Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a robot to interact with a human being.SOLUTION: A mobile robot 10 as a guest for interacting with a human resident performs a room-traversing search procedure prior to interacting with the resident, and may verbally query whether the resident being sought is present. Upon finding the resident, the mobile robot may practice a teleconferencing session with a remote third party, or interact with the resident in a number of ways. For example, the robot may carry out a dialogue with the resident, and reinforce compliance with medication or other schedules. In addition, the robot incorporates safety features for preventing collisions with the resident, and the robot may audibly announce and/or visibly indicate its presence in order to avoid becoming a dangerous obstacle. Furthermore, the mobile robot behaves in accordance with an integral privacy policy, such that any sensor recording and transmission must be approved by the resident.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem in which a conventional robot is disturbed due to limited utility, and thus has not functioned as a versatile assistant being welcomed by a human being.SOLUTION: A method to be executed by a robotic system including a moving robot provided with a camera is provided that is configured to include: dividing a map of a house into a plurality of areas having room discrimination information respectively; causing a user to display a plurality of room discrimination markers on a display device. The method is configured to include: with respect to at least two of the room discrimination information, causing the user to display an image photographed by the camera of the moving robot in the area of the house corresponding to the room discrimination information on the display device; and further causing a drive system of the moving robot to avoid an unexpected obstacle on a scheduled route, and advance on the scheduled route to at least one location in the house corresponding to a designation of the room discrimination marker of a destination.
Abstract:
C:MPonbhDCCol) 734605. [.DOC-3M7/20 I Abstract A method of docking a robotic device with a base station includes the steps of detecting a low energy level in an on-board battery, orienting the robot in relation to a detected overlap between two infrared beams emitted by the station, detecting contact between the 5 charging terminals on the robot and on the base station, charging the on-board battery and resuming a robot's task, such as vacuuming. Also disclosed are systems for emitting avoidance signals to prevent inadvertent contact between the robot and the base station, and systems for emitting homing signals to allow the robot device to accurately dock with the base station.