Device for controlling robot behavior and method for controlling it

• US 20030109959A1
• Filed: 10/17/2002
• Published: 06/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tajima, Shigeru, Rekimoto, Junichi, Ayatsuka, Yuji, Matsushita, Nobuyuki, Karasawa, Hidenori, Sciammarella, Eduardo A., Hasegawa, Tota
• Granted Patent: US 7,099,742 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/008 based on physical entities controlled by simulated intelligence so as to replicate intelligent life forms, e.g. based on robots replicating pets or humans in their appearance or behaviour

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus that controls the actions of a pet robot. The apparatus comprises a portable terminal (3) having an electrode that may contact a user (2). When the user touches the electrode provided on the head of the robot (1), the user ID stored in the memory section of the portable terminal (3) is transmitted to the robot (1) through the user (2). The robot (1) retrieves the information associated with the user ID it has received, thereby identifying the user (2). The robot (1) may determine that the user (2) touched it in the past. In this case, the robot (1) performs an action in accordance with the information about what the user (2) did to it in the past.

Claims

1. An action control apparatus for controlling the actions of a pet robot, comprising:

transmitting means for transmitting control data which controls the actions of the pet robot; and

transfer means for contacting an electrically conductive member of the pet robot through a transfer medium, thereby to transfer to the pet robot the control data transmitted by the transmitting means.

2. An action control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer medium is a human being.

3. An action control apparatus according to claim 1, which is located at a prescribed position within an area where the pet robot walks and move around, and in which the transmitting means transmits control data related to the position at which the action control apparatus is located.

4. An action control apparatus according to claim 1, which is configured to be mounted on an arm of a human being.

5. An action control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising input means for inputting the control data, memory means for storing the control data input from the input means, and display means for displaying the control data stored in the memory means.

6. An action control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control data includes dynamic data items and static data items concerning a user.

7. An action control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising receiving means for receiving predetermined information transmitted from the pet robot.

8. A method of controlling an action control apparatus for controlling the actions of a pet robot, comprising:

a step of transmitting control data which controls the actions of the pet robot; and

a step of contacting an electrically conductive member of the pet robot through a transfer medium, thereby to transfer to the pet robot the control data transmitted by the transmitting means.

9. A recording medium storing a computer-readable program for controlling an action control apparatus for controlling the actions of a pet robot, said program describing:

a step of transmitting control data which controls the actions of the pet robot; and

a step of contacting an electrically conductive member of the pet robot through a transfer medium, thereby to transfer to the pet robot the control data transmitted by the transmitting means.

10. An autonomous pet robot comprising:

receiving means for receiving control data from an external device;

action data acquiring means for acquiring action data corresponding to the control data received by the receiving means; and

action control means for controlling actions in accordance with the action data acquired by the action data acquiring means,

wherein the receiving means has an electrically conductive member exposed to outside to contact another body and is configured to receive the control data through the electrically conductive member.

11. A pet robot according to claim 10, further comprising memory means for storing the action data which has been acquired by the action data acquiring means and which the action control means uses to control the actions.

12. A pet robot according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of electrically conductive members of the type described are provided, and the action control means controls the actions in accordance with which electrically conductive member has received the control data.

13. A pet robot according to claim 10, which further comprises detecting means for detecting a pressure that the other body applies to the electrically conductive member when contacting the member, and in which the action data acquiring means acquires action data corresponding to the pressure detected by the detecting means.

14. A pet robot according to claim 10, further comprising:

communication means for communicating with a data processing apparatus connected to a network, by way of the electrically conductive member;

program acquiring means for acquiring a control program for the action control means, from the network as the communication means performs communication; and

updating means for updating the control program for the action control means, in accordance with the control program acquired by the program acquiring means.

15. A pet robot according to claim 10, which further comprises a data processing apparatus located at a prescribed position within an area where the pet robot walks and moves around and communication means for communicating with the data processing apparatus through the electrically conductive member, and in which the receiving means receives, from the data processing apparatus, control data corresponding to the position of the data processing apparatus.

16. A method of controlling an autonomous pet robot, comprising:

a step of receiving control data transmitted from an external device;

a step of acquiring action data corresponding to the control data received at the step of receiving control data; and

a step of controlling actions in accordance with the action data acquired in the step of acquiring action data,

wherein, at the step of receiving control data, the control data is received through an electrically conductive member exposed to outside to contact another body.

17. A recording medium recording a program for controlling an autonomous pet robot, said program describing:

a step of receiving control data transmitted from an external device;

a step of acquiring action data corresponding to the control data received at the step of receiving control data; and

a step of controlling actions in accordance with the action data acquired in the step of acquiring action data,

whereby, at the step of receiving control data, the control data is received through an electrically conductive member exposed to outside to contact another body.

18. A robot control system comprising an autonomous pet robot and an action control apparatus for controlling actions of the pet robot, wherein

said action control apparatus comprises:

transmitting means for transmitting control data for controlling the pet robot; and

transfer means for contacting an electrically conductive member of the pet robot through a transfer medium, thereby to transfer to the pet robot the control data transmitted by the transmitting means.

said pet robot comprises;

receiving means for receiving the control data transmitted from the action control apparatus;

action data acquiring means for acquiring action data corresponding to the control data received by the receiving means; and

action control means for controlling actions in accordance with the action data acquired by the action data acquiring means,

wherein the receiving means has an electrically conductive member exposed to outside to contact said transfer medium and is configured to receive the control data through the electrically conductive member.