Robot Emotion Continuity via Adaptive Behavior Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing robotic systems face challenges in maintaining continuity in feeling expressions, particularly when transitioning from one emotion to another, leading to unrealistic and unnatural behavior, as they often rely on pre-defined combinations that fail to capture the nuances of human emotions.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that include a behavior combination extraction unit and a continuity determination unit to assess and maintain continuity in feeling expressions by extracting new behavior combinations when differences exceed a calculated setting value, which is proportional to the difference in feeling values, ensuring smooth transitions between emotions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If behavior combinations are randomly selected to provide naturalness in feeling expression, then naturalness is improved, but continuity between feeling expressions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenaturalness of feeling expressionVSAvoidcontinuity of feeling expression

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the behavior selection process adaptive rather than static. The behavior combination extraction unit dynamically adjusts which behavior combinations are selected based on the current feeling values and previous behavior combinations, allowing the system to adapt between randomness for naturalness and continuity for stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The continuity determination unit implements feedback by comparing current behavior combinations with previous ones and using this comparison to control whether new combinations are extracted. This feedback mechanism ensures that random selections maintain continuity by only allowing transitions when the difference between feeling values justifies the change.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If pre-defined behavior combinations are used for feeling expression, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different feeling transitions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of behavior combination storageVSAvoidadaptability to feeling transitions

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining multiple behavior combinations for each feeling expression element before runtime. These pre-defined combinations are stored in advance and can be quickly retrieved and selected based on current needs, reducing computational complexity while maintaining adaptability through the selection mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters by selecting different pre-defined behavior combinations based on feeling values. Instead of generating behaviors dynamically, the system adjusts which pre-defined combination is active by changing the selection parameters based on current feeling states and continuity requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9211645B2Apparatus and method for selecting lasting feeling of machine

Publication Date: 2015.12.15 KOREA INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

AI summary

An optimal behavior combination of a robot in consideration of the robot's previous feeling is generated. In other words, the robot may express its feelings by combinations of its behavioral express elements which reflect its previous feelings. In particular, it has a continuity determination unit for determining whether a behavior to be expressed should be same as or different from a currently expressed behavior.