Human emulation robot system

• US 8,594,839 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2006
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David F. Hanson
• Original Assignee: David F. Hanson
• Inventors: Hanson, David F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kiswanto, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US11/465,710
• Publication Number:
  US 20070038331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,657 Days
• Field of Search: 700/245, 700/253, 700/258, 521/79, 717/150, 717/160, 428/15, 428/39, 428/35.7, 428/36, 428/92, 428/36.92, 428/346, 428/399, 600/30, 600/36, 600/503, 604/93.01, 604/332, 604/338, 604/342, 604/344, 606/132, 606/187, 606/229, 607/32, 607/35, 607/56, 607/57, 607/60, 607/91, 607/95, 607/123
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/0015 Face robots, animated artificial faces for imitating human expressions
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A robot system comprising a flexible artificial skin operable to be mechanically flexed under the control of a computational system. The system comprises a first set of software instructions operable to receive and process input images to determine that at least one human likely is present. The system comprises a second set of software instructions operable to determine a response to a perceived human presence, whereby the computational system shall output signals corresponding to the response, such that, in at least some instances, the output signals cause the controlled flexing of the artificial skin.

Claims

1. A human emulation robot system, comprising:

a mobile mechanical frame;

an artificial skin mounted on the exterior of the mechanical frame, the artificial skin comprising discrete, microscopic sections of foamed and unfoamed elastomers;

one or more actuators coupled to the mechanical frame and operable to manipulate the artificial skin; and

a control system operable to control the manipulation of the artificial skin by the one or more actuators.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a power supply operable to supply power to the one or more actuators and control system.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the power supply is coupled to and mounted within the mechanical frame.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system is coupled to and mounted within the mechanical frame.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the mechanical frame is untethered from external devices.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the mechanical frame comprises one or more wheels operable to transport the mechanical frame.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile mechanical frame comprises one or more legs operable to transport the mechanical frame.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the artificial skin resembles at least a portion of a human face.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system is operable to cause the actuators to manipulate the artificial skin to emulate a human facial expression.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a video camera operable capture image input; and

image processing logic operable to determine whether a human face is present in the image input and identify at least one expression on the human face.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the control system is operable to cause the actuators to manipulate the artificial skin to emulate the expression identified by the image processing software.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a microphone operable to capture audio input; and

voice recognition logic operable to determine one or more phrases in the audio input.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

audio response logic operable determine a response to the one or more phrases determined by the voice recognition logic; and

an audio speaker operable to audibilize the response determined by the audio response logic.

14. A method for constructing a human emulation robot, comprising:

mounting one or more actuators on a mobile mechanical frame;

mounting an artificial skin on the exterior of a mobile mechanical frame, the artificial skin comprising discrete, microscopic sections of foamed and unfoamed elastomers; and

controlling the one or more actuators to manipulate the artificial skin.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein controlling the one or more actuators to manipulate the artificial skin comprises controlling the one or more actuators to manipulate the artificial skin to emulate a human facial expression.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the artificial skin resembles at least a portion of a human face.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

capturing image input using a video camera coupled to the mechanical frame; and

determining whether a human face is present in the image input;

identifying at least one expression on the human face; and

controlling the one or more actuators to manipulate the artificial skin to emulate the expression identified by the image processing software.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

capturing audio input using a microphone couple to the mechanical frame;

determining one or more phrases in the audio input;

determining a response to the one or more phrases in the audio input; and

audibilizing the response through an audio speaker coupled to the mechanical frame.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the mechanical frame is untethered from external devices.

20. A human emulation robot system, comprising:

a mobile mechanical frame;

an artificial skin mounted on the exterior of the mechanical frame, the artificial skin comprising discrete, microscopic sections of foamed and unfoamed elastomers;

one or more actuators coupled to the mechanical frame and operable to manipulate the artificial skin;

a video camera coupled to the mechanical frame and operable capture image input;

image processing logic operable to determine whether a human face is present in the image input and identify at least one expression on the human face; and

control logic operable to control the one or more actuators to manipulate the artificial skin to emulate the expression identified by the image processing logic.