Robotic Pet Personality via Virtual Interface Copying

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Solution Overview

Problem

Robotic devices, such as robotic pets, face challenges in portability and maintenance of their 'personality' when users interact with them in different environments, as they can be bulky, prone to damage, and may not develop their behavior effectively outside their primary interaction space.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a robotic device with multiple interfaces for user interaction and a portable device that simulates these interfaces, allowing the robotic device's 'personality' to develop through user interaction in both local and virtual modes, with behavior processing circuitry generating variations in action parameter data to maintain and update the robotic device's behavior.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the robotic device is made portable for user interaction in different environments, then the adaptability and user engagement are improved, but the device becomes bulky and prone to damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different environmentsVSAvoidsusceptibility to damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the robotic device that runs on a portable computing device. This virtual replica allows users to interact with the robotic device's personality and behavior patterns remotely through a simulated interface, eliminating the need to physically transport the actual robotic device to different locations while maintaining adaptability across environments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If the robotic device is made portable for user interaction in different environments, then the user engagement is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveportabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into separate functional components: the robotic device remains stationary and handles physical interaction, while a virtual replica on a portable computing device handles remote interaction. This segmentation allows the robotic device to maintain its complexity without requiring portability, while the portable device provides the needed mobility and adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If the robotic device maintains its personality through continuous user interaction, then the behavior development is improved, but the device is at risk when left unattended

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepersonality consistencyVSAvoidtheft and damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual replica serves as a secure backup and continuation of the robotic device's personality. When the physical robotic device is unattended or stolen, the virtual copy preserves all learned behaviors, personality traits, and interaction patterns, allowing seamless resumption of interaction without loss of identity or accumulated behavior

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP4442339A1Apparatus and method
Publication Date: 2024.10.09 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP4442339A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4442339A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4442339A1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

Apparatus comprises a robotic device comprising a plurality of interfaces to allow interaction with a user, the interfaces comprising one or more input interfaces to detect input to the robotic device by the user and one or more output interfaces to perform output actions, and action generating circuitry to generate output actions to be executed by the one or more output interfaces in response to action parameter data; a portable device comprising circuitry to provide a simulated interface to simulate at least a subset of the plurality of interfaces of the robotic device; and behaviour processing circuitry to generate variations of the action parameter data in response to user interaction with the plurality of interfaces of the robotic device and in response to user interaction with the simulated interface of the portable device.