SPOOFING REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHODS

• US 20150283701A1
• Filed: 04/03/2014
• Published: 10/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brain Corporation
• Original Assignee: Brain Corporation
• Inventors: Izhikevich, Eugene M., Laurent, Patryk, Polonichko, Vadim
• Granted Patent: US 9,613,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• 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: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/008 based on physical entities controlled by simulated intelligence so as to replicate intelligent life forms, e.g. based on robots replicating pets or humans in their appearance or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/049 Temporal neural networks, e.g. delay elements, oscillating neurons or pulsed inputs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 Mobile robot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/47 Optical

Abstract

Robotic devices may be operated by users remotely. A learning controller apparatus may detect remote transmissions comprising user control instructions. The learning apparatus may receive sensory input conveying information about robot'"'"'s state and environment (context). The learning apparatus may monitor one or more wavelength (infrared light, radio channel) and detect transmissions from user remote control device to the robot during its operation by the user. The learning apparatus may be configured to develop associations between the detected user remote control instructions and actions of the robot for given context. When a given sensory context occurs, the learning controller may automatically provide control instructions to the robot that may be associates with the given context. The provision of control instructions to the robot by the learning controller may obviate the need for user remote control of the robot thereby enabling autonomous operation by the robot.

Claims

1. A learning apparatus configured for recording and transmitting remote control signals, the apparatus comprising:

one or more physical processors configured to execute computer program instructions to cause the one or more physical processors to;

(1) during a first interval;

determine a control signal provided by a user via a remote controller; and

store information configured to convey data related to state of an environment of a remotely controlled device; and

(2) during a second interval subsequent to the first interval;

responsive to receipt of the information, provide the control signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the remote controller comprises a wireless transmitter; and

the remote controller is configured to cause the remotely-controlled device to perform a task responsive to the control signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the control signal is configured to cause the remotely-controlled device to perform the task; and

the data related to state of an environment is configured absent the control signal provided by the user.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the storing of the information is effectuated autonomously by the apparatus absent user input; and

the control signal transmission is configured to cause the remotely-controlled device to perform a task autonomously absent a signal transmission from the remote controller.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a transceiver component configured to effectuate receiving and transmitting a carrier waveform;

wherein;

the control signal is determined responsive to receipt of the carrier waveform over a first remote link between the remote controller and the transceiver, the first remote link being configured based on a transceiver identification; and

the control signal transmission to the remotely-controlled device comprises transmission of the carrier wave over a second remote link between the transceiver and the remotely-controlled device, the second remote link configured based on the transceiver identification and an identification of the remotely-controlled device.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an interface component configured to receive a sensory signal from a sensor component;

wherein;

the remotely-controlled device comprises the sensor component; and

at least a portion of the information comprises the sensory signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an enclosure housing the receiver, the transmitter, and the one or more physical processors;

an interface component configured to receive a sensory signal from a sensor component;

wherein;

the sensor component is disposed at a location other than the enclosure; and

at least a portion of the information comprises the sensory signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an enclosure housing the receiver, the transmitter, and the one or more processors; and

a sensor component configured to provide a sensory signal related to an environment surrounding the enclosure;

wherein at least a portion of the information comprises the sensory signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the sensor component comprises a video camera component configured to provide one or more image frames conveying visual information from an environment surrounding the apparatus; and

a sensory signal received from a sensor component comprises the one or more image frames.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an interface communicatively coupled with the one or more processors, the interface being configured to receive a plurality of image frames of an environment surrounding the apparatus;

wherein the information is based on a difference operation applied to two frames of the plurality of frames.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the remote controller comprises an infrared transmitter controller; and

the transmission comprises an infrared light wave transmission.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the remote controller comprises a radio frequency transmitter; and

the transmission comprises a radio frequency wave transmission.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer program instructions are further executable to cause the one or more physical processors to perform a supervised learning process configured to:

associate a first version of the information with the control signal; and

associate a second version of the information with a second control signal provided by the user via the remote controller;

wherein the apparatus is configured to transmit either the control signal or the second control signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an enclosure housing a receiver, a transmitter, and the one or more physical processors;

wherein;

the enclosure is configured to be embodied within the remotely-controlled device; and

the enclosure is characterized by a form factor of a cylindrical battery, the battery having a size or type selected from the group consisting of AA, AAA, C, D, and 18500.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure housing a receiver, a transmitter, and the one or more physical processors;

wherein the enclosure is characterized by a form factor of an incandescent light bulb comprising male screw base.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a user interface component;

wherein;

the storing of the information is performed responsive to an indication provided by the user via the user interface component; and

the storing of the information comprises storing the information and the command in a look-up table.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a transceiver component configured to facilitate receiving and transmitting a carrier waveform; and

a signal interface configured to provide information related to the carrier waveform to the one or more physical processors;

wherein the one or more physical processors are disposed within a portable computing device, the transceiver being disposed at a location other than the portable computing device, the one or more physical processors being communicatively coupled with the transceiver via the signal interface.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the portable computing device is selected from the group consisting of a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a smartphone, a personal communications device, and a desktop computer.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information comprises the control signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the provision of the control signal is characterized by a time interval during an absence of another control signal being provided by the user via the remote controller.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the control signal provision by the user via the remote controller is characterized by a first time interval; and

the control signal transmission is characterized by a second time interval determined based on a time multiplex with the first time interval.

22. A learning apparatus configured for controlling a remote controlled device, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver apparatus comprising a receiver and a transmitter;

a sensory interface; and

one or more physical processors communicatively coupled with the transceiver apparatus and the sensory interface, the one or more physical processors being configured to execute computer program instructions to cause the one or more physical processors to;

facilitate storing of a first context signal and a command sent to the device, the command being received by the receiver; and

responsive to receipt of a second context signal similar to the first context signal, causing transmission of the command by the transmitter;

wherein the first context signal and the second context signal are determined based on the data provided via the sensory interface.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the command is provided via a wireless communication from a remote controller.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein:

the command is configured to cause the device to perform a task;

the provision of the remote transmission occurs automatically and in absence of the wireless communication; and

the performance of the task by the device effectuated based on the command transmission is performed absent of additional wireless communications from the remote controller.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein:

the data related to the control instruction are determined based on the detection of the wireless transmission;

the wireless transmission is configured based on a carrier wave;

the control instruction comprises one or more pulses of the carrier wave; and

the data related to the control instruction comprise the one or more pulses of the carrier.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein:

the device comprises a robotic device;

a visual sensor component is configured to communicate the data to the one or more physical processors via the sensory interface; and

the context comprising information related to one or both of (i) a motion of the robotic device during execution of a task or (ii) a visual scene in an environment surrounding the robotic device.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein:

the remote controlled device comprises a robotic device;

the robotic device comprises a motion sensor configured to provide information related to one or both of a motion of the robotic device or a motion of objects in an environment surrounding the robotic device; and

the context comprises the motion information.