Robot

Abstract

This article is a robot that communicates with users and monitors them. As shown in the [Reference Perspective View of the Usage State], the robot 1 includes a head 2a, a body 2b, legs 2c, arms 2d, an imaging unit 3, a distance measuring unit 4, a sound detection unit 5, a first notification unit 6, a second notification unit 7, a third notification unit 8, a SELECT / ENTER switch 9, a CANCEL switch 10, an infrared output unit 11, a USB socket 12, and a touch sensor 13. The robot 1 operates based on the power supplied from a rechargeable battery (not shown) built into the body 2b. The robot 1 has a built-in control unit (not shown) equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), memory, etc., and the operation of the robot 1 is controlled by the control unit. Furthermore, the robot 1 is provided with a communication unit (not shown). The control unit can access a server or the like via a network through the communication unit, obtain information regarding the user's life, etc., and further receive a predetermined service. The predetermined service includes services using generative AI. As a result, the user can communicate with the robot 1 in language. The legs 2c are provided with driving wheels (see [Bottom View], etc.). The wheels are connected to a driving source (not shown) such as a motor. The control unit moves the robot 1 in any direction forward or backward by controlling the direction and rotation direction of the wheels with respect to the floor surface. The imaging unit 3 includes an image sensor composed of a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor). The distance measuring unit 4 measures distance by LiDAR. LiDAR emits laser light and measures the distance to an object, the shape of the object, etc. based on the information of the reflected light. The control unit performs mapping of the house based on the image captured by the imaging unit 3 or (and) the distance measurement information measured by the distance measuring unit 4, and moves the robot 1 using the generated map. That is, the robot 1 is capable of autonomously moving inside the house. The sound detection unit 5 has a plurality (for example, six) of microphones (not shown) built therein and detects sounds from all directions.Note that the robot 1 has a built-in environmental measurement unit (not shown), which includes a gas sensor (CO2 sensor, VOC (volatile organic compound) sensor), a temperature sensor, and a humidity sensor. The first notification unit 6 is composed of a speaker and provides voice information to the user. The control unit recognizes the user's speech detected by the voice detection unit 5 and responds to the user via the first notification unit 6. The second notification unit 7 is composed of 7-segment LEDs provided at the positions of the eyes along the curved surface of the part corresponding to the face of the robot 1. The control unit turns on (ON) / turns off (OFF) the selected segment. The third notification unit 8 is a display composed of an LCD (liquid crystal display), an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode), etc., and provides various information to the user. The SELECT / ENTER switch 9 and the CANCEL switch 10 are used when the user selects the operation mode, functions, etc. of the robot 1. Here, a menu for selecting the functions of the robot 1 is displayed on the third notification unit 8. The user rotates the SELECT / ENTER switch 9 in the form of an earphone in the circumferential direction to switch the selected items in the menu. Then, by pressing the SELECT / ENTER switch 9 (pushing it into the side of the head 2a), the selected content of the menu is confirmed (when the menu has a hierarchical structure, it moves to the lower selected item). Also, when the user presses the CANCEL switch 10, the selected content is canceled (when the menu has a hierarchical structure, it moves to the upper selected item). The infrared output unit 11 functions as a transmitter of an infrared (IR) control signal. For example, based on the result of recognizing the user's speech detected by the voice detection unit 5 or the instruction confirmed by the SELECT / ENTER switch 9, the control unit transmits a control signal to a control target such as an air conditioner via the infrared output unit 11. The imaging unit 3, the third notification unit 8, and the infrared output unit 11 described above are integrated and provided on the body part 2b in a manner of being suspended from the neck of the robot 1 by a strap. The USB socket 12 (USB Type C - female) is provided on the head 2a of the robot 1 so as to form a recess. The robot 1 and a terminal such as a PC (Personal Computer) are connected via the USB socket 12, and data transmission and reception are performed.In addition, charging power is supplied to devices such as smartphones via the USB socket 12. The touch sensor 13 is provided so as to form a convex portion on the top of the head of the robot 1, and when the user touches the touch sensor 13, the activation (active) and stop (sleep) of the robot 1 are switched.

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