Growth type accompanying nursing robot

Abstract

The growth type accompanying nursing robot comprises a robot body and a control system, and the control system is connected with an intelligent loudspeaker box module capable of achieving conversation; the robot body comprises a telescopic skeleton frame and simulation skin which is arranged outside the skeleton frame in a sleeving mode and can be inflated and deflated, and the simulation skin is connected with an inflation and deflation device arranged in the skeleton frame. The control system is connected with the telescopic enabling end of the skeleton frame and controls the skeleton frame to extend at a set speed; the control system is connected with the enabling end of the inflation and deflation device and controls the inflation and deflation device to work so as to inflate the simulation skin, so that the simulation skin expands in the height direction and the circumferential direction along with extension of the skeleton frame, and the robot body is made to grow tall. By setting the growth speed and increasing the skeleton and the simulated skin, the robot main body gradually grows up, is different in size and does different things, and gradually changes from accompanying (in the baby stage and the child stage) to nursing (in the adult stage), so that the emotion linkage with the old is enhanced, and the loneliness of the old is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of elderly care robots, and in particular relates to a growth-type companion care robot. Background Art

[0002] Elderly people living alone tend to be lonely. Companion robots, as innovative tools for psychological care of the elderly, can alleviate the loneliness caused by living alone.

[0003] CN202411583924.9 discloses an intelligent companion robot based on elderly care, which can conduct simple daily conversations to meet the basic communication needs of the elderly. Through voice conversations, the elderly can feel companionship and care, reduce loneliness, automatically identify abnormalities in health data and report them to family members, so that family members can quickly respond to potential health problems. Feedback and intervention can improve the elderly's sense of security and avoid long-term isolation, achieving the beneficial effect of adding a family-side control system to solve the emotional communication problem of the elderly.

[0004] The size and model of existing companion robots are basically fixed. They are unable to grow from infancy to childhood, and from childhood to adulthood capable of caring for the elderly like humans. They have weak emotional connections and can only provide limited relief to the loneliness of the elderly. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention aims to solve the technical problems existing in the prior art. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a growth-type companionship and care robot with a set growth rate, which gradually grows up, has different sizes, and does different things, gradually changing from companionship (infancy and childhood) to care (adulthood).

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention adopts the following technical scheme: a growth-type companion and care robot, including a robot body and a control system, the control system is connected to a conversational smart speaker module; the robot body includes a retractable skeleton frame and an inflatable and deflated simulated skin which is mounted outside the skeleton frame, the simulated skin is connected to an inflation and deflation device arranged in the skeleton frame; the control system is connected to the retractable enabling end of the skeleton frame, and controls the skeleton frame to extend at a set speed; the control system is connected to the enabling end of the inflation and deflation device, and controls the inflation and deflation device to work to inflate the simulated skin, so that the simulated skin expands in height and circumferential directions as the skeleton frame extends, so that the robot body grows taller and longer.

[0007] Compared with the prior art, the technical effects achieved by the preferred technical solution of the present invention include:

[0008] 1) Set the growth rate, enlarge the skeleton and simulated skin, so that the robot body grows gradually, with different sizes, doing different things, gradually from companionship (infancy and childhood) to care (adulthood), strengthening the emotional connection with the elderly and reducing the loneliness of the elderly.

[0009] 2) By setting up various sensors, the robot has the five senses of humans. The robot understands tone of voice through hearing, recognizes facial expressions through vision, replicates delicious food through taste combined with vision and smell, and perceives the strength of handshakes through touch, thus achieving more humane communication and providing a more realistic sense of companionship.

[0010] 3) The skeleton of the robot body is divided into multiple independently retractable bones according to the human body structure, and each part of the skeleton is covered with corresponding simulated skin, so that each part of the skeleton and the simulated skin outside can be stretched separately, making the growth of the robot body closer to the human body and more realistic.

[0011] Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be given in part in the following description and in part will be obvious from the following description, or will be learned through practice of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and easily understood from the description of the embodiments in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0013] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a growth-type companion care robot in an embodiment. Figure 1 .

[0014] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of the retracted state of the retractable skeleton in the embodiment.

[0015] Figure 3 It is a schematic structural diagram of the extended state of the retractable bone in the embodiment.

[0016] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a growth-type companion care robot in an embodiment. Figure 2 .

