Reality Determiner for Robot Object Interaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing robot devices that recognize and interact with people may inappropriately operate if they incorrectly identify unreal objects as real, leading to unintended interactions.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus equipped with a reality determiner to differentiate between real and unreal objects based on sensing data, and a controller to perform appropriate actions based on this determination, ensuring the robot only interacts with real objects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the robot device detects all people in the image as real people, then the robot can interact with detected objects, but the robot may inappropriately operate by misidentifying unreal objects as real

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteraction capabilityVSAvoidobject identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the object detection process into two distinct stages: first detecting potential objects (people) in the image, then separately determining their reality status. This segmentation allows the system to maintain broad interaction capabilities while adding a reliability check through the reality determination unit that analyzes multiple characteristics (depth, texture, motion) to distinguish real from unreal objects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a reality determination unit as an intermediary component between object detection and interaction execution. This intermediary analyzes multiple characteristics (depth information, texture information, motion information) to verify object reality before allowing interaction, thereby preventing inappropriate operations while maintaining the robot's interaction capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the robot performs interactions with detected objects, then the robot fulfills its interaction function, but the robot may execute unintended actions when objects are unreal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteraction efficiencyVSAvoidinappropriate operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary reality determination before executing any interaction actions. The reality determination unit evaluates multiple characteristics (depth, texture, motion) and determines object reality status in advance, allowing the interaction control unit to prevent unintended actions while maintaining efficient interaction with verified real objects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the reality determination results are fed back to the interaction control unit, which then adjusts interaction behavior accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that interactions are executed only when objects are confirmed as real, preventing harmful inappropriate operations while maintaining productivity for valid targets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11780097B2Information processing apparatus and method for processing information

Publication Date: 2023.10.10 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

There is provided an information processing apparatus including a reality determiner that determines whether an object detected on the basis of sensing data is a real object or an unreal object, and a controller that performs predetermined control on the basis of a result of the determination made by the reality determiner.