Guidance system

Abstract

To provide a guidance system that further enhances the usefulness for visitors to the facility. [Solution] The guidance system according to the present invention comprises a guidance robot having a driving function that guides visitors to the facility to the vicinity of exhibits, an explanation robot installed around the exhibits that provides explanations about the exhibits, and a control unit that controls the operation of the guidance robot and the explanation robot. At least one of the guidance robot and the explanation robot is provided with a light-emitting unit, and the control unit controls the light-emitting unit to irradiate light from one of the guidance robot and the explanation robot to the other, and then operates the other of the guidance robot and the explanation robot.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a guidance system that guides visitors who come to a facility to the vicinity of exhibits and explains the exhibits.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as this type of guidance system, for example, the guidance system described in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2019-215840) is known. Patent Document 1 discloses a guidance system including a plurality of guide units that provide route guidance regarding a target to a user, and a unified control unit that communicates with the plurality of guide units and provides route guidance coordinated among the plurality of guide units to the user.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the guidance system of Patent Document 1, a plurality of guide units are fixed at different positions respectively. Therefore, a visitor has to move alone between the position where one guide unit is fixed and the position where the next guide unit is fixed, and there is a possibility that the visitor may get lost. Thus, in the conventional guidance system, there is still room for improvement from the viewpoint of further improving the usefulness for visitors who come to a facility.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide a guidance system that can further improve the usefulness for visitors who come to a facility.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above objective, a guidance system according to one aspect of the present invention is: A guide robot with mobility capabilities that directs visitors to the facility to the area around the exhibits, A robot that is installed around the exhibit and provides explanations about the exhibit, A control unit that controls the operation of the guide robot and the explanatory robot, Equipped with, At least one of the guide robot and the explanation robot is provided with a light-emitting unit. The control unit controls the light-emitting unit to irradiate light from one of the guide robot and the explanation robot to the other, and then operates the other of the guide robot and the explanation robot. It is structured in this way. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, the guidance system can further improve the usefulness for visitors to a facility. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic plan view showing a guide system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of the guidance system. [Figure 3A] Figure 1 shows an example of how the guidance system works, guiding visitors to the area around the exhibits and providing explanations about them. [Figure 3B] This figure shows the operation following Figure 3A. [Figure 3C] This figure shows the operation that follows Figure 3B. [Figure 3D] This figure shows the operation that follows Figure 3C. [Figure 3E] This figure shows the actions that follow Figure 3D. [Figure 3F] This figure shows the operation that follows Figure 3E. [Figure 3G] This diagram shows the operation that follows Figure 3F. [Figure 3H] It is a diagram showing the operation following FIG. 3G. [Figure 3I] It is a diagram showing the operation following FIG. 3H. [Figure 3J] It is a diagram showing the operation following FIG. 3I. [Figure 3K] It is a diagram showing the operation following FIG. 3J. [Figure 3L] It is a diagram showing the operation following FIG. 3K.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a guiding robot having a traveling function and guiding a visitor who has come to a facility to the vicinity of an exhibit, an explanatory robot installed in the vicinity of the exhibit and providing an explanation about the exhibit, a control unit for controlling the operations of the guiding robot and the explanatory robot, and at least one of the guiding robot and the explanatory robot is provided with a light emitting unit, the control unit controls the light emitting unit to irradiate light from one of the guiding robot and the explanatory robot to the other, and then operates the other of the guiding robot and the explanatory robot, thereby providing a guiding system.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the light emitting unit is provided on the guiding robot, the control unit controls the light emitting unit to irradiate light from the guiding robot to the explanatory robot, and then controls the explanatory robot to provide an explanation about the exhibit, thereby providing the guiding system described in the first aspect.

[0011] According to a third aspect of the present invention, the light emitting unit is provided on the guiding robot, the control unit controls the light emitting unit to irradiate light from the guiding robot to a part of the explanatory robot, and then controls the explanatory robot to operate a part of the explanatory robot, thereby providing the guiding system described in the first aspect.

[0012] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the facility includes a plurality of exhibits, The aforementioned guidance system is equipped with multiple explanatory robots corresponding to the multiple exhibits, The control unit controls the light-emitting unit to irradiate each of the multiple explanatory robots with different lights, as described in the second embodiment of the guidance system.

[0013] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the control unit controls the light-emitting unit to irradiate the guide robot with images related to the exhibits as light, thereby providing a guide system according to the third or fourth aspect.

[0014] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the invention further comprises an input unit into which the visitor's request is entered, The control unit controls the light-emitting unit to illuminate the explanation robot with an image corresponding to the visitor's request input to the input unit, as light, according to the third or fourth embodiment of the guidance system.

[0015] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the facility includes a plurality of exhibits, The light-emitting unit is provided on the explanatory robot, The control unit controls the light-emitting unit to irradiate the guide robot with light from the explanatory robot, and then controls the guide robot to guide the visitor to an exhibit other than the exhibit corresponding to the explanatory robot, thereby providing a guidance system according to any one of the first to sixth embodiments.

[0016] According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the system further comprises a detection unit that detects when the visitor moves to a predetermined location, The light-emitting unit is provided on the guide robot, The control unit provides a guidance system according to any one of the first to seventh embodiments, wherein, after the detection unit detects that the visitor has moved to a predetermined position, the light-emitting unit controls the light-emitting unit to irradiate light from the guidance robot to the explanation robot.

[0017] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, substantially identical components are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

[0018] (Embodiment) Figure 1 is a schematic plan view showing a guidance system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a block diagram of the guidance system of Figure 1.

[0019] The guidance system 1 according to this embodiment is a system that guides visitors to a facility 2 to the area around an exhibit 3 and provides explanations about the exhibit 3. Facility 2 is, for example, a museum or art gallery. Facility 2 is provided with an entrance / exit 2A for visitors to enter and exit. In this embodiment, multiple exhibits 3 are provided inside facility 2. Exhibits 3 are, for example, paintings, sculptures, models, etc.

[0020] As shown in Figure 2, the guidance system 1 according to this embodiment comprises a guidance robot 4, an explanatory robot 5, and a control unit 6.

[0021] The guidance robot 4 has a mobility function and is configured to guide visitors to facility 2 around the exhibits 3. In this embodiment, multiple guidance robots 4 are installed inside facility 2. Each guidance robot 4 has a conversation function that allows it to converse with visitors.

[0022] The explanatory robot 5 is installed around the exhibit 3 and is configured to provide explanations about the exhibit 3. In this embodiment, multiple explanatory robots 5 are provided inside the facility 2, corresponding to multiple exhibits 3. The explanatory robot 5 does not have a walking function, but it has a conversational function that allows it to converse with visitors. In this embodiment, the explanatory robot 5 is installed on a pedestal and has an upper body including a head, both arms, and torso.

[0023] Furthermore, explanatory robots 5 are also installed around the entrance / exit 2A of facility 2. These explanatory robots 5 are configured to provide explanations about facility 2, treating the entire facility 2 as an exhibit 3.

[0024] The control unit 6 controls the operation of the guide robot 4 and the explanation robot 5. The control unit 6 is configured to communicate information with the guide robot 4 and the explanation robot 5 via wired or wireless communication. In this embodiment, the control unit 6 is configured to control the operation of the guide robot 4 and the explanation robot 5 via wireless communication through a cloud system (not shown).

[0025] Referring to Figure 2, a more detailed explanation of the configurations of the guidance robot 4 and the explanation robot 5 will be provided.

[0026] The guidance robot 4 includes an input unit 41, an output unit 42, a processing unit 43, a storage unit 44, a communication unit 45, a movement unit 46, a detection unit 47, and a light-emitting unit 48.

[0027] The input unit 41 is a device into which information such as visitor requests is input. The input unit 41 is, for example, a microphone or a touch panel. In this embodiment, the input unit 41 has a conversation function that allows for conversation with the visitor. The output unit 42 is a device that outputs information. The output unit 42 is, for example, a liquid crystal display or a speaker. The processing unit 43 executes various processes, such as interacting with the visitor, by executing a program. The storage unit 44 stores the program executed by the processing unit 43 and data indicating the information input to the input unit 41. The communication unit 45 communicates with the control unit 6. The mobile unit 46 has a driving function. The mobile unit 46 is, for example, a drive wheel or walking legs. The detection unit 47 detects when a visitor has moved to a predetermined location. The detection unit 47 is, for example, equipped with a camera and detects the visitor's location by image recognition.

