Abstract:
An autonomously movable cleaning robot comprising a platform and motive force to autonomously move the robot on a substantially horizontal surface having boundaries. The robot further has a computer processing unit for storing, receiving and transmitting data, and a cleaning implement operatively associated with the robot. The robot receives input data from an external source. The external source may be physical manipulation of the robot, remote control, or by triangulation from at least three external transmitters.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for controlling the position of a vehicle (1b, 1 c) on a track (2) so as to provide a slotless racing vehicle game is described. The method involves generating within a primary feedback loop (32) a first input signal for a steering servo (10) of the vehicle (1b, 1c) so as to minimise an error signal produced by comparing a measured lateral position of the vehicle (1b, 1 c) on the track (2) with its desired position. The method further comprises generating within a secondary feedback loop (38) a second input signal for the steering servo (10) so as minimise a measured angle of orientation of the vehicle (1b, 1 c) on the track (2). It is found to be advantageous for the stability of the vehicle (1b, 1 c) on the track (2) if responsivity (Klf2) of the secondary feedback loop (38) is set to be equal to the reciprocal of the responsivity (Kss) of the steering servo (10).
Abstract:
A self-propelled device is provided including a drive system, a spherical housing, and a biasing mechanism. The drive system includes one or more motors that are contained within the spherical housing. The biasing mechanism actively forces the drive system to continuously engage an interior of the spherical housing in order to cause the spherical housing to move.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method of generating control commands for coordinating displacement members of a moving platform, so as to make said moving platform progress between an initial speed and a final speed according to at least two locomotive situations. The method of the invention is characterized in that each locomotive situation is associated with an elementary module (M k ) corresponding thereto for generating commands for controlling coordination between a predetermined module start speed and a predetermined module end speed, and in that domains of application of these elementary modules are represented in the form of a predetermined chart for stringing together adjoining modules covering at least partially, by juxtaposition of their start and end speeds, the spectrum of possible initial and final speeds of displacement of the platform, so as to allow the determination (330) of a series of elementary modules to be strung together to pass from the initial speed (Vi) to the final speed (Vf) and the concatenation (340) of the modules of this series so as to derive therefrom a series of corresponding control commands (350) for the displacement members for the moving platform.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for haptic remote control gaming are disclosed. A portable multifunction device receives information from a remotely controllable device. The portable multifunction device can be operable as a remote control for the remotely controllable device. The portable multifunction device may be a smartphone, a tablet computer, or another suitable electronic device. The portable multifunction device can determine a haptic effect based at least in part on the information received from the remotely controllable device. The portable multifunction device may generate a signal configured to cause an actuator to output the determined haptic effect. The portable multifunction device can output the signal.