Robot apparatus

• US 7,151,983 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Fujita, Masahiro, Sabe, Kotaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US11/097,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20050171640A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 700/245, 700/248, 700/258, 700/259, 700/31, 901/1, 901/15, 901/49, 704/207, 704/209, 704/270, 348/121, 318/565, 318/569, 318/568.1, 318/568.11, 318/568.12, 318/568.2
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 11/00 Self-movable toy figures
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/0005 Manipulators having means for high-level communication with users, e.g. speech generator, face recognition means
• 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

A robot apparatus is provided. A CPU 15 determines an output of a feeling model based on signals supplied from a touch sensor 20. The CPU 15 also deciphers whether or not an output value of the feeling model exceeds a pre-set threshold value. If the CPU finds that the output value exceeds the pre-set threshold value, it verifies whether or not there is any vacant area in a memory card 13. If the CPU finds that there is any vacant area in a memory card 13, it causes the picture data captured from the CCD video camera 11 to be stored in the vacant area in the memory card 13. At this time, the CPU 15 causes the time and date data and the feeling parameter in the memory card 13 in association with the picture data. The CPU 15 also re-arrays the picture data stored in the memory card 13 in the sequence of the decreasing magnitude of the feeling model output.

Claims

1. A robot apparatus having a dynamic behavioral model or a dynamic feeling model that is changed at least based on extraneous factors and a behavioral output, comprising:

detection means for detecting extraneous states, said detection means includes extraneous data inputting means, wherein extraneous data is inputted by said extraneous data inputting means;

storage means for storing data;

write control means for writing pre-set data in said storage means based on a detection signal detected by said detection means, wherein said write control means writes the extraneous input data inputted as said pre-set data to said extraneous data inputting means in said storage means;

a plurality of legs for walking;

means for evaluating said detection signal; and

said write control means writing said pre-set data in said storage means based on the evaluated results by said evaluation means.

2. The robot apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

erasure control means for erasing pre-set data stored in said storage means;

said write control means adding characteristics information of said detection signal to said pre-set data to write a resulting signal in said storage means;

said erasure control means erasing said pre-set data added to said characteristics information from said storage means when a pre-set condition consistent with the characteristics information holds.

3. A robot apparatus having a dynamic behavioral model or a dynamic feeling model that is changed at least based on extraneous factors and a behavioral output, comprising:

detection means for detecting extraneous states, said detection means includes extraneous data inputting means, wherein extraneous data is inputted by said extraneous data inputting means;

storage means for storing data;

write control means for writing pre-set data in said storage means based on a detection signal detected by said detection means, wherein said write control means writes the extraneous input data inputted as said pre-set data to said extraneous data inputting means in said storage means; and

a plurality of legs for walking;

wherein said detection means includes pressure measurement means for measuring the pressure as the extraneous state, and wherein said evaluating means evaluates the pressure information as the detection signal from said pressure measurement means.

4. The robot apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said pre-set condition for said erasure control means is whether or not a pre-set value has been reached.

5. The robot apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said pre-set condition for said erasure control means is whether or not a pre-set time has elapsed.

6. A robot apparatus having a behavioral model for generating a behavioral output, comprising:

detection means for detecting extraneous states, said detection means includes extraneous data inputting means, wherein extraneous data is inputted by said extraneous data inputting means, wherein the input evaluation is based on the detected extraneous states;

storage means for storing data;

write control means for writing data in said storage means based on a detection signal detected by said detection means, wherein said write control means writes the extraneous input data inputted as said data to said extraneous data inputting means in said storage means; and

a plurality of legs for walking,

wherein the behavioral output is based on a feeling model that changes with respect to an input evaluation and an output evaluation based on previous behavior output.

7. The robot apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising:

means for evaluating said detection signal;

said write control means writing said pre-set data in said storage means based on the evaluated results by said evaluation means.

8. The robot apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said detection means includes pressure measurement means for measuring the pressure as the extraneous state, and wherein said evaluating means evaluates the pressure information as the detection signal from said pressure measurement means.

9. The robot apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said pre-set condition for said erasure control means is whether or not a pre-set value has been reached.

10. The robot apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said pre-set condition for said erasure control means is whether or not a pre-set time has elapsed.

11. The robot apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising:

erasure control means for erasing pre-set data stored in said storage means;

said write control means adding characteristics information of said detection signal to said pre-set data to write the resulting signal in said storage means;

said erasure control means erasing said pre-set data added to said characteristics information from said storage means when a pre-set condition consistent with the characteristics information holds.