Personal robot

• US 9,873,200 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2013
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Future Robot Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Future Robot Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Song, Se Kyong, Lee, Sang Ki
• Primary Examiner(s): Kiswanto, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US14/758,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20150336276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,609 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 11/00 Self-movable toy figures
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/001 with emotions simulating means
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/00 Controls for manipulators programme controls B25J9/16; control in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/006 by means of a wireless system for controlling one or several manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/081 Touching devices, e.g. pressure-sensitive
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/088 with position, velocity or acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0003 Home robots, i.e. small robots for domestic use
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1666 Avoiding collision or forbidden zones
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1694 characterised by use of sensors other than normal servo-feedback from position, speed or acceleration sensors, perception control, multi-sensor controlled systems, sensor fusion
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0238 using obstacle or wall sensors G05D1/0246 and G05D1/0289 take precedence; lidar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S17/93
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 Mobile robot

Abstract

A personal robot including a first smart device, a robot main body, and a second smart device is implemented as a first type where the first smart device is wirelessly connected to the robot main body, as a second type where the first smart device is mounted on and connected to the robot main body in a wired manner, or as a third type where the second smart device is wirelessly connected to the robot main body where the first smart device is mounted on and connected to the robot main body in a wired manner. In the third type, the robot main body is connected to the first smart device in a wired manner and wirelessly connected to the second smart device, and a robot main body control unit controls the robot main body according to simultaneously processed data from the first and second smart devices.

Claims

1. A personal robot comprising:

first and second smart devices (110 and 310) each including;

a display (111 or 311) which displays information;

a near field wireless communicator (117 or 317) which performs near field wireless communication;

a touch screen (113 or 313) which inputs information;

a connector (119 or 319) which electrically connects to and exchanges signals with other devices;

a posture control sensor (112) which provides information for controlling a posture of a robot main body (200); and

a controller (118 or 318) which controls operation; and

the robot main body (200) including;

a smart device mount (221) which is placed on a front surface to mount the first smart device (110);

a wired and wireless communicator (210) which performs wired and wireless communication with the first and second smart devices (110 and 310);

an emotion expression unit (227) which expresses an emotion of the robot by generating an output signal of a form which is recognized by a user;

a sensor (222) which senses movement of an external object or the user;

a driver (232) which runs the robot main body; and

a robot controller (235) which controls operation of the robot main body, provides the user with information on the emotion of the robot and enables the robot main body (200) to respond to an external stimulus or a motion of the user thereby enabling a communication between the user and the robot,

wherein the controller (118 or 318) communicates with the user and provides the user with information of an emotional form by integrating and analyzing information provided by the sensor and information obtained from the first and second smart devices and generating an output signal of a form which is recognized by the user through the display (111 or 311) or the emotion, expression unit (227), and allows the robot main body (200) to move by controlling the driver (232) based on the analyzed information,

wherein the robot main body (200) is selectably connected to the first or second smart device (110 or 310) in a wired or wireless manner, and when the robot main body (200) is wiredly connected to the first smart device (110) and wirelessly connected to the second smart device (310), the robot controller (235) simultaneously processes data received from the first and second smart devices (110 and 310) and controls operation of the robot main body according to the processing, and the wired and wireless communicator (210) determines whether a source of the transmitted and received data is wired or wireless, and

wherein the robot controller (235) includes;

a data processor (260) which analyzes data received through the wired and wireless communicator (210) or data to be transmitted through the wired and wireless communicator (210) and includes an input data processor (262) for processing the received data and an output data processor (264) for processing the data to be transmitted; and

a robot service processor (270) which transmits a control signal for controlling operation of the robot main body according to a result of analyzing the data performed through the data processor (260).

2. The personal robot according to claim 1, wherein the robot controller (235) further includes an additional function extension unit (278) installed in a motherboard, in which the robot controller is implemented, to have a plug-in structure for extension of an additional function.

3. The personal robot according to claim 1, wherein an edge cover (241) is detachably combined at a circumferential edge of the smart device mount (221) of the robot main body (200).

4. The personal robot according to claim 1, wherein the emotion expression unit (227) includes:

a speaker (228) for outputting a sound, a lamp (229) for generating light; and

a motion unit (231) which moves a predetermined portion of the robot main body (200).

5. The personal robot according to claim 1, wherein the sensor (222) includes:

an obstacle detecting sensor (225) installed on a front surface and a rear surface of the robot main body (200) to sense objects placed in front of and behind the robot main body (200);

a fall prevention sensor (224) installed on a bottom surface of the robot main body (200) to sense an object placed under the robot main body (200); and

a touch sensor (226) installed in the robot main body (200) to sense a predetermined stimulus.

6. The personal robot according to claim 1,

wherein the robot main body (200) further includes a beam project module (280) for performing a beam project function, and

wherein when a multimedia interface cable connected to the robot controller (235) is connected to a multimedia interface terminal formed in the first smart device (110), the robot main body (200) receives an image and a voice of the first smart device continuously through the multimedia interface cable and operates the beam project module (280).