SOCIAL ROBOT

• US 20120209433A1
• Filed: 10/08/2010
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thecorpora, S.L.
• Original Assignee: Thecorpora, S.L.
• Inventors: Paz Rodriguez, Francisco Javier
• Application Number:
  US13/502,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20120209433A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/259
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/0005 Manipulators having means for high-level communication with users, e.g. speech generator, face recognition means
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/001 with emotions simulating means
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/003 by means of an audio-responsive input audible safety signals B25J19/061
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/026 Acoustical sensing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 5/007 mounted on wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/02 Neural networks

Abstract

Social robot formed by an artificial vision system composed of webcam cameras, a voice recognition system formed by three microphones arranged in a triangular configuration, an expression system composed of an LED matrix, formed by a plurality of LEDs and a status LED, and eyelids formed by half-moons connected to gearwheels which engage with respective servomotors via transmission wheels, a speech synthesis system composed of loudspeakers, a system for detecting obstacles which is formed by ultrasound sensors, and a movement system formed by two driving wheels.

Claims

1. A social robot of the type comprising:

a head in which there is located an artificial vision system made up of webcam cameras, a voice recognition system formed by microphones, and an expression system; and

a body in which there is located a speech synthesis system made up of loudspeakers, an obstacle detection system made up of ultrasound sensors, and a system for movement formed by two working wheels, wherein

the expression system is made up of an array of LEDs, formed by a plurality of LEDs and a status led, and eyelids formed by a crescent-shaped piece associated with a cogwheel meshing with respective servomotors through a drive wheel; and

in that

the voice recognition system has three microphones and they are arranged in a triangular configuration, two are located in a lower position at either sides of the head and the other is located in an upper position and at equidistant from the other two.

2. The social robot according to claim 1, wherein inside the body there is arranged a motherboard with an open source operating system which is connected to a controller board located inside the body and which connects to a controller board located in the rear inner part of the head.

3. The social robot according to claim 1, wherein the webcam cameras are separated by approximately seven centimeters.

4. The social robot according to claim 1, wherein the obstacle detection system has six ultrasound sensors, three of them arranged in the front part of the body, two in the rear part thereof and another in the lower part.

5. The social robot according to claim 1, wherein the head is driven by two servomotors, wherein the servomotor performs lateral movements of the head which are limited to 180°

and the servomotor performs vertical movements which are limited to 70°

.

6. The social robot according to claim 1, wherein the rear part of the head has an antenna for connecting to an artificial neural network located in a remote position.

7. The social robot according to claim 1, wherein the controller board has four connectors for controlling servomotors, two input and output devices for controlling motors, three USB ports for connecting to a WIFI device and the webcam cameras, an audio output for the loudspeakers, an audio input and power distribution points

8. The social robot according to claim 1, wherein the controller board has three audio inputs for the microphones, an audio output, a multi-connector for the array of LEDs and a power supply point.

9. The social robot according to claim 1, wherein infrared receptors for the accurate coupling of the robot with a charging platform where infrared LEDs are arranged in correspondence with said infrared receptors are connected by means of a connector of the controller board.

10. The social robot according to claim 1, wherein the obstacle detection system has four ultrasound sensors, two of them are arranged in the front part of the body, the other two in the rear part of the body, an infrared sensor oriented at a 45°

angle with respect to the level of the ground being placed between the front ultrasound sensors.

11. The social robot according to claim 2, wherein the controller board has four connectors for controlling servomotors, two input and output devices for controlling motors, three USB ports for connecting to a WIFI device and the webcam cameras, an audio output for the loudspeakers, an audio input and power distribution points.

12. The social robot according to claim 2, wherein the controller board has three audio inputs for the microphones, an audio output, a multi-connector for the array of LEDs and a power supply point.

13. The social robot according to claim 2, wherein infrared receptors for the accurate coupling of the robot with a charging platform where infrared LEDs are arranged in correspondence with said infrared receptors are connected by means of a connector of the controller board.