METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ROBOT GENERATION

• US 20120150345A1
• Filed: 02/17/2012
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: White Magic Robotics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: White Magic Robotics, Inc.
• Inventors: Baltes, Hansjorg, Peterson, Jack Elmin, Schaerer, Shawn Samuel, Liu, Xiao-Wen Terry, McKinnon, Brian P., Epp, Sara, Kanne, Vergil, Yanke, Shane
• Granted Patent: US 9,671,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0227 using mechanical sensing means, e.g. for sensing treated area
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0255 using acoustic signals, e.g. ultra-sonic singals sonar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S15/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0261 using magnetic plots
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0272 comprising means for registering the travel distance, e.g. revolutions of wheels measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, e.g. using odometers G01C22/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS

Abstract

A method is provided for the automatic generation of a robotic devices, where the method comprises the steps of receiving user input to determine a task specification for one or more tasks for the robotic device, determining a task list comprising one or more tasks based on the provided task specification, determining based on the task list provided, one or more mechanical components, one or more processing components, and logic components required to execute one or more tasks; and generating the logic components required to execute one or more tasks, and embedding the logic components onto a recordable medium associated with the robotic device.

Claims

1. A method for the automated generation of a robotic device in whole or in part, comprising the steps of:

eliciting and receiving user input to determine a task specification for one or more tasks for the robotic device;

determining a task list comprising one or more tasks based on the provided task specification;

determining based on the task list provided, one or more movement components, one or more processing components, and logic components required to execute one or more tasks; and

generating the logic components required to execute one or more tasks, and embedding the logic components onto a recordable medium associated with the robotic device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining specifications for the one or more mechanical components, the one or more processing components, and the one or more logic components for use in generation of the robotic device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a physical robotic device is constructed by assembling the one or more mechanical components in combination with the processing components and the recordable medium.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a plurality of physical robotic devices are created and operate in a robotic team environment.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein a virtual robotic device is constructed by creating virtual representations of the one or more mechanical components that are combined with the one or more processing requirements and the logic components.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a plurality of virtual robotic devices are created and operate in a robotic team environment.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of eliciting and receiving user input regarding environmental specifications regarding the environment that the robotic device is to operate in.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a robotic device is constructed with physical and virtual components that represent the one or more mechanical components that are combined with the one or more processing requirements and the logic components.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a plurality of robotic devices with mixed physical and virtual components are created and operate in a robotic team environment.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is undertaken at a robotic server.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a robotic device is a robotic server.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of eliciting and receiving user input regarding environmental specifications regarding the environment that the robotic device is to operate in comprises:

inputting a map that defines the area of the environment;

inputting a starting point indicating a position within the area that the robotic device is to start operating from;

inputting one or more stopping points along a route emanating from the starting point that the robotic device is to follow; and

inputting one or more tasks to be completed by the robotic device at the starting points, stopping points or along the route.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the map may be a pre-existing map that is uploaded.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the map may be created to define the area of the environment.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the specified environment is transmitted to the robotic device.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the robotic device may be a physical robotic device or a virtual robotic device, or a robotic device with mixed physical and virtual components.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of eliciting and receiving user input via a task specification module to determine a task specification for one or more tasks for the robotic device comprises:

specifying whether the robotic device is a physical robotic device or a virtual robotic device, or a robotic device with mixed physical and virtual components;

specifying a location for the robotic device to operate in;

specifying an activity for the robotic device to undertake; and

providing detailed information regarding the activity that the robotic device is to undertake.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the location may be an indoor or outdoor location, or an indoor and outdoor location.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the activity may be selected from one or more activities that the robotic device has previously undertaken.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the activity may be an activity that has not been previously undertaken by the robotic device.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein a robotic device is generated to accomplish the one or more tasks.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the robotic device may be a physical robotic device or a virtual robotic device or a virtual robotic device with mixed physical and virtual components.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the robotic device may operate in a physical environment, virtual environment or a mixed virtual and physical environment.

24. A method of automatically generating a robotic device, in whole or in part, the method comprising:

specifying whether the robotic device is a physical robotic device or a virtual robotic device, or a robotic device with mixed physical and virtual components;

specifying a location for the robotic device to operate in;

specifying an activity for the robotic device to undertake;

providing detailed information regarding the activity that the robotic device is to undertake;

automatically determining a task list using a task generator module based on at least one of the location, the activity and the detailed information, the task list comprising at least one task;

automatically determining a plurality robotic components that are to be included in the robotic device based on the task list using a robot generation module, the plurality of components including at least one logic component; and

automatically generating the at least one logic component required to execute the at least one task on the task list and embedding the at least one logic component onto a recordable medium associated with the robotic device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein at least one of the steps of automatically determining a task list and automatically determining a plurality of robotic components comprises querying a knowledge base module comprising at least one knowledge database.