Floating robot

• US 6,278,904 B1
• Filed: 12/11/2000
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation), Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishii, Toshinao
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel, Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US09/733,099
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• Field of Search: 700/245, 224/137.4, 224/120, 114/61.14, 114/278, 114/275, 114/280, 114/320, 104/138.1, 104/130.05, 104/27, 104/28, 89/38, 89/412.2, 89/370.6, 367/133, 367/135, 367/45, 367/4, 441/2, 441/28, 342/13, 342/14, 342/147, 342/153, 704/203, 704/204
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/10 illuminated

Abstract

A floating device is provided, which allows an entire robot main body to float at a site. Mounted on the floating device are an image sensor which captures image data of persons around the robot main body; an information processing device which recognizes a specified person based on the image data captured by the image sensor, calculates a position of the specified person, and outputs a control signal for moving the robot main body toward the position of the specified person; a propulsion device which moves, based on the control signal, the entire robot main body to a close position close to the specified person so that the robot main body can be seen by the specified person; and an image display device, which displays image information useful for the specified person using the site when the robot main body reaches the close position. The information can be supplied to a specified object in a bi-directional fashion.

Claims

1. A floating robot comprising:

a floating device including an entire robot main body that floats at a site;

an image sensor which captures image data of persons around the robot main body;

an information processing device which recognizes a specified person based on the image data captured by the image sensor, calculates a position of the specified person, and outputs a control signal for moving the robot main body toward the position of the specified person;

a propulsion device which moves, based on the control signal, the entire robot main body to a close position so close to the specified person that the robot main body can be seen by the specified person; and

an image display device which displays image information useful for the specified person using the site when the robot main body reaches the close position.

2. The floating robot according to claim 1, further comprising an audio sensor which captures acoustic data around the robot main body.

3. The floating robot according to claim 1, further comprising a touch sensor which inputs an inquiry from the specified person.

4. The floating robot according to claim 1, further comprising an audio generating device which outputs audio information useful for the specified person using the site.

5. The floating robot according to claim 1, further comprising a communication device which communicates with an external device.