Intelligent user interface apparatus and control method for control of service robots

• US 8,666,545 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2010
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sungkyunkwan University Foundation For Corporate Collaboration (SungKyunKwan University)
• Original Assignee: Sungkyunkwan University Foundation For Corporate Collaboration (SungKyunKwan University)
• Inventors: Song, Tae Houn, Jung, Soon Mook, Jung, Hyun Uk, Kim, Myung Jin, Jeon, Jae Wook
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATTON, SPENCER D
• Application Number:
  US12/883,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20110071674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 700/245, 700/246, 700/250, 700/253, 700/257, 700/264, 701 23- 28, 901/1, 901/50
• US Class Current: 700/246
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/00 Controls for manipulators programme controls B25J9/16; control in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/003 by means of an audio-responsive input audible safety signals B25J19/061

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a user interface apparatus and control method for the control of service robots. The user interface apparatus for the control of service robots includes an interaction server, an index block, and a robot control server. The interaction server receives control commands to control a service robot from a user, analyzes the control commands, and outputs the results of the analysis to the user. The index block determines the degree of difficulty of each of the analyzed control commands. The robot control server determines the operating mode of the service robot depending on the analyzed control command and the degree of difficulty, and controls the service robot in the determined operating mode.

Claims

1. A user interface apparatus for control of service robots, comprising:

an interaction server for receiving a control command to control a service robot from a user, analyzing the control command, and outputting a result of the analysis to the user;

an index block for determining a degree of difficulty of the analyzed control command; and

a robot control server for determining an operating mode of the service robot depending on the analyzed control command and the degree of difficulty, and controlling the service robot in the determined operating mode,

wherein the index block comprises a degree-of-difficulty determination module for determining the degree of difficulty of the control command, requested by the user, by applying service time and a service area, required for performance of the control command input from the user, to an artificial intelligence algorithm.

2. The user interface apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the interaction server comprises:

a user command analysis unit for analyzing the control command received from the user; and

a command performance result output unit for outputting results of performance of the received control command and a degree of satisfaction with the performance of the control command.

3. The user interface apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the user command analysis unit comprises:

a voice analysis module for analyzing the control command requested by the user based on a voice received from the user;

a facial expression analysis module for analyzing the control command requested by the user based on a facial expression or gesture received from the user in a form of an image; and

a keyword analysis module for analyzing the control command requested by the user based on a character string received from the user.

4. The user interface apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the command performance result output unit comprises:

a work area output module for receiving and outputting data about a work area where the service robot has conducted a service; and

a work time output module for receiving and outputting work time for which the service robot has conducted the service.

5. The user interface apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the robot control server comprises:

an operation control unit for selecting one operating mode from among tele-operating mode in which the service robot receives the control command directly from the user and is controlled in compliance with the control command, shared control mode in which the user and the service robot collaborate with each other on work, and full autonomy mode in which the service robot conducts work using a stored program, depending on the degree of difficulty of the control command determined by the index block, and controlling the service robot in the selected operating mode; and

a robot control result feedback unit for monitoring a status of the service robot.

6. The user interface apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the index block comprises a degree-of-user satisfaction calculation module for receiving service time and a service area from the service robot and calculating a degree of satisfaction of the control command, requested by the user, by applying the service time and service area to an artificial intelligence algorithm.