Sound recognition apparatus of robot and method for controlling the same

• US 20100174546A1
• Filed: 01/05/2010
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, Ki Beom, PARK, Ki Cheol
• Application Number:
  US12/654,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20100174546A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/003 by means of an audio-responsive input audible safety signals B25J19/061
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/10 using distance or distortion measures between unknown speech and reference templates
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/088 Word spotting
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/78 Detection of presence or absence of voice signals switching of direction of transmission by voice frequency in two-way loud-speaking telephone systems H04M9/10

Abstract

Disclosed is a sound recognition apparatus of a robot and a method for controlling the same. The sound recognition apparatus senses sound and determines if the sound is for communication by comparing the sensed sound with a preset reference condition. If the sound is for conversation, the movement of the robot is controlled. The method includes comparing the sound sensed by the robot with a preset reference condition, thereby determining if the sound is for communication with a user. When a conversation is intended, recognition rate is increased, and the robot is moved according to the intention of communication.

Claims

1. A sound recognition apparatus of a robot, the sound recognition apparatus comprising:

a sound sensing unit to a sense sound; and

a determination module unit, which determines if the sensed sound is for communication by comparing the sensed sound with a preset reference condition.

2. The sound recognition apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sound pressure measurement unit, which measures a sound pressure of the sensed sound, wherein the determination module unit determines an emergency situation by comparing the measured sound pressure with a reference sound pressure.

3. The sound recognition apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an alarm sound output unit, which outputs an alarm sound if the determination module unit determines that the emergency situation occurs.

4. The sound recognition apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control unit, which controls the robot such that the robot moves in a direction of the sensed sound if the determination module unit determines the sound is for communication.

5. A sound recognition apparatus of a robot, the sound recognition apparatus comprising:

a sound sensing unit to sense a sound;

a determination module unit, which determines if the sensed sound is for communication by comparing the sensed sound with a preset reference condition; and

a control unit, which controls the robot such that the robot moves in a direction of a sound having a highest priority when a plurality of sounds for communication exist.

6. The sound recognition apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a sound pressure measurement unit, which measures sound pressure of the sensed sound, wherein the determination module unit determines an emergency situation by comparing the measured sound pressure with a reference sound pressure.

7. The sound recognition apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a set-up unit, which sets up a priority corresponding to the sounds, respectively.

8. The sound recognition apparatus of claim 5, wherein the determination module unit comprises:

a voice sound module, which detects a voice sound from the sensed sound to determine if the voice sound is for communication; and

an acoustic sound module, which detects an acoustic sound from the sensed sound to determine if the acoustic sound is for communication.

9. A method of controlling sound recognition of a robot, the method comprising:

sensing a sound;

determining if the sensed sound is for communication comprising comparing the sensed sound with a preset reference condition; and

controlling movement of the robot if determined that the sensed sound is for communication.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the determination if the sound is for communication comprises:

detecting a voice sound from the sensed sound;

recognizing a keyword from the detected voice sound; and

determining if the keyword corresponds to one of a plurality of address-terms, which are preset.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the determining if the sound is for communication comprises:

detecting acoustic sound from the sensed sound; and

comparing the detected acoustic sound with a plurality of templates, which are preset.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

measuring a sound pressure of the sensed sound; and

determining an emergency situation, comprising comparing the measured sound pressure with a reference sound pressure.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a security service if the emergency situation is determined.

14. A method of controlling sound recognition of a robot, the method comprising:

sensing a sound;

determining if the sensed sound is for communication comprising comparing the sensed sound with a preset reference condition;

determining a priority of a plurality of sounds if determined that the sound is for communication; and

controlling the robot such that the robot moves in a direction of the sensed sound having a highest priority.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

measuring sound pressure from the sensed sound; and

determining an emergency situation comprising comparing the measured sound pressure with a reference sound pressure.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the determination if the sound is for communication has priority higher than priority of the determination of the emergency situation.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the determination of the priority for the sound comprises:

determining recognition scores of the sounds; and

applying weight to the recognition score corresponding to the priority, thereby operating a weight score.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the sensing of the sound comprises:

detecting a voice sound from the sound;

recognizing a keyword from the detected sound;

comparing the keyword with a plurality of address-terms, which are preset, thereby determining a consistency between the keyword and the address-terms; and

determining a recognition score of the address-terms having consistency with the keyword.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the sensing of the sound comprises:

detecting an acoustic sound from the sensed sound; and

comparing a distance between a pattern of the detected acoustic sound and a pattern of a plurality of templates, which are preset, thereby recognizing a target acoustic sound.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the recognizing of the target acoustic sound comprises recognizing the template corresponding to a minimum distance as the target acoustic sound.

21. The sound recognition control method of claim 19, wherein an interval between the pattern of the detected acoustic sound and a pattern of the target acoustic sound, thereby determining if the sound is for communication.