[0028] The light-emitting unit 48 is configured to emit light onto the explanatory robot 5. In this embodiment, the light-emitting unit 48 is configured to emit different light (e.g., color, characters, etc.) from the guide robot 4 to each of the multiple explanatory robots 5. The light-emitting unit 48 is also configured to emit images related to the exhibits 3 as the light. The light-emitting unit 48 is, for example, a projector and is configured to perform projection mapping on the explanatory robot 5.

[0029] The explanatory robot 5 includes an input unit 51, an output unit 52, a processing unit 53, a storage unit 54, a communication unit 55, a detection unit 56, and a light-emitting unit 57.

[0030] The input unit 51 is a device into which information such as visitor requests is input. The input unit 51 is, for example, a microphone, camera, or touch panel. In this embodiment, the input unit 51 has a conversation function that allows it to converse with visitors. The output unit 52 is a device that outputs information. The output unit 52 is, for example, a liquid crystal display or a speaker. The processing unit 53 performs various processes, such as providing visitors with explanations about the exhibits 3, by executing a program. The storage unit 54 stores the program executed by the processing unit 53 and data indicating the information input to the input unit 41. The communication unit 55 communicates with the control unit 6. The detection unit 56 detects when a visitor moves to a predetermined location. The detection unit 56 is, for example, a camera. The light-emitting unit 57 is configured to emit light onto the guide robot 4. The light-emitting unit 57 is, for example, a projector and is configured to perform projection mapping on the guide robot 4.

[0031] Figures 3A to 3K show an example of the operation in which the guidance system 1 according to this embodiment guides visitors to facility 2 to the area around exhibit 3 and provides an explanation of exhibit 3.

[0032] First, as shown in Figure 3A, the guidance robot 4 detects whether or not a visitor has arrived near entrance 2A (see Figure 1) of facility 2.

[0033] When the guidance robot 4 detects that a visitor has arrived near entrance 2A, as shown in Figure 3B, the control unit 6 moves the guidance robot 4 to the vicinity of the explanatory robot 5, and then controls the light-emitting unit 48 of the guidance robot 4 to illuminate the explanatory robot 5 positioned near entrance 2A.

[0034] Next, as shown in Figure 3C, the control unit 6 operates the illuminated explanatory robot 5 (for example, by moving its arms or speaking). This directs the visitor's gaze towards the explanatory robot 5 and attracts their interest in its actions. Alternatively, the control unit 6 may control the light-emitting unit 48 of the guide robot 4 to illuminate a part of the explanatory robot 5 (for example, its arms or face) and then operate that part of the explanatory robot 5. This directs the visitor's gaze towards a part of the explanatory robot 5 and further attracts their interest in the actions of that part of the explanatory robot 5.

[0035] In the situation shown in Figure 3C, the control unit 6 controls the illuminated explanatory robot 5 to provide an explanation of the exhibit 3. Here, the control unit 6 causes the explanatory robot 5 to speak a phrase that asks the visitor if they need guidance, for example, "Welcome, here are exhibits 3 numbered A through Z. Shall I show you around?"

[0036] Next, as shown in Figure 3D, the visitor communicates a request to the explanatory robot 5, such as, "Can you guide me to exhibit X?" This request is then input into the input unit 51 of the explanatory robot 5.

[0037] Next, as shown in Figure 3E, the control unit 6 controls the light-emitting unit 48 to project an image corresponding to the visitor's request input to the input unit 51 from the guidance robot 4 to the explanation robot 5. This image is, for example, an image representing "OK".

[0038] Next, as shown in Figure 3F, the control unit 6 causes the illuminated explanatory robot 5 to speak to the guidance robot 4, prompting them to guide the visitor, for example, "Please guide the customer to exhibit X."

[0039] Next, as shown in Figure 3G, the control unit 6 controls the light-emitting unit 57 to irradiate the guide robot 4 with light from the explanatory robot 5.

[0040] Next, as shown in Figure 3H, the control unit 6 operates the guide robot 4 that has been illuminated with light (for example, by speaking or moving). This directs the visitor's gaze towards the guide robot 4 and attracts their attention to the robot's actions. The control unit 6 may also control the light-emitting unit 57 of the explanatory robot 5 to illuminate a part of the guide robot 4 (for example, a wheel) with light, and then operate that part of the guide robot 4. This directs the visitor's gaze towards a part of the explanatory robot 5 and further attracts their attention to the actions of that part of the explanatory robot 5. In this case, the guide robot 4 illuminated by the light-emitting unit 57 may be a different guide robot from the one that guided visitors from entrance 2A to exhibit X.