[0017] The figure marks in the drawings of the specification include: robot body 10, trunk skeleton 21, middle trunk skeleton 211, side trunk skeleton 212, capsule bar 213, cervical vertebrae 22, skull 23, arm skeleton 24, upper arm skeleton 241, forearm skeleton 242, hand skeleton 243, leg skeleton 25, thigh skeleton 251, calf skeleton 252, foot skeleton 256, exoskeleton 261, endoskeleton 262, skin storage cavity 263, simulated skin 30, inflation and deflation device 40, control system 50, smart speaker module 51. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, and examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and cannot be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0019] In the description of the present invention, it is to be understood that the terms “longitudinal”, “lateral”, “vertical”, “up”, “down”, “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “inside” and “outside” etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0020] In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise specified and limited, it should be noted that the terms "installed", "connected" and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection, or it can be the internal connection between two components. It can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0021] The present invention provides a growth-type companion care robot, such as Figure 1 As shown, in a preferred embodiment, the robot includes a robot body 10 and a control system 50. The control system 50 is built into the robot body 10. The control system 50 is connected to a conversational smart speaker module 51, so that the robot can sing, talk, announce time, weather, news, tell stories, etc., to add fun to the lives of the elderly and reduce loneliness.

[0022] The robot body 10 includes a retractable skeleton frame and an inflatable and deflated artificial skin 30 sleeved outside the skeleton frame. The artificial skin 30 is connected to an inflation and deflation device 40 arranged in the skeleton frame. The artificial skin 30 makes the robot have a warm and soft epidermis and can also be hugged. The skeleton frame can adopt a nested multi-section telescopic structure in the prior art, and adopt pneumatic drive or electric drive to extend and retract. The control system 50 is connected to the telescopic enabling end of the skeleton frame to control the skeleton frame to extend at a set speed; the control system 50 is connected to the enabling end of the inflation and deflation device 40 to control the inflation and deflation device 40 to work to inflate the artificial skin 30, so that the artificial skin 30 expands in the height direction and circumferential direction as the skeleton frame extends, so that the robot body 10 grows taller and longer.

[0023] Specifically, a plurality of growth nodes can be preset in the control system 50, and a corresponding growth speed is set between two adjacent growth nodes. The control system 50 controls the extension of the skeleton according to the growth speed, and controls the inflation and deflation device 40 to inflate the simulated skin 30. By setting the growth speed, the robot body 10 gradually grows up, with different sizes, doing different things, gradually changing from companionship to care, thereby enhancing the emotional connection with the elderly and reducing the loneliness of the elderly.

[0024] In the present invention, the robot body 10 is in human or pet shape, and the pet-shaped simulated skin 30 has a detachable hair layer on the outside. Removing the hair layer facilitates cleaning and is more hygienic.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the ears, eyes, nose, mouth and hands of the robot body 10 are provided with auditory sensors, visual sensors, olfactory sensors, taste sensors and tactile sensors, and the signal output ends of the auditory sensors, visual sensors, olfactory sensors, taste sensors and tactile sensors are connected to the control system 50. The control system 50 has a built-in program or machine learning algorithm that has been learned, and the robot body 10 learns according to the received information. By setting various sensors, the robot has the five senses of a human. The robot understands the tone of voice through hearing, recognizes facial expressions through vision, reproduces food through taste combined with vision and smell, and perceives the strength of handshakes through touch, so as to achieve more humane communication and provide a more real sense of companionship.

[0026] Further preferably, the robot body 10 is also provided with a temperature regulating mechanism (not shown in the figure), which can heat up or cool down the simulated skin 30 to simulate the temperature of a human body or a pet, making it warmer when in contact, thereby improving the experience. The temperature regulating mechanism can be a flexible heating sheet embedded in the outer surface of the simulated skin 30 or arranged on the outer surface of the skeleton frame, which is a prior art and will not be described in detail here.

[0027] In another preferred embodiment, the sole of the robot body 10 is also embedded with a foldable caster, which can be hidden in the sole when the caster is folded, and can be exposed outside the sole when the caster is unfolded, and the robot body 10 can walk on the ground through the caster. Specifically, the method of setting a hideable pulley on the sole in the prior art can be adopted, which is a prior art and will not be described in detail here.

[0028] like Figure 1As shown, specifically, in the present invention, the skeleton frame includes a trunk skeleton 21, a skull 23 connected to the trunk skeleton 21 through a cervical vertebra 22, two arm skeletons 24 connected to the upper sides of the trunk skeleton 21 through shoulder blades, and two leg skeletons 25 connected to the lower sides of the trunk skeleton 21 through pelvis, and the control system 50 and the smart speaker module 51 are installed in the trunk skeleton 21. Among them, the trunk skeleton 21, the cervical vertebra 22 and the skull 23 can be independently extended and retracted in the height direction; the upper arm skeleton 241, the forearm skeleton 242 and the hand skeleton 243 of the arm skeleton 24 can be independently extended and retracted in the length direction; the thigh skeleton 251, the calf skeleton 252 and the foot skeleton 256 of the leg skeleton 25 can be independently extended and retracted in the length direction.

