MODULAR ROBOT WITH SMART DEVICE

• US 20160250752A1
• Filed: 02/27/2015
• Published: 09/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Djugash, Joseph M.A., Moore, Douglas A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,586,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 9/0003 Home robots, i.e. small robots for domestic use
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/161 Hardware, e.g. neural networks, fuzzy logic, interfaces, processor
• 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: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 Mobile robot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/46 Sensing device

Abstract

A wearable smart device is configured to be positioned on and external to a robot having a robot sensor for sensing robot data and a robot input/output port. The wearable smart device includes a device sensor capable of detecting device data corresponding to an environment of the wearable smart device. The wearable smart device also includes a device input/output port. The wearable smart device also includes a device processor coupled to the robot sensor via the robot input/output port and the device input/output port. The device processor is also coupled to the device sensor and configured to control the robot based on the robot data and the device data.

Claims

1. A wearable smart device configured to be positioned on and external to a robot having a robot sensor for sensing robot data and a robot input/output port, the wearable smart device comprising:

a device sensor capable of detecting device data corresponding to an environment of the wearable smart device;

a device input/output port; and

a device processor coupled to the robot sensor via the robot input/output port and the device input/output port, coupled to the device sensor and configured to control the robot based on the robot data and the device data.

2. The wearable smart device of claim 1 further comprising a wireless charging module configured to receive a wireless power signal from the robot.

3. The wearable smart device of claim 1 wherein the device processor is configured to generate a signal identifying a location of the wearable smart device such that the robot will move to a location near the location of the wearable smart device in response to receiving the signal.

4. The wearable smart device of claim 1 wherein the device processor is further configured to determine capabilities of the robot and to control the robot based on the capabilities of the robot.

5. The wearable smart device of claim 1 wherein the device processor is further configured to delegate processing tasks to at least two robot processors.

6. The wearable smart device of claim 1 further comprising a device body configured to be positioned on an external surface of a robot body.

7. The wearable smart device of claim 1 wherein the device processor is further configured to control an attached attachment of the robot.

8. A wearable smart device configured to operate with a robot having a robot processor and a robot input/output port, the wearable smart device comprising:

a sensor configured to detect device data associated with an environment of the wearable smart device;

a device input/output port;

a device processor coupled to the robot processor via the robot input/output port and the device input/output port, coupled to the sensor and configured to operate in tandem with the robot processor to control the robot based on the device data; and

a body configured to house the sensor, the device input/output port and the device processor and configured to be mechanically coupled to the robot.

9. The wearable smart device of claim 8 further comprising a wireless charging module configured to receive a wireless power signal from the robot.

10. The wearable smart device of claim 8 wherein the sensor is a camera and the device processor is further configured to perform image recognition based on the device data and transmit results of the image recognition to the robot processor.

11. The wearable smart device of claim 8 wherein the device processor is configured to generate a signal identifying a location of the wearable smart device such that the robot will move to a location near the location of the wearable smart device in response to receiving the signal.

12. The wearable smart device of claim 8 wherein the device processor is further configured to determine capabilities of the robot and to control the robot based on the capabilities of the robot.

13. The wearable smart device of claim 8 wherein the robot processor includes at least two robot auxiliary processors and the device processor is further configured to delegate processing tasks to each of the at least two robot auxiliary processors.

14. The wearable smart device of claim 8 wherein the device processor is configured to receive a processing request from the robot processor, perform the processing request and return results of the processing request to the robot processor.

15. The wearable smart device of claim 8 wherein the device processor is configured to receive robot data detected by robot sensors of the robot and to control the robot based on the device data and the robot data.

16. A wearable smart device for use with a robot having a robot input/output port, a robot processor coupled to the robot input/output port and an actuator, the wearable smart device comprising:

a device input/output port;

a device sensor configured to detect device data associated with an environment of the wearable smart device; and

a device processor coupled to the robot processor via the robot input/output port and the device input/output port, coupled to the device sensor and configured to;

determine capabilities of the robot,

determine a desired function to be performed by the robot, and

control the actuator so that the robot performs the desired function based on the device data and the capabilities of the robot.

17. The wearable smart device of claim 16 wherein the device processor is configured to receive a processing request from the robot processor, perform the processing request and return results of the processing request to the robot processor.

18. The wearable smart device of claim 16 wherein the device processor is configured to receive robot data detected by robot sensors of the robot and to control the robot based on the device data and the robot data.

19. The wearable smart device of claim 16 further comprising a wireless charging module configured to receive a wireless power signal from the robot.

20. The wearable smart device of claim 16 wherein the robot processor includes at least two robot auxiliary processors and the device processor is further configured to delegate processing tasks to each of the at least two robot auxiliary processors.