AUTONOMOUS MOTION DEVICE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD
First Claim
1. An article, comprising:
- an enclosure defining a three-dimensional body having an ovoid or spherical shape;
an electric motor disposed within the enclosure, the electric motor including a motor body held in place by the enclosure and a drive shaft;
an offset mass element disposed within the enclosure and mechanically coupled with the drive shaft of the electric motor;
an angular position sensor disposed within the enclosure to measure an angular position of the offset mass element relative to the enclosure;
an accelerometer sensor disposed within the enclosure to measure an angular position of the enclosure relative to a gravity vector; and
a control system disposed within the enclosure, the control system configured to;
receive measurements of the angular position of the offset mass element relative to the enclosure from the angular position sensor;
receive measurements of the angular position of the enclosure relative to the gravity vector;
vary electrical power supplied to the electric motor to drive the drive shaft based, at least in part, on the measurements of angular position of the offset mass element and the angular position of the enclosure to generate rolling motion of the enclosure relative to a surface upon which the enclosure rests.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An article, forming a toy for a pet or child, includes an enclosure defining a three-dimensional body having an ovoid or spherical shape, an electric motor including a motor body held in place by the enclosure and a drive shaft, and an offset mass element disposed within the enclosure and mechanically coupled with the drive shaft of the electric motor. The article further includes an angular position sensor, an accelerometer sensor, and a control system configured to vary electrical power supplied to the electric motor to drive the drive shaft based, at least in part, on the measurements of angular position of the offset mass element and the angular position of the enclosure to generate rolling motion of the enclosure relative to a surface upon which the enclosure rests.
49 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An article, comprising:
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an enclosure defining a three-dimensional body having an ovoid or spherical shape; an electric motor disposed within the enclosure, the electric motor including a motor body held in place by the enclosure and a drive shaft; an offset mass element disposed within the enclosure and mechanically coupled with the drive shaft of the electric motor; an angular position sensor disposed within the enclosure to measure an angular position of the offset mass element relative to the enclosure; an accelerometer sensor disposed within the enclosure to measure an angular position of the enclosure relative to a gravity vector; and a control system disposed within the enclosure, the control system configured to; receive measurements of the angular position of the offset mass element relative to the enclosure from the angular position sensor; receive measurements of the angular position of the enclosure relative to the gravity vector; vary electrical power supplied to the electric motor to drive the drive shaft based, at least in part, on the measurements of angular position of the offset mass element and the angular position of the enclosure to generate rolling motion of the enclosure relative to a surface upon which the enclosure rests. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for operating a pet toy, comprising:
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outputting electrical power to an electric motor to drive a drive shaft; receiving a measurement of an angular position of an offset mass element from an angular position sensor; receiving a measurement of an angular position of an enclosure relative to a gravity vector; and changing an amount of electrical power output to the electric motor based on, at least in part, the measurement of the angular position of the offset mass element and the measurement of the angular position of the enclosure to generate a rolling motion of the enclosure relative to a surface upon which the enclosure rests.
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13. A method performed by a computing system, the method comprising:
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establishing a wired or wireless communications link with a control system of a device, the device performing movement and/or providing aural and/or visual output during a session responsive to detected ambient conditions; obtaining performance measurement information for the session from the control system via the wired or wireless communications link; associating the performance measurement information with one or more control modules implemented by the control system during the session; identifying for each control module of the one or more control modules, based on the performance measurement information associated with that control module, (1) an activity time period during the session for that control module and/or (2) an activity intensity during the session for that control module; and presenting an indication of the activity time period and/or the activity intensity for each control module via an output device of the computing system. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification