JP2003005805A - Robot system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a robot system of which a user never gets tired even in use for a long time by mounting a communication function on a robot such as a pet robot to add a game-like factor to robot movement. SOLUTION: This robot system comprises a management server 3 provided with a database 31 storing information about treasure and positional information of the treasure, a robot 1 provided with a GPS for acquiring information about the current location and a headset 2 connected to the management server 3 and the robot 1 through a communication line. The headset 2 acquires the information about the treasure and the positional information about the treasure from the management server 3, acquires information about the current location from the robot 1, decides whether or not the current location is the position of the treasure on the basis of the acquired positional information of the treasure and the acquired information about the current location and displays the decision results on a transmission type liquid crystal display.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a robot system for controlling a robot such as a pet robot which behaves based on inputs from various sensors.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a pet robot that replaces pet animals such as dogs and cats has been receiving attention. Pet robots are equipped with various sensors that respond to light, sound, vibration, etc.
It is a pet animal of a machine that reacts to human movements and makes lovely movements. Since such a pet robot is small in size unlike an ordinary robot, it is unlikely to cause any harm to humans and can be kept at a low price. Therefore, various products are expected to appear in the future.

[0003]

Some of the above-mentioned conventional pet robots are of a growth type in which language expression is gradually enriched while learning based on inputs from various sensors, but it has a communication function. Many are not. Since such a robot pet has a basic function of autonomous behavior based only on inputs from various sensors mounted, it is less likely to develop further.

That is, since the conventional pet robot acts only on the basis of the inputs from the various sensors mounted on it, it will behave in the same manner as it grows, and if it is kept for a long period of time, it will gradually increase. You may get tired of it.

Therefore, in the present invention, a communication function is provided in a robot such as a pet robot,
The object of the present invention is to provide a robot system in which game elements are added to the behavior of a robot so that the robot system does not get tired even after long-term use.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a management server having a database for storing information on an object and position information of the object, and means for acquiring information on the current position. A robot equipped with the management server and a means for connecting to the robot via a communication line, a means for acquiring information about the object and position information of the object from the management server, and information about the current position from the robot Means, a judgment means for judging whether or not the current position is the position of the target object based on the acquired position information of the target object and the acquired information about the current position, and a display means for displaying the result of the judgment means. It is composed of a user terminal.

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a robot system in which a game-like element of searching an object is added to the action of the robot so that the robot system does not get tired even if it is used for a long period of time.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 is a robot equipped with a management server having a database for storing information on an object and position information of the object, and a means for acquiring information on the current position. And a means for connecting to the management server and the robot via a communication line, a means for obtaining information on the object and position information of the object from the management server, a means for obtaining information on the current position from the robot, the acquired object And a user terminal having a display means for displaying the result of the determination means based on the position information and the acquired information about the current position. It is a robot system, and the user terminal and the user carrying the robot can use the user terminal when the current position becomes the position of the object. By its effect is displayed, it is possible to know that it was possible to explore the object.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the user terminal is
The management server is equipped with an input means for inputting arrival information indicating that the object has reached the position and a means for transmitting the input arrival information to the management server, and the management server acquires the arrival information transmitted by the user terminal. The means according to claim 1, further comprising means, means for accumulating the acquired arrival information in a database as information about the user of the user terminal, and means for outputting information about the user accumulated in the database. It is a robot system, and when the user can search for the target object, the management server can be notified of that fact and the search result can be managed by the management server.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the user terminal is
The robot system according to claim 2, wherein the headset includes a transmissive liquid crystal display as a display unit and a microphone as an input unit, and the user sees the surroundings while wearing the headset. And the user sees the search result displayed on the display means when the current position becomes the position of the target object, inputs by voice from the microphone that the target object could be searched, and notifies the management server of the fact. It can be notified.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a robot system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a robot system according to an embodiment of the present invention mainly includes a robot 1 carried by a user, a headset 2 as a user terminal worn by the user and wirelessly communicating with the robot 1, In addition, the management server 3 manages information and the like regarding the treasure as the object searched by the user.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the robot 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the robot 1 has a camera 1 mounted on a head 1a which can be swung by a motor 11.
2 and a collision sensor 13, and drive motors 14a, 1
Left and right tires 15a, 1 respectively driven by 4b
It can be moved by 5b. Also, the robot 1
Is a GPS (Global Positionin) as a position information acquisition unit that acquires information about the current position.
g System 16), a wireless unit 17 for communicating with the headset 2, and an antenna 18. Motor 1
1, camera 12, collision sensor 13, drive motor 14a,
The control unit 19 controls the 14b, the GPS 16, and the wireless unit 17. Information input by the camera 12 and the GPS 16 is wirelessly transmitted from the wireless unit 17 to the headset 2 via the antenna 18 by the control unit 19.

FIG. 3 (a) is an external front view of the headset,
(B) is a right side view of the external appearance of the headset. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the headset 2.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the headset 2 includes a transmissive liquid crystal display 2 as display means.
1. A microphone 22 as a means for inputting a voice and a speaker 23 as a means for outputting a voice converted by the DA converter 23a are provided, and the main unit 2a is equipped with an ear hook 2b to be mounted on a user's ear. To use. The main unit 2a includes a wireless unit 24 that wirelessly communicates with the robot 1 as a communication line.
A mobile telephone network 5 as a communication line via the base station 4 shown in FIG.
A portable wireless unit 25 for connecting to and performing wireless communication.
Also, an antenna 26 is provided. The transmissive liquid crystal display 21, the DA converter 23a, the wireless unit 24, and the portable wireless unit 25 are controlled by the controller 27. The information transmitted from the robot 1 is received by the wireless unit 24 via the antenna 26 and passed to the control unit 27. Further, the headset 2 is connected to the mobile phone network 5 by communicating with the base station 4 via the mobile wireless unit 25 and the antenna 26 by the control unit 27.

Returning to FIG. 1, the management server 3 includes a database 31 for storing information regarding a plurality of treasures and position information of each treasure. Database 3
The position information of the treasure stored in 1 does not indicate the position where the treasure actually exists, but the position information indicating that the virtual treasure exists.

The database 31 also stores identification information such as IDs and passwords for identifying users, and the management server 3 requests connection by the headset 2 via the Internet 6 as a communication line. The user who authenticates is authenticated based on this identification information. In addition, the Internet 6 and the mobile phone network 5 are connected to each other by a general connection point (POI: Po).
int Of Interface) 7. That is, the headset 2 can connect to the management server 3 via the base station 4, the mobile phone network 5, the POI 7, and the Internet 6 to perform communication.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a usage state of the robot 1 and the headset 2.

As shown in FIG. 5, the user 8 wears the headset 2 on his head and looks at the screen 21a of the transmissive liquid crystal display 21 and moves with the robot 1. The control unit 19 of the robot 1 transmits the image data input by the camera 12 provided on the head 1 a to the headset 2 via the wireless unit 17 and the antenna 18. The control unit 27 of the headset 2 receives the transmitted image data by the antenna 26 and the wireless unit 24 and displays it on the transmissive liquid crystal display 21.

The treasure search processing by the robot system having the above configuration will be described below with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 6 to 8.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of the treasure search processing by the robot system according to this embodiment, and FIG.
8 is a flowchart of treasure search processing by the robot system according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart of treasure search processing by the robot system according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, from the robot 1, information regarding the current position acquired by the GPS 16 is sent to the radio unit 17 and the antenna 1 by the control unit 19.
It is assumed that the data is transmitted to the headset 2 via the mobile phone 8 at any time. On the other hand, also in the headset 2, it is assumed that the information on the current position transmitted from the robot 1 is received at any time via the antenna 26 and the wireless unit 24.

First, as shown in FIG. 6, the headset 2
Makes a connection request (S101) to the management server 3. Upon receiving the connection request from the headset 2 (S102), the management server 3 requests the headset 2 for the ID and password (S103). Upon receiving this request (S104), the headset 2 sends the user ID and password to the management server 3 (S1).
05) Yes. The management server 3 receives the transmitted ID and password (S106), and stores the database 31 in advance.
Authentication is performed based on the information stored in (S107). When the authentication is completed, the management server 3 transmits information indicating communication permission to the headset 2 (S108). Upon receiving the information indicating the communication permission (S109), the headset 2 requests the treasure position information from the management server 3 (S110).
To do. When the management server 3 receives this request (S111), it searches the database 31 for the location information of the treasure (S111).
112) and transmits to the headset 2 (S113).
The headset 2 receives the transmitted treasure position information (S114), and the treasure position information storage unit 28 (see FIG. 4).
Is stored (S115).

Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the headset 2 compares the information on the current position, which is transmitted from the robot 1 at any time and received, with the position information stored in the treasure position information storage unit 28. , Is searched for whether there is a match (S116). If there is no match, another process (S118) is performed. If there is a match, the headset 2 makes a connection request (S
119) is performed. The management server 3 uses the headset 2
When the connection request from the mobile phone is received (S120), the headset 2 is requested for the ID and password (S121).
To do. The headset 2 receives this request (S122)
Then, the user's ID and password are input to the management server 3
To (S123). The management server 3 receives the transmitted ID and password (S124), and authenticates based on the information accumulated in the database 31 (S12).
5) Do. When the authentication is completed, the management server 3 transmits information indicating communication permission to the headset 2 (S126). The headset 2 receives the information indicating the communication permission (S
127), the position information of the matched treasure is transmitted to the management server 3 (S128). When the management server 3 receives the transmitted treasure position information (S129), the management server 3 searches the database 31 for treasure information corresponding to the treasure position information (S130), and transmits the acquired treasure information to the headset 2. (S131). The headset 2 receives the transmitted treasure information (S132) and displays the treasure information on the transmissive liquid crystal display 21 (S133).

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 8, the user displays the treasure information displayed on the transmissive liquid crystal display 21 (the treasure actually exists at the virtual treasure position as shown on the screen 21a of FIG. 5). When the treasure is found based on the treasure image 21b) displayed as if the treasure search is completed (that is, the current position has reached the treasure position), the microphone 22 Input by (S13
4) Do. Then, the headset 2 transmits information indicating that the search for the treasure has been completed (arrival information indicating that the current position has reached the position of the treasure) to the management server 3 (S13).
5) Do. The management server 3 receives the transmitted information (S
136) and stores the received information in the database 21 as user information in association with the user identification information (S13).
7) and transmits information indicating that the storage is completed to the headset 2 (S138). Upon receiving this information (S139), the headset 2 displays on the transmissive liquid crystal display 21 that the treasure has been acquired (S140).

As described above, according to the robot system of this embodiment, the user carrying the robot 1
It was possible to search for the treasure by looking at the surroundings while wearing the headset 2 and acting, and looking at the search result displayed on the transmissive liquid crystal display 21 when the current position became the position of the treasure. You can know. Further, the user notifies the management server 3 by voice inputting that the treasure can be searched from the microphone 22, and the management server 3 outputs the user information stored in the database 21. Items corresponding to the treasure acquired by the user can be sent to the user as a present at a later date.

[0029]

According to the present invention, a user who carries a user terminal and a robot can display an object by displaying that fact on the user terminal when the current position becomes the position of the object. It is possible to obtain a robot system in which it is possible to know that it has been able to search, and which adds the game-like element of searching for an object to the behavior of the robot and does not get tired even after long-term use.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a robot system according to an embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a robot.

FIG. 3A is an external front view of the headset. (B) Right side view of headset

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a headset.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a usage state of a robot and a headset.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of treasure search processing by the robot system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of treasure search processing by the robot system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of treasure search processing by the robot system according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 robot 1a head 2 headset 2a Main unit 2b Ear hook 3 management server 4 base stations 5 Mobile phone network 6 Internet 7 Total connection point (POI) 11 motor 12 cameras 13 Collision sensor 14a, 14b drive motor 15a, 15b tires 16 GPS 17 Radio section 18 antenna 19 Control unit 21 Transmissive LCD 22 microphone 23 speakers 23a DA converter 24 wireless units 25 Portable radio unit 26 antenna 27 Control unit 28 Treasure location information storage 31 Database

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hideaki Sasaki             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3C007 AS36 CS08 CY02 JS02 JS03                       JS07 KS03 KS16 KS31 KS39                       KT01 KT15 KV09 KV18 MS07                       MT14 WA16 WC06 WC12                 5H215 AA07 BB18 CC07 CX01 CX08                       GG03 GG05 KK07                 5J062 AA08 BB00 CC07

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A management server having a database for storing information on an object and position information of the object, a robot having means for acquiring information on the current position, and a communication line for the management server and the robot. Means for connecting via the management server, means for obtaining information on the object and position information of the object from the management server, means for obtaining information on the current position from the robot, position information of the acquired object and the acquired current A robot system comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not the current position is the position of an object based on information about the position; and a user terminal that includes a display unit that displays the result of the determination unit. 2. The management server comprises: an input unit for inputting arrival information indicating that the position of the object has been reached; and a unit for transmitting the input arrival information to the management server. Is means for acquiring the arrival information transmitted by the user terminal, means for accumulating the acquired arrival information in the database as information about the user of the user terminal, and information about the user accumulated in the database. 2. The robot system according to claim 1, further comprising means for outputting. 3. The robot system according to claim 2, wherein the user terminal is a headset including a transmissive liquid crystal display as the display unit and a microphone as the input unit.