systems. Once installed, the detectors remain permanently in the same location; modifications and extensions to the alarm systems often require structural measures.

Therefore, there is still a need for alarm systems that are not subject to the aforementioned limitations. It would also be desirable if alarm systems could fulfill other functions beyond their alerting function.

The present invention solves this problem by providing a drone with a drone body, wings adjustably mounted on the drone body, and a flight control device configured to adjust the wings and to control the speed and direction of rotation of the wings, wherein the drone has at least one sensor for detecting environmental properties, in particular a microphone, thermometer, humidity sensor, motion sensor, gas sensor, visible light camera, thermal imaging camera, etc., and a controller communicating with the at least one sensor, wherein the controller is designed to detect an unusual environmental condition from the signals received from the sensor and to generate and optionally transmit a corresponding alarm signal. In one embodiment of the invention, the controller is configured to detect the presence of humans or animals from the signals received by the at least one sensor. For this purpose, the sensor is expediently configured as a motion sensor. Alternatively, the controller can also detect the presence of humans or animals based on signals from a microphone or thermometer or from images from a camera or thermal imaging camera.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the controller is configured to detect smoke, fire, and/or gases in the ambient air from the signals received by the at least one sensor. For this purpose, the at least one sensor is configured as a smoke sensor, thermometer, or gas sensor.

In another embodiment of the invention, the controller is configured to detect increased humidity in rooms from the signals received by the at least one sensor, for example, caused by water ingress or a burst pipe. For this purpose, the at least one sensor is configured as a humidity sensor.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the controller is configured to detect glass breakage or forced opening of doors or windows from the signals received by the at least one sensor. A microphone serves as a sensor, and the controller detects noise peaks that exceed a defined level threshold or compares the detected noises with defined characteristic noises.

The drone's controller and flight control system can be integrated. They feature a microprocessor, memory, power supply, interfaces, and actuators for controlling the wing drive motors and their adjustment. A battery is provided to power all power-consuming components of the drone. If the drone detects that the battery charge level is becoming critical, it automatically returns to a charging station. Sensors for detecting environmental characteristics give the drone the function of a versatile alarm system. For example, it can be programmed or trained using integrated machine learning capabilities to classify certain sounds, such as the clinking of glass, as an unusual event requiring closer investigation or the issuance of a warning signal. The warning signal can be an acoustic or visual signal, or a message sent via the data network to a remote receiver, such as a police station. The thermometer serves to The drone is designed to detect and respond to unusual temperature increases that indicate a fire outbreak, or temperature drops that indicate open or improperly opened windows or doors. With the help of the humidity sensor, the drone can detect burst water pipes and water ingress in the building. The gas sensor allows the drone to detect gas leaks from defective pipes or devices. Because the drone's controller is designed to trigger the flight control device upon detection of an unusual environmental condition, so that it navigates the drone in the direction from which the unusual environmental condition originates, the exact localization of the unusual environmental condition is possible. Furthermore, images of the located location can be taken and transmitted to a receiver. Finally, in most cases, the mere appearance of the flying drone is enough to scare off a burglar.

In a preferred embodiment of the drone according to the invention, the drone is prevented from colliding with obstacles. For this purpose, it comprises sensors for obstacle detection, in particular ultrasonic, lidar, radar sensors, and/or motion detectors. The flight control device of the drone is configured to receive the signals from the sensors and, based on the signals, control the drone's flight path so that it avoids detected obstacles. This avoidance function works in all three spatial planes.

In order to expand the application possibilities of the drone according to the invention, the flight control device preferably has a communication module for data exchange with a wireless data network. This data network can, in particular, be a telecommunications network, such as a 5G network, with which large amounts of data can be transmitted. An extension of this embodiment consists in the flight control device being configured to receive a three-dimensional permissible flight space and/or no-fly zones via the wireless data network. Flight space is understood to be the area to which the drone's flight movements are to be limited. The no-fly zone is, as the name suggests, an area into which the drone is not permitted to fly. Flight spaces and no-fly zones can be defined both inside and outside the building. For example, a building plan or a map with flight spaces and no-fly zones can be defined using a software application, and this building plan or map can be transmitted to the flight control device via the data network. It is also envisaged that the drone can be flown from an interior of a building to an exterior area. and back. For this purpose, electronically secured access flaps are provided in a building wall, window, or door.

