Robot movable in a group
First Claim
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1. Robots movable in a group, each of said robots being movable in one of at least two different modes of movement at a time and comprising:
- identifying means for identifying the relative positions between this robot and the other robots of the group and for thereby generating a position signal representing the relative positions between said this robot and said the other robots of the group;
mode control means operatively associated with said identifying means for selecting one mode at a time out of said at least two different modes in accordance with said position signal received from said identifying means and for thereby generating a mode signal corresponding to said selected mode; and
moving means operatively associated with said mode control means for receiving said mode signal and for thereby actuating said this robot to move in one of said at least two modes which is selected by said mode control means.
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Abstract
Robots in a group, each usually moving randomly in irregular directions but making a specific movement, upon detection by one of them, of any other robot of the group present within a certain distance, either to run away from or run after the detected other robot.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. Robots movable in a group, each of said robots being movable in one of at least two different modes of movement at a time and comprising:
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identifying means for identifying the relative positions between this robot and the other robots of the group and for thereby generating a position signal representing the relative positions between said this robot and said the other robots of the group; mode control means operatively associated with said identifying means for selecting one mode at a time out of said at least two different modes in accordance with said position signal received from said identifying means and for thereby generating a mode signal corresponding to said selected mode; and moving means operatively associated with said mode control means for receiving said mode signal and for thereby actuating said this robot to move in one of said at least two modes which is selected by said mode control means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 22, 33)
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12. Robots movable in a group, each of said robots being movable in one of at least three different modes of movement at a time and comprising:
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identifying means for identifying the relative positions of one of said robots with respect to the other robots of said group and for thereby generating a position signal representing the relative positions of said one of said robots with respect to the other robots of said group; mode control means operatively associated with said identifying means for selecting one mode at a time out of said three different modes in accordance with said position signal received by this mode control means and for thereby generating a mode signal corresponding to the selected mode; and moving means operatively associated with said mode control means for receiving said mode signal and for thereby actuating said one of said robots to move in said one mode selected by said mode control means. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23)
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24. A robot movable by itself within a given movement area without use of any guiding means for guiding the movement of the robot, comprising:
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boundary detecting means for detecting the boundary of said movement area and for thereby delivering a boundary detecting signal representing the fact that the robot is positioned close to said boundary; random signal generating means for generating a random signal; mode control means for receiving said boundary detecting signal and said random signal and thereby generating a boundary mode signal upon receipt of said boundary detecting signal, and also generating a random mode signal in the absence of said boundary detecting signal; and moving means for receiving said boundary mode signal and said random mode signal and for thereby causing said robot, upon receipt of said random mode signal, to move in a random mode of movement, and also causing said robot, upon receipt of said boundary mode signal, to move in a boundary mode of movement, whereby in said random mode of movement the robot moves randomly in irregular directions in response to said random mode signal and, in said boundary mode of movement the robot moves away from said boundary which has been detected by said boundary detecting means. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for controlling the movements of robots movable in a group, comprising:
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identifying the relative positions between one of said robots and the other robots of the group and thereby generating a position signal representing the relative positions between said one of said robots and said the other robots of the group; selecting one mode of movement, at a time, out of at least two different modes in accordance with said position signal; and moving this robot in said one mode which is selected. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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Specification