MOBILE AGENTS FOR MANIPULATING, MOVING, AND/OR REORIENTING COMPONENTS

• US 20140342834A1
• Filed: 05/30/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digital Dream Labs, LLC
• Original Assignee: ANKI Incorporated
• Inventors: Tappeiner, Hanns, Sofman, Boris, DeNeale, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 9,155,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/32 Acoustical or optical signalling devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/40 Toy vehicles automatically steering or reversing by collision with an obstacle
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 18/16 Control of vehicle drives by interaction between vehicle and track; Control of track elements by vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/02 Electrical arrangements transformers H01F; converters H02M
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/04 Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/042 Mechanical, electrical, optical, pneumatic or hydraulic arrangements; Motors
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/046 comprising magnetic interaction means, e.g. holding together by magnetic attraction
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/08 characterised by modular constructions
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1617 Cellular, reconfigurable manipulator, e.g. cebot
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39146 Swarm, multiagent, distributed multitask fusion, cooperation multi robots
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40109 Consider each part to be assembled as an agent, behaving autonomously
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40302 Dynamically reconfigurable robot, adapt structure to tasks, cellular robot, cebot
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00

Abstract

Mobile agents automatically manipulate components such as blocks on a working surface, to perform operations such as construction of generalized structures. The working surface and/or the components can have machine-readable codes to assist the agents in maintaining current knowledge of their respective locations. Agents identify components by type and location, and can move components according to directions; such directions can be provided by a user, or can be based on a pre-programmed directive, or can be determined dynamically based on current conditions or in response to actions of other agents. Agents may cooperate with one another. Agents can also respond to changes in the environment, alterations in works in progress, and/or other conditions, and may be configured to exhibit responses simulating emotional reactions. Different mobile agents can be associated with different character traits, which may be configured to change based on environmental conditions and/or the behavior of other mobile agents.

Claims

1. A system for manipulating components, comprising:

a working surface;

at least one discrete manipulable component; and

at least one mobile agent, configured to manipulate at least one component on the working surface, comprising;

a processor;

a sensor, communicatively coupled to the processor, configured to detect the at least one component;

a propulsion mechanism, communicatively coupled to the processor, configured to impart motive force to the mobile agent; and

at least one actuator, communicatively coupled to the processor, configured to manipulate the at least one component responsive to instructions.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile agent is further configured to exhibit at least one character trait.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the mobile agent is further configured to change at least one exhibited character trait based on at least one of experience and learning.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mobile agent comprises a plurality of mobile agents, and wherein at least one of the plurality of mobile agents is configured to cooperate with at least one other of the plurality of mobile agents in performing a task.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one mobile agent comprises a plurality of mobile agents, and wherein at least one of the plurality of mobile agents is configured to react to behavior of at least one other of the plurality of mobile agents.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mobile agent is configured to perform a task, and wherein the instructions are directed toward completion of the task.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein at least one discrete manipulable component comprises a construction element, and wherein the task comprises a construction task.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to recognize the at least one component and to identify a position and orientation of the at least one component.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one machine-readable code appears on the at least one component, and wherein the at least one mobile agent is configured to recognize the at least one component by reading the at least one machine-readable code.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mobile agent is configured to automatically determine its position with respect to the working surface.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the working surface comprises at least one machine-readable code, and wherein the at least one mobile agent is configured to automatically determine its position by reading the at least one machine-readable code.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a base station;

and wherein the at least one mobile agent further comprises a communication module, communicatively coupled to the processor, configured to communicate with the base station.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the base station is configured to maintain a virtual representation of the relative positions of the at least one mobile agent and the at least one component.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the base station is configured to maintain parity between the virtual representation and detected physical positions of the at least one mobile agent and the at least one component by adjusting the virtual representation in response to detected physical positions.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the base station is configured to maintain parity between the virtual representation and detected physical positions of the at least one mobile agent and the at least one component by transmitting signals to at least one mobile agent to cause the at least one mobile agent to adjust its physical position to comport with the virtual representation.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising an artificial intelligence module, wherein the instructions are based on output of the artificial intelligence module.

17. In a system comprising a working surface, at least one discrete manipulable component, and at least one mobile agent having a processor, a method for manipulating the at least one component, comprising:

in a processor of one of the mobile agents, causing a propulsion mechanism of the mobile agent to impart motive force to the mobile agent;

in a sensor of the mobile agent, detecting the at least one component; and

in the processor, causing at least one actuator of the mobile agent to manipulate the at least one component responsive to instructions.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising, in the processor, causing the mobile agent to exhibit at least one character trait.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the system comprises a plurality of mobile agents, and wherein the method further comprises, in a processor of at least one of the mobile agents, causing the mobile agent to cooperate with at least one other of the plurality of mobile agents in performing a task.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the system comprises a plurality of mobile agents, and wherein the method further comprises, in a processor of at least one of the mobile agents, causing the mobile agent to react to behavior of at least one other of the plurality of mobile agents.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the system comprises a plurality of mobile agents, and wherein the method further comprises, in a processor of at least one of the mobile agents, causing the mobile agent to exhibit hostility toward at least one other of the plurality of mobile agents in response to an action of the other mobile agent.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one mobile agent is configured to perform a task, and wherein the instructions are directed toward completion of the task.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein at least one discrete manipulable component comprises a construction element, and wherein the task comprises a construction task.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising, in the sensor, recognizing the at least one component and identifying a position and orientation of the at least one component.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the at least one component comprises at least one machine-readable code, and wherein recognizing the at least one component comprises reading the at least one machine-readable code.

26. The method of claim 17, further comprising, in the processor, automatically determining the position of the mobile agent with respect to the working surface.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the working surface comprises at least one machine-readable code, and wherein automatically determining the position of the mobile agent comprises reading the at least one machine-readable code.

28. The method of claim 17, further comprising, in the processor, causing the mobile agent to communicate with a base station.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

maintaining a virtual representation of the relative positions of the at least one mobile agent and the at least one component; and

maintaining parity between the virtual representation and detected physical positions of the at least one mobile agent and the at least one component by adjusting the virtual representation in response to detected physical positions.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

maintaining a virtual representation of the relative positions of the at least one mobile agent and the at least one component; and

maintaining parity between the virtual representation and detected physical positions of the at least one mobile agent and the at least one component by transmitting signals to at least one mobile agent to cause the at least one mobile agent to adjust its physical position to comport with the virtual representation.