However, the invention also provides for the drone's flight control device to be remotely controllable via the wireless data network. This allows the user to control the drone both when in visual contact with the drone and from a distance. Remotely controlling the drone from a distance is significantly easier if the drone has a camera configured to send captured images via the wireless data network to a receiver, which in the case of remote control is the user. Reasons for remote control include, for example, monitoring building components and outdoor facilities, as well as visually checking device statuses, such as checking whether an electric stove is turned off.

In addition to reducing the fear of burglaries, the drone according to the invention can also help reduce the number of occupational accidents, especially household accidents, that occur when cleaning vertical building surfaces, not to mention the fact that cleaning these surfaces is very laborious. Vertical building surfaces include both indoor and outdoor surfaces. These can include window surfaces, tiles, stone slabs, wall coverings, facade panels, and the like. Ladders or other climbing aids are usually required to clean these surfaces. In the home, armchairs, stools, and other seating are often the only means of climbing. Since these seating options are easily tipped over, serious accidents occur time and again.

To address this aspect, a further development of the invention provides for the drone to have a cleaning device for vertical building surfaces, in particular window surfaces and wall coverings such as tiles, and for the drone's wings to be adjustable so that the drone can fly up and down and back and forth along the vertical building surfaces. With the aid of this drone according to the invention, manual cleaning is no longer necessary; instead, this arduous task is performed mechanically and can be automated. The drone can clean building surfaces that are difficult to access and building surfaces at great heights. In the household sector, the risk of accidents caused by falling climbing aids is eliminated. The drone's adjustable wings enable the cleaning device to exert a contact pressure against the building surface to be cleaned that is adapted to the cleaning task.

It is also possible to create an automated cleaning program for the drone using a software application and transmit it to the drone. The cleaning program includes, for example, defining which building areas are to be cleaned by the drone on which days and at what times, setting the contact pressure for specific building areas and much more.

In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning device is designed for damp or wet cleaning of building surfaces. For this purpose, the cleaning device has a container for cleaning fluid, a wiper, in particular a sponge or wiping cloth, connected to the cleaning fluid container directly or via a line, and a pump for pumping cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid container to the wiper. In order to remove the cleaning fluid from the building surface after wiping, the cleaning device can have a squeegee lip. In the simplest case, the cleaning fluid is water, which is optionally heated and applied to the building surface to be cleaned in the form of steam. A cleaning fluid can also be added to the water.

In a further embodiment of the drone according to the invention, the cleaning device comprises a suction nozzle, a suction fan driven by an electric motor, and a dirt container. The suction nozzle can either pick up dry dirt particles, such as dust, etc., or it can vacuum used cleaning fluid from the building surface.

In another embodiment, the wings of the drone according to the invention are adjustable so that the drone can fly up and down and back and forth along floors. This allows both wet and dry cleaning of floors and floor coverings. Conventional robot vacuum cleaners tend to get stuck on uneven surfaces, such as carpet edges, material transitions, or thresholds. This problem does not exist with the drone according to the invention because, if it encounters such an obstacle, it simply lifts itself and hovers over it.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of the control and flight control device of the drone;

Fig. 2 shows the drone according to the invention schematically in plan view;

Fig. 3 shows the drone according to the invention schematically in bottom view; Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the cleaning device;

Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the cleaning device; and

Fig. 6 shows the drone according to the invention in side view, with the wings of the drone adjusted to enable the cleaning of a vertical surface,

