Robot and control method for controlling the robot's emotions

• US 6,519,506 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2001
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Osawa, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel, Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US10/024,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20020052672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 700/31, 700/245, 700/248, 700/258, 700/259, 318/568.1, 318/568.2, 318/568.11, 318/568.12, 318/569, 318/16, 318/565, 901/1, 901/15, 901/49, 704/207, 704/209, 704/270, 348/121
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/28 Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds
• 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

Abstract

With a robot and a control method for it, information is read in from the outside, based on which a particular object is detected, and it is judged upon detecting the object whether or not the object satisfies given conditions, based on the judgment results of which a robot generates predetermined actions. Thus, a robot can be realized that acts naturally like a living thing. Consequently, its entertaining quality for human beings can be increased greatly.

Claims

1. A robot comprising:

external information inputting means for inputting information;

particular-person specifying means for specifying a particular person based on the information inputted by said external information inputting means;

emotion-toward-particular-person information storing means for storing information about emotions toward said particular person specified by said particular-person specifying means;

action evaluating means for evaluating actions made by said particular person to said robot;

emotion-toward-particular-person information updating means for updating said information about emotions toward said particular person on the basis of the results of evaluation by said action evaluating means; and

control means for controlling said robot based on said emotion-toward-particular-person information, said controlling being performed based upon a transition probability automation scheme.

2. The robot according to claim 1, wherein:

said external information inputting means comprises image inputting means; and

said particular-person specifying means generates face pattern data based on input image inputted by said image inputting means and specifies a particular person based on the face pattern data.

3. The robot according to claim 1, further comprising:

action determination means for determining actions of said robot;

wherein

said action determination means determines actions of said robot based on said emotion-toward-particular-person information.

4. The robot according to claim 1, further comprising:

emotion modeling means including emotional parameters which are used for determining emotions of said robot;

wherein the values of said emotional parameters are changed based on said emotion-toward-particular-person information.

5. A robot comprising:

external information inputting means for inputting information;

particular-person specifying means for specifying a particular person based on the information inputted by said external information inputting means;

emotion-toward-particular-person information storing means for storing information about emotions toward said particular person specified by said particular-person specifying means;

action evaluating means for evaluating actions made by said particular person to said robot;

emotion-toward-particular-person information updating means for updating said information about emotions toward said particular person on the basis of the results of evaluation by said action evaluating means; and

control means for controlling said robot based on said emotion-toward-particular-person information;

wherein said external information inputting means comprises image inputting means; and

said particular-person specifying means generates face pattern data based on input image inputted by said image inputting means and specifies a particular person based on the face pattern data; and

wherein said emotion-toward-particular-person information comprises information on whether to have a favorable impression or a disfavorable impression toward said particular person.