[0029] The present invention divides the skeleton frame into multiple independently retractable bones according to the human body structure (or animal structure in the case of a pet type), so that each part of the skeleton frame can be retracted and contracted separately, and at the same time cooperate with the artificial skin 30 to expand in the height direction and circumferential direction, so that the robot body 10 can grow taller and longer.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the corresponding artificial skin 30 is respectively covered outside the skeleton of each part of the skeleton, and the artificial skin 30 outside each skeleton can work independently to inflate and deflate. Specifically, a micro pump can be built into each skeleton as an air-inflation device 40 to inflate and deflate the artificial skin 30 outside. The inside of the skeleton is empty, and the skeletons are connected. The outer surface of the robot body 10 is provided with air holes that are connected to the inside of the skeleton, and air is circulated inside the skeleton through the air holes, which does not affect the inflation and deflation of each air-inflation device 40.

[0031] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, in the present invention, the skeleton frame capable of extension and contraction is a nested multi-section extension and contraction structure, including an exoskeleton 261 and at least one endoskeleton 262 disposed in the exoskeleton 261 and capable of sliding relative to the exoskeleton 261 along the length direction. The endoskeleton 262 slides downward relative to the exoskeleton 261 to extend. Figure 2 and Figure 3 The figure shows that three sections of the internal skeleton 262 are provided, and the inflation and deflation device 40 is installed at the top of the external skeleton 261. The method of driving the skeleton to extend and retract is the existing technology, such as the existing electric telescopic rod or pneumatic telescopic rod.

[0032] A full circle of skin storage cavity 263 is provided between the exoskeleton 261 and the endoskeleton 262, and between the endoskeleton 262 and the endoskeleton 262. Specifically, a cavity can be provided on the outer wall of the endoskeleton 262 as the skin storage cavity 263; simulated skin 30 is provided on the outer wall of the exoskeleton 261 and the outer wall of the endoskeleton 262, the simulated skin 30 on the exoskeleton 261 is exposed to the outside, and the simulated skin 30 on the endoskeleton 262 can be stored in the skin storage cavity 263, and each simulated skin 30 can work independently to inflate and deflate.

[0033] Initially, the endoskeleton 262 retracts into the exoskeleton 261, and the simulated skin 30 on the endoskeleton 262 is stored in the skin storage cavity 263; as the robot body 10 grows, the endoskeleton 262 extends outward to stretch the skeleton, and the simulated skin 30 on the endoskeleton 262 is exposed to the outside as it extends, so that the simulated skin 30 stretches as the skeleton stretches, and by inflating the simulated skin 30, the simulated skin 30 expands circumferentially and grows to simulate the growth of a person.

[0034] It should be noted that when the skeleton is stretched, each section of the endoskeleton 262 can be extended to a certain length, or one section of the endoskeleton 262 can be fully extended before the next section of the endoskeleton 262 is extended. The extension and retraction method is a prior art and will not be described in detail here.

[0035] like Figure 4 As shown, in another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the chest cavity and pelvic cavity of the trunk skeleton 21 can be enlarged, so that the distance between the two arms and the two legs can be increased, which can better simulate the growth of the human body.

[0036] Specifically, the trunk skeleton 21 includes a middle trunk skeleton 211 and two side trunk skeletons 212 located on the left and right sides of the middle trunk skeleton 211, the cervical vertebrae 22 are connected to the middle trunk skeleton 211, the two arm bones 24 are connected to the shoulder blades of the two side trunk skeletons 212, and the two leg bones 25 are connected to the pelvis of the two side trunk skeletons 212. Each part of the trunk skeleton 21 can be extended and retracted in the height direction. The trunk skeletons 21 are connected by the capsule strips 213, which does not affect the extension and retraction of the trunk skeleton 21 in the height direction; by inflating the capsule strips 213, the side trunk skeleton 212 is moved away from the middle trunk skeleton 211, so that the trunk skeleton 21 is widened in the left and right directions, so as to increase the chest and pelvic cavities of the trunk skeleton 21, so as to simulate the widening of the trunk skeleton 21.

[0037] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "preferred embodiment", "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example" or "some examples" etc. means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic representation of the above terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described may be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner.

[0038] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, and that the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A growth-type companion care robot, characterized in that: It includes a robot body and a control system, wherein the control system is connected to a conversation-capable smart speaker module; The robot body includes a retractable skeleton frame and an inflatable and deflated artificial skin sleeved outside the skeleton frame, wherein the artificial skin is connected to an inflating and deflation device arranged in the skeleton frame; The control system is connected to the telescopic enabling end of the skeleton frame to control the skeleton frame to extend at a set speed; The control system is connected to the enabling end of the inflation and deflation device, and controls the inflation and deflation device to inflate the simulated skin, so that the simulated skin expands in height and circumferential directions as the skeleton frame extends, so that the robot body grows taller and longer.

2. A growth-type companion care robot according to claim 1, characterized in that: The skeleton frame includes a trunk skeleton, a skull connected to the trunk skeleton via cervical vertebrae, two arm bones connected to both sides of the upper part of the trunk skeleton via shoulder blades, and two leg bones connected to both sides of the lower part of the trunk skeleton via pelvis; The trunk skeleton, cervical vertebrae and skull can be independently extended and retracted in the height direction; The upper arm bones, forearm bones and hand bones of the arm bones can be extended and retracted independently along the length direction; The thigh bones, calf bones and foot bones of the leg bones can be extended and retracted independently along the length direction.

3. A growth-type companion care robot according to claim 2, characterized in that: Each part of the skeleton is covered with corresponding artificial skin, and each artificial skin outside the skeleton can work independently to inflate and deflate.

4. A growth-type companion care robot according to claim 2, characterized in that: The skeleton frame is a telescopic skeleton with multiple sections arranged in a nested manner, including an exoskeleton and at least one endoskeleton arranged in the exoskeleton and capable of sliding relative to the exoskeleton in the length direction; A full circle of skin storage cavities is provided between the exoskeleton and the endoskeleton, and between the endoskeleton and the endoskeleton; The simulated skin is provided on the outer wall of the exoskeleton and the outer wall of the endoskeleton, the simulated skin on the exoskeleton is exposed to the outside, and the simulated skin on the endoskeleton can be stored in the skin storage cavity, and each simulated skin can work independently to inflate and deflate; When the endoskeleton extends outwards to stretch the skeleton, the simulated skin on the endoskeleton is exposed to the outside along with the extension, so that the simulated skin stretches along with the stretching of the skeleton. By inflating the simulated skin, the simulated skin expands circumferentially and grows larger.

5. The growth-type companion care robot according to claim 2, characterized in that: The thoracic cavity and pelvic cavity of the trunk skeleton can be enlarged, the trunk skeleton includes a middle trunk skeleton and two side trunk skeletons located on the left and right sides of the middle trunk skeleton respectively, the cervical vertebrae are connected to the middle trunk skeleton, and the arm bones and leg bones are connected to the side trunk bones; Each part of the trunk skeleton can be stretched and retracted in the height direction. The trunk skeleton is connected by sac strips. By inflating the sac strips, the trunk skeleton can be widened in the left and right directions to enlarge the chest cavity and pelvic cavity of the trunk skeleton.

6. A growth-type companion care robot according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The control system is preset with a plurality of growth nodes, and a corresponding growth speed is set between two adjacent growth nodes. The control system controls the extension of the skeleton frame according to the growth speed and controls the inflation and deflation device to inflate the simulated skin.

7. A growth-type companion care robot according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The robot body is in human or pet shape, and the pet-shaped simulated skin has a detachable hair layer on the outside.

8. A growth-type companion care robot according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The ears, eyes, nose, mouth and hands of the robot body are correspondingly provided with auditory sensors, visual sensors, olfactory sensors, taste sensors and tactile sensors. The signal output ends of the auditory sensors, visual sensors, olfactory sensors, taste sensors and tactile sensors are connected to the control system. The control system has a built-in learned program or machine learning algorithm, and the robot body learns according to the received information.

9. A growth-type companion care robot according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The robot body is also provided with a temperature regulating mechanism, which can raise or lower the temperature of the simulated skin to simulate the temperature of a human body or a pet.

10. A growth-type companion care robot according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The sole of the robot body is also embedded with foldable casters. When the casters are in a folded state, they can be hidden in the sole of the foot. When the casters are in an unfolded state, they can be exposed outside the sole of the foot and the robot body can walk on the ground via the casters.

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