[0041] In the situation shown in Figure 3H, the control unit 6 causes the guide robot 4, which is illuminated with light, to speak words that encourage the visitor to move, such as "Please follow me."

[0042] Next, as shown in Figure 3I, the control unit 6 controls the guidance robot 4 to lead visitors to the vicinity of exhibit X, which is a different exhibit from exhibit 3, which corresponds to the explanatory robot 5 in Figure 3G.

[0043] Next, as shown in Figure 3J, after the detection unit 56 detects that the visitor has moved to a predetermined position, the control unit 6 controls the light-emitting unit 48 to emit light from the guide robot 4 to the explanation robot 5. This directs the visitor's gaze towards the explanation robot 5 and attracts the visitor's attention to the robot's actions.

[0044] In this case, as shown in Figure 3K, the control unit 6 may control the light-emitting unit 48 to project images related to the exhibit 3 onto the explanatory robot 5 from the guide robot 4. For example, if the exhibit 3 is a photograph or model of a castle, the control unit 6 may control the light-emitting unit 48 to project images of clothing reminiscent of a castle onto the torso of the explanatory robot 5 from the guide robot 4.

[0045] Next, as shown in Figure 3L, the control unit 6 operates the explanatory robot 5 (for example, by moving its arms or speaking). In the situation shown in Figure 3L, the control unit 6 controls the explanatory robot 5 to provide an explanation of exhibit 3 of X. Here, the control unit 6 causes the explanatory robot 5 to speak to the visitor about exhibit X, for example, "This castle was built in XX year." The guidance system 1 repeats the operations shown in Figures 3C to 3L in response to the visitor's request.

[0046] The guidance system 1 according to this embodiment is configured to operate the explanation robot 5 after shining light from the guidance robot 4, and to operate the guidance robot 4 after shining light from the explanation robot 5. With this configuration, by coordinating the guidance robot 4 and the explanation robot 5, visitors can be more reliably guided to the vicinity of the exhibit 3 and visitors can be given an explanation of the exhibit 3. By shining light from one of the guidance robot 4 and the explanation robot 5 to the other and then operating the other, the visitor's gaze can be directed to the other, and the visitor's interest can be drawn to the actions of the other (for example, an explanation of exhibit 3 or guidance to the next exhibit 3). This can further improve the usefulness for visitors to the facility 2.

[0047] Furthermore, the guidance system 1 according to this embodiment is configured to emit light from the guidance robot 4 to the explanation robot 5, and then provide an explanation from the explanation robot 5. This configuration allows visitors to direct their gaze towards the explanation robot 5 and attract their interest to the explanation provided by the explanation robot 5. This further enhances the usefulness of the facility 2 for visitors.

[0048] Furthermore, the guidance system 1 according to this embodiment is configured to emit different lights from the guidance robot 4 to each of the multiple explanation robots 5. This configuration makes it possible to further attract visitors' interest in the explanations given by each explanation robot 5. This further improves the usefulness of the facility 2 for visitors.

[0049] Furthermore, the guidance system 1 according to this embodiment is configured to project images related to the exhibits as light from the guidance robot 4 to the explanation robot 5. This configuration makes it possible to further attract visitors' interest in the explanations given by the explanation robot 5. This further improves the usefulness for visitors to the facility 2. In addition, it becomes possible for the administrators and operators of the guidance system 1 to convey the information they want to communicate to visitors.

[0050] Furthermore, the guidance system 1 according to this embodiment is configured to project images corresponding to the visitor's requests as light from the guidance robot 4 to the explanation robot 5. This configuration can further attract the visitor's attention. As a result, the usefulness of the facility 2 for visitors can be further improved.

[0051] Furthermore, the guidance system 1 according to this embodiment is configured such that, after the explanatory robot 5 shines light onto the guidance robot 4, the guidance robot 4 guides the visitor to the vicinity of an exhibit different from the one corresponding to the explanatory robot 5. With this configuration, the guidance robot 4 can attract the visitor's attention and guide them to the vicinity of the next exhibit more reliably. This further improves the usefulness for visitors to the facility 2.

