Method for Creating Low-cost Interactive Entertainment Robots

• US 20120264414A1
• Filed: 04/17/2011
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hei Tao Fung
• Original Assignee: Hei Tao Fung
• Inventors: Fung, Hei Tao
• Granted Patent: US 8,588,972 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/003 Manipulators for entertainment
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

A method for creating low-cost interactive entertainment robots is disclosed. The cost of the robots is reduced by using a commodity computing device: smart phone, and by having robotic bodies use a decoder of a set of movement commands that facilitates the interoperability between a variety of smart phones and a variety of robotic bodies. Smart phones are equipped with powerful CPU, touch screen, USB, camera, microphone, Bluetooth, WI-FI, etc. They are fit for being the robot control units with the relevant robot applications installed. The cost of robotic bodies can be reduced by minimizing the amount of processing and sensing there and having them focus on mechanical movements. Furthermore, by defining and using a set of movement commands that promotes interoperability between a variety of robot control units and a variety of robotic bodies, the cost of robotic bodies can be reduced through mass production.

Claims

1. A method for creating low-cost interactive entertainment robots, comprising:

(a) using a smart phone as the robot control unit;

(b) using a robotic body that holds said smart phone and provides movements; and

(c) conveying a plurality of movement commands from said smart phone to said robotic body that comprises a movement command decoder that facilitates interoperability between a variety of smart phones and a variety of robotic bodies.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein using a smart phone as the robot control unit, comprising:

(a) running robot applications installed on said smart phone;

(b) processing images captured via said smart phone'"'"'s camera as decision inputs;

(c) processing sound signals received via said smart phone'"'"'s microphone as decision inputs;

(d) processing touch signals received via said smart phone'"'"'s touch screen as decision inputs;

(e) processing data from internet received via said smart phone'"'"'s wireless network connection to an access gateway as decision inputs;

(f) creating decision outputs based on decision inputs according to said robot applications; and

(g) conveying decision outputs as a sequence of movement commands via a communication channel to said robotic body.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein using a robotic body that holds said smart phone and provides movements, comprising:

(a) providing a holder on said robotic body for said smart phone;

(b) establishing a communication channel between said robotic body and said smart phone via Bluetooth, audio jack connection, USB connection, or peripheral connection; and

(c) controlling moving parts of said robotic body according to movement commands received from said smart phone.

4. The method as in claim 1, wherein conveying a plurality of movement commands from said smart phone to said robotic body that comprises a movement command decoder that facilitates interoperability between a variety of smart phones and a variety of robotic bodies, comprising:

(a) converting decision outputs from said smart phone into a sequence of movement commands that can be decoded by a variety of robotic bodies;

(b) transmitting said sequence of movement commands via communication channel between said robotic body and said smart phone; and

(c) converting said sequence of movement commands received on said robotic body into electrical signals that control mechanical movements of said robotic body.

5. The method as in claim 4, wherein said movement command decoder decodes movement commands received from said smart phone and generates electrical control signals according to said movement commands.

6. The method as in claim 5, wherein said electrical control signals comprise signals for controlling the operations of a plurality of motors and switches and for controlling the timing and synchronization of said operations.

8. The robot as in claim 5, wherein said smart phone as the robot control unit, comprising:

(a) robot applications installed;

(b) camera that captures images as decision inputs;

(c) microphone that receives sound signals as decision inputs;

(d) touch screen that receives touch signals as decision inputs;

(e) wireless network connection unit that receives data from internet as decision inputs;

(f) processing unit that creates decision outputs based on decision inputs according to said robot applications and converts said decision outputs into a sequence of movement commands; and

(h) communication unit that establishes communication channel to said robotic body and conveys said sequence of movement commands through said communication channel.

9. The robot as in claim 8, wherein said communication channel unit operates on a Bluetooth connection, audio jack connection, USB connection, or peripheral connection.

10. The robot as in claim 8, wherein said wireless network connection unit operates on a WI-FI network or cellular network.

7. An interactive entertainment robot, comprising:

(a) a smart phone as the robot control unit; and

(b) a robotic body that holds said smart phone, provides movements, and comprises a movement command decoder that facilitates interoperability between a variety of smart phones and a variety of robotic bodies.

11. The robot as in claim 7, wherein said robotic body, comprising:

(a) holder for said smart phone;

(b) communication unit that receives a sequence of movement commands from said smart phone through communication channel;

(c) movement command decoder that converts a sequence of movement commands into electrical signals; and

(d) moveable parts controlled by electrical signals.

12. The robot as in claim 7, wherein said movement command decoder implements a set of movement commands that indicate basic motor and switch operations.

13. The robot as in claim 12, wherein said set of movement commands comprises indication of motor and switch unit, magnitude of operation, and duration of operation.

14. A movement command decoder in a robotic body, comprising:

(a) communication unit

(b) movement command output unit

(c) a plurality of amplifying buffers

15. The decoder as in claim 14, wherein said communication unit handles the data link layer signaling and protocol stack of the relevant communication protocol and presents the protocol data unit to the movement command output unit.

16. The decoder as in claim 14, wherein said movement command output unit extracts movement commands from protocol data units received from said communication unit and generates electrical control signals according to said movement commands.

17. The decoder as in claim 16, wherein said electrical control signals comprise signals for controlling the operations of a plurality of motors and switches and for controlling the timing and synchronization of said operations.

18. The decoder as in claim 14, wherein said plurality of amplifying buffers provide stable electrical signals for controlling the operations of a plurality of motors and switches.

19. The decoder as in claim 18, wherein said plurality of amplifying buffers can be controlled by a signal for controlling the timing and synchronization of operations of a plurality of motors and switches.