Robotic game systems and methods

• US 8,632,376 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Original Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Inventors: Dooley, Michael, Romanov, Nikolai, Pirjanian, Paolo, Chiu, Lihu, Di Bernardo, Enrico
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, Arthur O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, JEFFREY KEITH
• Application Number:
  US12/234,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20090081923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,950 Days
• Field of Search: 463 6- 7, 463 30- 34, 463 36- 37, 463 42- 43, 463/47, 463 58- 69, 273/237, 273/246, 273/317.1, 273/359, 273366-368, 273/440.1, 273441-446, 273454-455, 273460-461, 307/43, 318/568.11, 318/568.12, 318/568.2, 398/FOR.135, 434/29, 434 61- 71, 439/504, 439/950, 446/7, 446/448, 446/456, 472/86, 472/95, 472/130, 483/901, 700245-264, 700/900, 901/1, 901/6, 901/8
• US Class Current: 446/456
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5573 player location
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/143 electric
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0234 using optical markers or beacons optical beacons per se G01S1/70

Abstract

A vehicle chase game includes a first game object and a second game object. A second game object scans for a projected spot on an overhead surface. The second game object detects the projected spot on the overhead surface and gathers location information based on the detected projected spot. The second game object generates a position of a first game object based on the location information. The second game object transfers the position of the first game object to the chase game application program. The chase game application program selects a behavior based on the position of the first game object, where a goal of the behavior is to drive the second game object to intercept the first game object. The chase game application program sends instructions to the second game object'"'"'s mechanical and electrical systems to execute the selected behaviors.

Claims

1. A game system, comprising:

a first mobile device comprising a microprocessor, a memory and a light generating device, and configured to project a light beam having a first characteristic on an overhead surface; and

a second mobile device comprising a microprocessor, a memory and a sensor, and configured to;

detect a reflection of the projected light beam having the first characteristic on the overhead surface;

determine a direction and a distance of the second mobile device in relation to a position of the first mobile device based on the detected reflection; and

generate movement commands for the second mobile device based in part on the determined direction and distance.

2. The game system of claim 1, further including:

a first stationary game object comprising a light generating device and configured to project a second light beam having a second characteristic onto the overhead surface to define a first position on a race course,

wherein the second mobile device is further configured to;

detect a reflection of the second projected light beam with the second characteristic and

determine a location of the second mobile device on the race course in relation to a position of the first stationary game object, and

generate movement commands for the second mobile device based on the determined location of the second mobile device on the race course with respect to the first stationary game object.

3. The game system of claim 2, further including;

a second stationary game object comprising a light generating device and configured to project a third light beam having a third characteristic onto the overhead surface to define a second position on the race course,

wherein the second stationary game object is further configured to;

detect a reflection of the third projected light beam having the third characteristic;

determine a location of the second mobile device on the race course in relation to a position of the second stationary game object; and

generate movement commands for the second mobile device based on the determined location of the second mobile device on the race course with respect to the second stationary game object.

4. The game system of claim 2, wherein the first stationary game object is configured to generate a first identification code and wherein the second mobile device is configured to:

detect the first identification code; and

generate movement commands for the second mobile device based on the detected first identification code.

5. The game system of claim 2, wherein the second mobile device is configured to:

determine a location of the first mobile device on the race course in relation to a position of the first stationary game object, and

determine a race standing position of the second mobile device in relation to the first mobile game object based on the determined location of first mobile device with respect to first stationary game object.

6. The game system of claim 1, wherein the first mobile device is further configured to:

receive instructions generated by a remote control device; and

generate first mobile device movement commands based on the received remote control instructions.

7. The game system of claim 1, wherein the second mobile device is further configured to:

receive instructions generated by a remote control device; and

generate second mobile device movement commands based on the received remote control instructions.

8. A computer-implemented method for a first mobile device, the first mobile device including a memory, a processor and a sensor, the memory storing computer-readable instructions which when executed by the processor, cause the first mobile device to:

detect, utilizing a sensor, a reflection of a projected light beam having a first characteristic generated by a second mobile device on an overhead surface;

determine, utilizing the computer-readable instructions stored in the memory, a direction and a distance of the first mobile device in relation to a position of the second mobile device utilizing the reflection; and

generate, utilizing the computer-readable instructions stored in the memory, movement commands for the first mobile device based in part on the determined direction and distance.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further including computer-readable instructions, which when executed by the processor cause the first mobile device to:

detect, utilizing the sensor, a reflection of a second projected light beam having a second characteristic that was projected by a light generating device of a first stationary game object on the overhead surface, the projected light beam defining a portion of a race course;

determine, utilizing the computer-readable instructions stored in the memory, a location of the first mobile device on the race course based on the detected reflection of the second projected light beam; and

generate, utilizing the computer-readable instructions stored in the memory, movement commands for the first mobile device based on the determined location of the first mobile device with respect to the first stationary game object.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further including computer-readable instructions, which when executed by the processor cause the first mobile device to:

determine, utilizing the computer-readable instructions stored in the memory, a location of the second mobile device on the race course in relation to a position of the first stationary game object, and

determine, utilizing the computer-readable instructions stored in the memory, a race standing position of the first mobile device with relation to the second mobile device based on the determined location of second mobile device with respect to the first stationary game object.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further including computer-readable instructions, which when executed by the processor cause the first mobile device to:

detect, utilizing the sensor, a reflection of a third projected light beam having a third characteristic that was projected by a light generating device of a second stationary game object on the overhead surface, and the second projected light beam defining a second portion of the race course;

determine, utilizing the computer-readable instructions stored in the memory, a location of the first mobile device on the race course based on the detected reflection of the third projected light beam; and

generate, utilizing the computer-readable instructions stored in the memory, movement commands for the first mobile device based on the determined location of the first mobile device with respect to the second stationary game object.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further including computer-readable instructions, which when executed by the processor cause the first mobile device to:

receive a first identification code generated by the first stationary game object; and

generate, utilizing the computer-readable instructions stored in the memory, movement commands for the first mobile device based on the received first identification code.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further including computer-readable instructions, which when executed by the processor cause the first mobile device to:

receive, utilizing the computer-readable instructions stored in the memory, instructions generated by an external remote control device; and

generate, utilizing the computer-readable instructions stored in the memory, movement commands for the first mobile device based on the received remote control instructions.