[0052] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the guidance system 1 is configured such that after a visitor moves to a predetermined location, the guidance robot 4 shines light onto the explanation robot 5. This configuration makes it possible to further attract the visitor's interest to the explanation provided by the explanation robot 5. This further improves the usefulness of the facility 2 for visitors.

[0053] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various other forms. For example, in the embodiments described above, light-emitting units are provided on both the guide robot 4 and the explanatory robot 5, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is sufficient that at least one of the guide robot 4 and the explanatory robot 5 is provided with a light-emitting unit.

[0054] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the explanation robot 5 is operated after light is shone from the guide robot 4. However, the start of operation of the explanation robot 5 is not limited to after light is shone from the guide robot 4. That is, the explanation robot 5 may start operating before light is shone from the guide robot 4, or it may start operating after light is shone from the guide robot 4.

[0055] Similarly, in the above embodiment, the guide robot 4 is operated after light is shone from the explanatory robot 5. However, the start of operation of the guide robot 4 is not limited to after light is shone from the explanatory robot 5. That is, the guide robot 4 may start operating before light is shone from the explanatory robot 5, or it may start operating after light is shone from the explanatory robot 5.

[0056] Although the present invention has been fully described in relation to preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, various modifications and alterations will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and alterations should be understood to be included within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, as long as they do not fall outside that scope. [Industrial applicability]

[0057] The guidance system according to the present invention can further improve its usefulness for visitors to a facility, and is therefore useful as a guidance system for guiding visitors to facilities such as art museums and museums to the vicinity of exhibits and providing explanations of the exhibits. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0058] 1. Guidance System 2 facilities 3 Exhibits 4. Guidance robot 41 Input section 42 Output section 43 Processing Unit 44 Storage section 45 Communications Department 46 Mobile Unit 47 Detection unit 48 Light-emitting part 5. Commentary Robot 51 Input section 52 Output section 53 Processing Unit 54 Storage section 55 Communications Department 56 Detection unit 57 Light-emitting part 6 Control Unit

Claims

1. A guide robot with mobility capabilities that directs visitors to the facility to the area around the exhibits, A robot that is installed around the exhibit and provides explanations about the exhibit, A control unit that controls the operation of the guide robot and the explanatory robot, Equipped with, At least one of the guide robot and the explanation robot is provided with a light-emitting unit. The control unit controls the light-emitting unit to irradiate light from one of the guide robot and the explanation robot to the other, and then operates the other of the guide robot and the explanation robot, in a guidance system.

2. The light-emitting unit is provided on the guide robot, The guidance system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the light-emitting unit to irradiate the guidance robot with light, and then controls the explanation robot to provide an explanation about the exhibit.

3. The light-emitting unit is provided on the guide robot, The guidance system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the light-emitting unit to irradiate a part of the explanation robot with light from the guidance robot, and then controls the explanation robot to operate a part of the explanation robot.

4. The aforementioned facility contains several exhibits, The aforementioned guidance system is equipped with multiple explanatory robots corresponding to the multiple exhibits, The guidance system according to claim 3, wherein the control unit controls the light-emitting unit to irradiate each of the plurality of explanatory robots with different lights from the guidance robot.

5. The guidance system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the control unit controls the light-emitting unit to project images related to the exhibits onto the explanation robot from the guidance robot as light.

6. The system further includes an input section into which the visitor's request is entered. The guidance system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the control unit controls the light-emitting unit to illuminate the guidance robot with an image corresponding to the visitor's request input to the input unit as light from the guidance robot to the explanation robot.

7. The aforementioned facility contains several exhibits, The light-emitting unit is provided on the explanatory robot, The guidance system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the light-emitting unit to irradiate the guide robot with light from the explanatory robot, and then controls the guide robot to guide the visitor to the vicinity of an exhibit other than the exhibit corresponding to the explanatory robot.

8. The system further includes a detection unit that detects when the visitor moves to a predetermined location. The light-emitting unit is provided on the guide robot, The guidance system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the light-emitting unit to irradiate light from the guidance robot to the explanation robot after the detection unit detects that the visitor has moved to a predetermined position.

Images