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates the operation of a preferred embodiment of the drone 1 according to the invention. The illustrated embodiment of the drone 1 comprises a drone body 2, wings 3 mounted on the drone body 2, a flight control device 4 communicating with sensors 4a, and a controller 5 communicating with sensors 5a. The sensors 5a serve to detect environmental properties and can, in particular, be designed as a microphone, a thermometer, a humidity sensor, a motion sensor, a visible light camera, a thermal imaging camera, and/or a gas sensor. The controller 5 is designed to recognize an unusual environmental condition from the signals received by the sensors 5a and to emit a corresponding alarm signal. For example, an alarm signal can be emitted if the drone detects an increased level of carbon monoxide in the air in a closed room. An acoustic stimulus can also be decisive for the alarm signal. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the controller is configured to control the flight control device 4 upon detection of an unusual environmental condition, so that it navigates the drone in the direction from which the unusual environmental condition originates. The number of sensors 4a, 5a shown in Fig. 1 is for illustrative purposes only. The drone according to the invention can also have one and/or more than two sensors 4a, 5a.

The schematic representation of the functioning of a preferred embodiment of the drone according to the invention shown in Fig. 1 further comprises sensors 4a for obstacle detection, in particular ultrasonic, lidar, and/or radar sensors. The flight control device 4 is configured to receive the signals from the sensors 4a and, based on the signals, control the flight path of the drone so that it avoids detected obstacles. For this purpose, an actuator 3b is controlled, which can change the orientation of the wings 3. The flight control device 4 further comprises a communication module 4b for data exchange with a wireless data network, in particular a telecommunications network. This enables the drone 1 to receive a three-dimensional flight space and/or no-fly zones via the wireless data network. Furthermore, the communication module 4b enables the Flight control device 4 is remotely controllable via the wireless data network. In the illustrated embodiment, the drone 1 further comprises a camera 10, which is configured to transmit captured images to a receiver via the wireless data network. A rechargeable battery 11 supplies the drone with power.

Fig. 2 shows a top view of a preferred embodiment of the drone 1 according to the invention with a drone body 2 and four wings 3 adjustably mounted on the drone body 2. Furthermore, the drone has two sensors 4a for obstacle detection and two sensors 5a for detecting environmental properties. In the embodiment shown, the wings 3 each have two rotor blades 3a. The number of wings 3 shown in Fig. 2, the number of rotor blades 3a per wing 3, and the number of sensors are for illustrative purposes only. The drone 1 according to the invention can, for example, also have fewer than four or more than four wings 3, and each wing 3 can, for example, have one or more than two rotor blades 3a. Likewise, one and/or more than two sensors 4a, 5a can be provided. The wings 3 are adjustable such that the drone 1 can fly up and down and back and forth along a vertical building surface, with the underside of the drone facing the vertical building surface. To enable this, the drone 1 further comprises a flight control device 4 (not shown in Fig. 2), which is configured to adjust the wings 3 and to control the speed and direction of rotation of the wings 3. The adjustment of the wings 3 is carried out by means of an actuator 3b, for example, by tilting or pivoting, so that the rotation axis of the rotor blades 3a changes relative to the drone body 2.

Fig. 3 shows a bottom view of the embodiment of the drone 1 from Fig. 2. In this view, a cleaning device 6 for vertical building surfaces, in particular window surfaces and wall coverings, such as tiles, can be seen on the underside of the drone 1. The cleaning device 6 has a container 7a for cleaning fluid, a wiper 7b, in particular a sponge or a wiping cloth, which is connected to the cleaning fluid container 7a directly or via a line, and a pump 7c, shown in Fig. 4, for pumping cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid container 7a to the wiper 7b. The cleaning device 6 further has a squeegee lip 7d, which can be seen below the wiper 7b in Fig. 3. The squeegee lip 7d serves to remove used cleaning fluid from smooth surfaces. The cleaning device 6 of the embodiment shown also has a suction nozzle 8a, a suction fan 8c driven by an electric motor 8b, shown in Fig. 5, and a dirt container 8d. The suction nozzle 8a can collect dry dirt particles, such as dust, etc. In a preferred embodiment, the suction nozzle 8a is also designed to absorb liquids, which are then collected in the dirt container 8d. For example, the cleaning liquid that exits via the wiper 7b can be sucked back in after use.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of the cleaning fluid container 7a, the pump 7c, and the wiper 7b. The fluid contained in the cleaning fluid container 7a is sucked in by the pump 7c and conveyed to the wiper 7b via a suitable line. In this way, the wiper 7b can be supplied with cleaning fluid as needed or continuously.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic representation of the suction nozzle 8a, the electric motor 8b, the suction fan 8c, and the dirt container 8d. Dirt, such as dust or liquid, can be picked up via the suction nozzle 8a, which is then sucked in by the suction fan 8c and transported into the dirt container 8d.

