ROBOTIC GAME SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20090081923A1
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iRobot Corporation
• Original Assignee: Evolution Robotics Inc. (iRobot Corporation)
• Inventors: Di Bernardo, Enrico, Chiu, Lihu, Pirjanian, Paolo, Dooley, Michael, Romanov, Nikolai
• Granted Patent: US 8,632,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 method for controlling a chasing game, comprising:

scanning, at a second game object, for a projected spot on an overhead surface;

detecting the projected spot on the overhead surface and gathering location information based on the detected projected spot;

generating a position of a first game object based on the location information; and

transferring the position of the first game object to the chasing game application program.

2. The method of claim 1, further including selecting 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.

3. The method of claim 2, further including sending instructions to the second game object'"'"'s mechanical and electrical systems to execute the selected behaviors.

20. The method of claim 1, further including scanning, at a second game object, for more than one projected spot on an overhead surface;

detecting the more than one projected spot on the overhead surface and gathering location information based on the detected projected spot.

4. The method of clam 3, further including detecting a shift in a relative position of the first game object and generating a new position and relative direction of the first game object based on the shift.

5. The method of claim 4, further including transmitting the new position and relative direction of the first game object to the chasing game application program, wherein the chasing game application program selects a behavior based on the new position and the relative direction and provides instructions such that the second game object executes the selected behavior.

6. The method of claim 5, further including determining if a threshold parameter has been met and ending the game if the threshold parameter has been met.

7. The method of claim 6, further including monitoring a distance of the second game object to the first game object.

8. The method of claim 7, further including adding points to a score for each predefined time interval where the second game object is within a defined distance from the first game object.

9. A method for controlling a racing game, comprising:

activating a second game object;

selecting a race course for the second game object to perform;

initiating, at the second game object, a count down for a start of the racing game;

scanning for projected spots on an overhead surface, the spots being generated by a stationary game object; and

detecting, utilizing a sensor installed on the second game object, the projected spots on the overhead surface and gathering information based on the detected projected spots on the overhead surface.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the localization system in the second game object takes the information from the sensor and determines positional and orientation information.

11. The method of claim 10, further including transmitting the positional and orientation information from the localization to the vehicle racing game application program.

12. The method of claim 11, further including integrating the positional and orientation information with the selected driving pattern.

13. The method of claim 12, further including plotting the second game object'"'"'s driving of a first leg of race after integration of the positional and orientation information.

14. The method of claim 13, further including initiating the start of the race and transmitting instructions to electrical and mechanical systems of the second game object to begin movement.

15. The method of claim 14, further including utilizing the localization system and the sensor system on the second game object to read any shift in a relative direction and/or position versus the calculated desired path for the first stage and adjusting the second game object'"'"'s heading in order to stay on the calculated desired path.

16. The method of claim 15, further including adjusting speed of motors on the second game object in order to take account of a degree of a turn on the selected course as the second game object approaches a second leg of the selected race course.

17. The method of claim 16, further including determining when the second game object has reached an end of the first leg of the race and plotting a course for the second leg based on a position of an additional spot projected on the overhead surface and a location of the second game object.

18. The method of claim 17, further including calculating the ways points for the second leg of the race.

19. The method of claim 9, further including scanning for more than one projected spots on an overhead surface, the spots being generated by a stationary game object;

and

detecting, utilizing a sensor installed on the second game object, more than one projected spots on the overhead surface and gathering information based on the detected projected spots on the overhead surface.