EP1086733A1

EP1086733A1 - Device for selective imitation of human or animal actions by a robotic character when certain objects are placed near the robotic character

Info

Publication number: EP1086733A1
Application number: EP99203142A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Wilhelmus Cornelis Gerardus Gertenaar; Willem Tamboer; Floris Verbiest
Original assignee: Stichting Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum Naturalis
Current assignee: Stichting Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum Naturalis
Priority date: 1999-09-25
Filing date: 1999-09-25
Publication date: 2001-03-28

Abstract

Device for selective imitation of human or animal actions by a robotic character when certain objects are placed in the neighborhood of the robotic doll, comprising of one or more automatically movable robot dolls, which in principle can have every appearance and every suitable mechanical and/or electronic movement/ and control device, which is necessary for a specific application and also comprises of an electronic system which can recognize specially prepared objects in an area around the robot doll and can thereafter control the robot doll in such a way, that this one imitates certain human or animal acts when it recognizes corresponding specific objects.

Description

The invention relates to a device which provides that an automatically movable robot doll imitates certain human or animal actions when a certain object is brought into his neighborhood, such as for instance imitating an eating action, when a piece of plastic imitation food is offered to the robotic doll.
The invention is specifically intended for, but certainly not limited to, educational, presentation, and amusement applications.
In the past devices are known which make a doll imitate human or animal acts by means of mechanical and/or electronic devices. In the first place these were mainly animal figures, which driven by for instance a spring or an electrical motor could execute one or more repetitive acts, such as opening and closing of the mouth, a walking movement or wagging the tail. In the patent application GB-2089 225A, "Bird action toy" a bird figure is for instance described which driven by an electrical motor makes a forward and backward movement, opens and closes its beak, produces bird sounds and moves its tail back and forth.
Furthermore one can distinguish robot dolls, which imitate human and animal acts in response to external stimulants such as light, sound or touching. For the registration of the mentioned stimulants the robotic doll needs to dispose of suitable sensors, often in combination with other electronic devices such as a microprocessor. The document JP-02261485A "Animal toy swallowing bait" describes a mechanical doll with the appearance of a reptile which when touched lets appear a long tongue from its mouth to 'catch' a prey. Furthermore in the document JP-04020366A "Stuffed animal" a system is described having a light sensor and a sound sensor which can for instance be placed in a robot doll having the appearance of an animal figure.
In response to the sensor signals the doll opens or closes the eyes, produces a sound or moves its tail.
Systems as described in the above examples are mainly applied in toys. Although these systems usually only react to simple stimulants, such as a transfer from light to darkness, a touch or a sound, in most cases they are already technically rather complex and comprise for instance several sensors, electromechanical devices and a microprocessor. For some applications it is desirable, that the robot doll does not only respond to simple external stimulants, but has such devices that it can distinguish and recognize specially prepared objects coming into his neighborhood. In this respect one can imagine the presentation of certain imitation food to robot dolls having the appearance of animal figures, in which a specific animal makes an eating movement when the correct food is brought into his neighborhood. There are however many other applications possible, in which a robot doll should execute a certain action in response to the observation and recognition of a certain object in its neighborhood.
The systems which are known up to now with which robots observe and recognize objects in their neighborhood usually comprise complex and expensive opto-electronic components for registration and processing of images and are in most cases profitable when used in industrial robots. For educational, presentation and amusements application such systems are usually too advanced and too expensive.
The object of the present invention is therefore providing a flexible and less expensive system for use in combination with robot dolls, with which specially prepared objects in the neighborhood of the robot doll can be observed and recognized after which the robot executes an action which is coupled with the object.
The device according to the present invention is characterized, in that it comprises one or more automatically movable robot dolls which can in principle comprise every appearance and every mechanical and/or electronic movement and control device which the specific application needs, in combination with an electronic system that can recognize if certain specially prepared objects are present in a specified area around the robot doll, and in response thereof can control the robot doll in such a way, that this imitates human or animal acts. In the device according to the invention the recognition of the object takes place by the incorporation of a transmitting device, which transmits a signal which is different for every object. In, at or near the robot doll a receiver with a certain receiving interval is present, which can register the signals transmitted of objects within reach of the receiver. A computer which is connected to the above mentioned receiver recognizes the different signals and controls the robot doll in response to the signals in order to imitate certain human or animal acts, which are determined by the application.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention each of the objects to be recognized comprises a passive electronic transmittor/receiver which transmits certain signals which can be identified. In that case an electronic magnetic signal in a specific neighborhood around the robotic doll will be transmitted. If a object to be recognized enters said electronic magnetic field the passive circuit in the object withdraw energy from the field and transmits by means thereof a unique digital code, which is registered by a receiver in or at the robot dolls. This embodiment has the advantage that for the electrical supply of the transmitting devices no battery has to be present in the object to be recognized.
In a exemplary embodiment of the invention the robot dolls are executed as animal figures which are placed on a railing every doll contains mechanical devices to open and close the mouth and to have the head make a "No" movement. The objects to be recognized comprise plastic imitations of food with one of the above described active or passive transmitting devices. The object is now that one or more specific pieces of imitation food belong to every animal, for instance an insect for a frog, a fish for an otter. In the upper jaw of every animal robot a receiver is present which within a certain reach registers the signals of the transmitting devices in the imitation food. When the correct imitation food comes within the reach of the receiver of the correct animal this receiver registers the transmitted signal and the computer controls the mechanical devices to open the mouth. The food can now be placed into the mouth, after which the animal robot closes its mouth and the food drops into a container below the railing. When the food is presented to the wrong animal, the computer controls the movement devices for making a "No" movement of the head.
By the variation of the appearance and the collection of preprogrammed actions of the robot dolls, together with the nature and the appearance of the objects to be recognized and of the combinations of object and corresponding action many applications of the device according to the inventions are possible.

Claims

Device for selective imitation of human or animal actions by a robotic character when certain objects are placed in the neighborhood of the robotic doll, comprising of:

one or more automatically movable robot dolls, which in principle can have every appearance and every suitable mechanical and/or electronic movement/ and control device, which is necessary for a specific application;

an electronic system which can recognize specially prepared objects in an area around the robot doll and can thereafter control the robot doll in such a way, that this one imitates certain human or animal acts when it recognizes corresponding specific objects,

characterized in that, that said object can be observed and recognized by said electronic system, because in the objects a transmitting device is present which transmits a signal which is different for every object, whereas in or at the robot doll a receiver is present, which registers the transmitted signals of objects, present within the reach of the receiver, and leads them to a computer which recognizes the several signals and in response thereof controls a robot doll to imitate certain specific human or animal actions.
Device according to claim 1 characterized in that, that said transmitting device in the objects to be recognized comprises a passive electronic transmitter/receiver circuit, which withdraws energy from a electronic magnetic field which is transmitted in a certain neighborhood around the robot dolls, to be able to transmit a unique digital code, which in its turn is registered in or at the robot doll.
Device according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that, that said robot doll have the appearance of animals and comprise mechanical devices which makes it possible to open or close the mouth of the dolls and have the head make a "No" movement.
Device according to claim 3, characterized in that, that the objects to be recognized comprise plastic imitations of food, in which one or more specific food imitations are meant for every animal robot.
Device according to claim 4, characterized in that, that an antenna in the upper jaw of every animal robot registers the signals in a certain neighborhood which are transmitted by said transmitting devices in said imitation food after which a computer connected to said receiver, at the recognition of the correct imitation food offered, controls said mechanical devices to open the mouth of the corresponding robot and when presenting food, controls the mechanical devices to let the head of the robot make a no movement.