Fig. 6 shows a preferred embodiment of the drone 1 according to the invention, wherein the wings 3 are adjusted so that the drone 1 can fly up and down and back and forth along a vertical building surface. In the position shown, the wings 3 are tilted approximately 45° so that they exert both an upward force on the drone 1 and a horizontal force on the wiper 7b. The wiper 7b thus contacts a vertical surface that is cleaned by the drone 1. Below the wiper 7b, the squeegee lip 7d can be seen, which, when moved upwards, frees the vertical surface of liquid. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the wings of the drone are adjustable so that the drone can also fly up and down and back and forth along floors. This also enables wet or dry cleaning of floors and floor coverings.

Claims

Claims: 1. A drone (1) comprising a drone body (2), wings (3) adjustably mounted on the drone body (2), and a flight control device (4) configured to adjust the wings (3) and to control the speed and direction of rotation of the wings (3), characterized in that the drone (1) comprises at least one sensor (5a) for detecting environmental properties, in particular a microphone, thermometer, humidity sensor, motion sensor, gas sensor, visible light camera, thermal imaging camera, etc., and a controller (5) communicating with the at least one sensor (5a), wherein the controller (5) is configured to detect an unusual environmental condition from the signals received from the at least one sensor (5a) and to generate and optionally transmit a corresponding alarm signal. 2. Drone according to claim 1, characterized in that the controller (5) is designed to control the flight control device (4) upon detection of an unusual environmental condition, so that it navigates the drone (1) in the direction from which the unusual environmental condition originates. 3. Drone according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the controller (5) is designed to detect the presence of humans or animals from the signals received by the at least one sensor (5a). 4. Drone according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the controller (5) is designed to detect smoke, fire and/or gases in the ambient air from the signals received by the at least one sensor (5a). 5. Drone according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the controller (5) is designed to detect increased humidity in rooms from the signals received by the at least one sensor (5a), for example caused by water ingress or pipe burst. 6. Drone according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the controller (5) is designed to detect glass breakage or forced opening of doors or windows from the signals received by the at least one sensor (5a). 7. Drone according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has sensors (4a) for obstacle detection, in particular ultrasonic, lidar and/or radar sensors, and that the flight control device (4) is configured to receive the signals from the sensors (4a) and, based on the signals, to control the flight path of the drone (1) in such a way that it avoids detected obstacles. 8. Drone according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flight control device (4) has a communication module (4b) for data exchange with a wireless data network, in particular a telecommunications network. 9. Drone according to claim 8, characterized in that the flight control device (4) is configured to receive a three-dimensional permissible flight space and/or no-fly zones via the wireless data network. 10. Drone according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the flight control device (4) is remotely controllable via the wireless data network. 11. Drone according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that it has a camera (10) which is designed to send created images via the wireless data network to a receiver (4c), wherein the camera (10) is optionally designed as a thermal imaging camera. 12. Drone according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drone (1) has a cleaning device (6) for vertical building surfaces, in particular window surfaces and wall coverings, such as tiles, and the wings (3) are adjustable so that the drone (1) can fly up and down and back and forth along the vertical building surfaces. 13. Drone according to claim 12, characterized in that the cleaning device (6) has a container (7a) for cleaning fluid, a wiper (7b), in particular a sponge or wiping cloth, connected to the cleaning fluid container (7a) directly or via a line, and a pump (7c) for pumping cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid container (7a) to the wiper (7b), wherein preferably the cleaning device (6) has a squeegee lip (7d). 14. Drone according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the cleaning device (6) has a suction nozzle (8a), a suction fan (8c) driven by an electric motor (8b) and a dirt container (8d). 15. Drone according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wings (3) are adjustable so that the drone (1) can fly up and down and back and forth along floors.