Robot control system and method for introducing robot control software

• US 6,760,648 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2003
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Oyama, Kazufumi, Sakamoto, Takayuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel, Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US10/357,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20030139850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 700/245, 700/257, 700/259, 700/264, 707/100, 715/500, 715/501.1, 318/468
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1602 characterised by the control system, structure, architecture
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40304 Modular structure
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/008 based on physical entities controlled by simulated intelligence so as to replicate intelligent life forms, e.g. based on robots replicating pets or humans in their appearance or behaviour

Abstract

An articulated robot is controlled by dynamically modifying a combination of a hardware dependent middleware layer and a hardware independent application layer.

A memory device for storing a plurality of sets of robot hardware dependent software programs and a memory device for storing a plurality of sets of robot hardware independent software programs are prepared. During execution of software programs, a software program compatible with a robot hardware configuration is introduced from the former memory device, and this software program is dynamically combined with the set of hardware independent software programs. The robot is thus appropriately controlled, meeting the needs of users.

Claims

1. A robot control system which controls a robot based on a hardware dependent software and a hardware independent software, the robot control system comprising:

hardware independent software program providing means for providing the hardware independent software program;

hardware dependent software providing means for providing at least one hardware dependent software program;

hardware configuration information detecting means for detecting hardware configuration information of the robot;

hardware dependent software program selection means for selecting a hardware dependent software program based on the hardware configuration information, in the hardware dependent software program providing means; and

software introduction means for introducing the hardware independent software program and the hardware dependent software program selected by the hardware dependent software selection means, into the system.

2. The robot control system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the hardware independent software program and hardware dependent software program is provided by downloading through a network.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one hardware dependent software program comprises a plurality of hardware dependent software programs.

4. A robot control software program introducing method for introducing a hardware dependent software program and a hardware independent software program into a robot having a control system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the hardware independent software program;

providing at least one hardware dependent software program;

detecting hardware configuration information of the robot;

selecting a hardware dependent software program of said at least one provided hardware dependent system program, based on the hardware configuration information; and

introducing the hardware independent software program and the selected hardware dependent software program into the system.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the hardware independent software program and hardware dependent software program is provided by downloading through a network.

6. The method according to claim 4 wherein said at least one hardware dependent software program comprises a plurality of hardware dependent software programs.