Robot apparatus and control method thereof

• US 7,421,313 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2004
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Aoyama, Kazumi, Shimomura, Hideki, Ikenoue, Shoichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEISKOPF, MARIE
• Application Number:
  US10/781,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20040225410A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,658 Days
• Field of Search: 901/3, 901/1, 700/245, 700/250, 700/258, 700/259, 706/45, 706/46, 706/47, 706/62
• US Class Current: 700/245
• 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 that is able to determine whether to ask a user for help, according to robot'"'"'s situations. The robot apparatus determines based on an external or internal situation of the robot and its serious level whether to ask for help. When the robot apparatus decides to ask for help, it selects an action asking for help, according to the external or internal situation and the serious level, and takes the action.

Claims

1. A robot apparatus comprising:

sensor means for detecting an external or internal situation;

determination means for determining as a function of said external or internal situation and a corresponding serious level of the external or internal situation whether to ask for help,

wherein the serious level indicates how serious the external or internal situation is for the robot itself; and

asking action selection means for selecting an action asking for help based on said external or internal situation and said serious level and making said robot apparatus take the action when said determination means decides to ask for help,

wherein the name of a user who interacts with the robot is retrieved based on a face identification and speaker identification of the user and is stored to a combination ID representing at least the serious level and the external or internal situation.

2. The robot apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said asking action selection means selects another action asking for help and makes said robot apparatus take the action when said external or internal situation is not improved after asking for help.

3. The robot apparatus according to claim 1, wherein,

in a case where said external or internal situation is a critical situation with a high serious level, said asking action selection means changes a robot mode so as to delay progress of the critical situation when the external or internal situation is not improved after asking for help.

4. The robot apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising storage means for storing a log of past actions asking for help and their results, wherein

said asking action selection means selects said action asking for help based on said external or internal situation and said serious level by reference to the log being stored in said storage means and makes said robot apparatus take the action when said determination means decides to ask for help.

5. A control method of a robot apparatus comprising:

a first step of detecting an external or internal situation and determining as a function of the external or internal situation and a corresponding serious level of the external or internal situation whether to ask for help,

wherein the serious level indicates how serious the external or internal situation is for the robot itself; and

a second step of selecting an action asking for help based on said external or internal situation and said serious level and making said robot apparatus take the action when said determination means decides to ask for help,

wherein the name of a user who interacts with the robot is retrieved based on a face identification and speaker identification of the user and is stored to a combination ID representing at least the serious level and the external or internal situation.

6. The control method according to claim 5, further comprising

a third step of selecting another action asking for help and making said robot apparatus take the action when the external or internal situation is not improved after asking for help.

7. The control method according to claims 5, wherein,

in a case where said external or internal situation is a critical situation with a high serious level, said second step changes a robot mode so as to delay progress of the critical situation when the external or internal situation is not improved after asking for help.

8. The control method according to claim 5, further comprising

a fourth step of storing a log of past actions asking for help and their results, wherein

said second step selects an action asking for help based on said external or internal situation and said serious level by reference to said log and makes said robot apparatus take the action.