Multi-segment Social Robot Emotive Expression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices, such as smartphones and tablets, lack the ability to provide meaningful companionship and emotional engagement, limiting their capacity to offer benefits beyond mere functionality.
Innovation Solution
A Persistent Companion Device (PCD) is developed, equipped with a software development kit (SDK) that includes a logic level module, perceptual level module, speech/sound recognizer, and expression engine, enabling it to interact with users through various sensory inputs and outputs, such as vision, speech, and emotional expressions, to provide companionship and longitudinal data collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional devices like smartphones and tablets are used, then functionality and networking capabilities are provided, but the ability to provide companionship and emotional engagement is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The robot is divided into multiple body segments (head, torso, limbs) that can move independently, allowing complex emotional expressions and gestures while maintaining modular construction that manages overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The robot integrates multiple functions including vision processing, speech recognition, emotional expression through animation and lighting, and physical movement capabilities within a single platform, enabling both companionship and practical assistance functions
2Reliability
If a persistent companion device with multiple interaction capabilities is developed, then emotional engagement and companionship are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs intermediate software layers including an operating system, framework layer, and application layer that mediate between hardware components and user interactions, managing system complexity while providing reliable companionship functions
Solution Approach 2:
The software architecture uses nested modular structures where core system services are embedded within framework layers, which are in turn embedded within application layers, allowing complex functionality to be organized in manageable hierarchical units
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-segment robot for emotive expression includes a first segment having a generally planar surface, a second segment having a first axis of rotation, the second segment in rotational contact with the first segment about the first axis of rotation; and a third segment in rotational contact with the second segment about a second axis of rotation not parallel to the first axis of rotation, the third segment having a display screen adapted to facilitate social interaction with a user.