Companion robot for personal interaction
First Claim
1. A method of robot self-navigation for a robot, the method comprising:
- monitoring at least one of a sensor and an input;
comparing a signal from at least one of the sensor and the input to at least two predetermined conditions; and
performing at least one of (a) an action, if the signal corresponds to a first condition; and
(b) a movement of the robot, if the signal corresponds to a second condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile robot guest for interacting with a human resident performs a room-traversing search procedure prior to interacting with the resident, and may verbally query whether the resident being sought is present. Upon finding the resident, the mobile robot may facilitate a teleconferencing session with a remote third party, or interact with the resident in a number of ways. For example, the robot may carry on a dialogue with the resident, reinforce compliance with medication or other schedules, etc. In addition, the robot incorporates safety features for preventing collisions with the resident; and the robot may audibly announce and/or visibly indicate its presence in order to avoid becoming a dangerous obstacle. Furthermore, the mobile robot behaves in accordance with an integral privacy policy, such that any sensor recording or transmission must be approved by the resident.
304 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method of robot self-navigation for a robot, the method comprising:
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monitoring at least one of a sensor and an input;
comparing a signal from at least one of the sensor and the input to at least two predetermined conditions; and
performing at least one of (a) an action, if the signal corresponds to a first condition; and
(b) a movement of the robot, if the signal corresponds to a second condition.
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2. A method of robot self-navigation, comprising:
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monitoring a sensor capable of detecting the presence of a person within a detection range of the robot;
improving a presence score when the person is detected within the detection range of the robot;
decaying the presence score to progressively worsen;
driving in a direction to move the robot to a different location when the presence score decays to a first threshold presence score;
parking the robot in a location proximate to the person when the presence score improves to a second threshold presence score.
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3. A method of robot self-navigation, comprising:
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monitoring a sensor capable of detecting the presence of a detectable object within a detection range of the robot;
improving a presence score when a detectable object is detected within the detection range of the robot;
decaying the presence score to progressively worsen;
driving in a direction to move the robot to a different location when the presence score decays to a first threshold presence score.
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4. A method of robot self-navigation, comprising:
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monitoring a sensor suite capable of detecting the presence of a detectable object within a detection range of the robot, detectable objects including either or both of a person and a charging station;
improving a presence score when a detectable object is detected within the detection range of the robot;
decaying the presence score to progressively worsen;
driving in a direction to move the robot to a different location when the presence score decays to a first threshold presence score; and
parking the robot in a charging station located proximate to the different location and to the person, engaged to recharge, when the presence score improves to a second threshold presence score.
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5. A method of robot self-navigation, comprising:
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generating an annunciator activation signal in response to a detected condition;
activating an annunciator upon an annunciator activation signal;
monitoring a sensor for a detected response from a person;
checking whether the detected response includes a sought response;
if the checking confirms the detected response includes a sought response, activating a found person success routine; and
if the checking confirms the detected response includes a sought response, identifying a passage from a present chamber, and driving in a direction to move the robot through the passage from the present chamber to a new chamber.
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6. A method for robotically locating a person being sought, comprising:
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monitoring a sensor suite for a non-noise signal indicative of the presence of a person; and
if the non-noise signal corresponds to a sought response, then activating a found person success routine, and if the non-noise signal does not correspond to a sought response or if no response is identified, then selecting one of (i) identifying a doorway from a present chamber, and navigating the robot through the doorway from the present chamber to a new chamber, or (ii) controlling a mobile robot to activate an annunciator.
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7. A method for navigating a robot, comprising:
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receiving a first navigation command representative of a remote user'"'"'s selection of a room identity marker;
recognizing a present room;
driving among rooms of different room identity according to the first navigation command until the robot recognizes being within a room having a room identity corresponding to the selected room identity marker;
receiving a second navigation command representative of a remote user'"'"'s selection of one of a floor location within the room having a room identity corresponding to the room identity marker or a landmark item within the room having a room identity corresponding to the room identity marker;
driving within the room corresponding to the room identity according to the second navigation command until the robot recognizes being at one of the floor location or next to the landmark item;
receiving a third navigation command stream representative of a remote user'"'"'s command including direction and bearing;
driving within the room and from the floor location according to the received third navigation command stream representative of a remote user'"'"'s command including direction and bearing.
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8. A method for handling navigation commands for remotely controlling a robot, comprising:
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receiving a selection of room identities corresponding to available room identities in a household;
driving among rooms of different room identity until the robot captures topological adjacency among room identities and correlates each room identity of a household with a received room identity marker;
displaying room identity markers corresponding to available room identities for a household, the room identity markers being displayed according to topological adjacency of corresponding room identities and being displayed as a part of a graphical depiction of a house.
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9. A method for handling navigation commands for remotely controlling a robot, comprising:
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receiving a selection of room identities corresponding to available room identities in a household;
driving among rooms of different room identity until the robot captures topological adjacency among room identities and correlates each room identity of a household with a received room identity marker;
displaying room identity markers corresponding to available room identities for a household, the room identity markers being displayed according to topological adjacency of corresponding room identities and being displayed as a part of a graphical depiction of a house;
receiving a selection of a room identity marker via a user interface linked to the displaying room identity markers as a first navigation command representative of a remote user'"'"'s selection of a room identity marker;
recognizing a present room; and
driving among rooms of different room identity according to the first navigation command until the robot recognizes being within a room having a room identity corresponding to the selected room identity marker.
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Specification