Self-Balancing Mobile Robot Control for Natural User Engagement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current agent devices that respond to user actions lack sufficient communication effectiveness, primarily relying on passive operations and voice interactions, which do not facilitate true communication with users.

Innovation Solution

An autonomous mobile body equipped with sensors, motors, and a communication system that performs inducing actions, such as moving and interacting physically with the environment, to actively engage users through visual, auditory, and tactile means, promoting more natural and effective communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an agent device responds to user actions with passive operations and voice interactions, then the device can provide information presentation, but communication effectiveness with the user is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication effectivenessVSAvoidinteraction naturalness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by enabling the autonomous mobile body to perform physical movements and changing states (moving, stopping, approaching, retreating) to express intentions and engage users. This dynamic behavior transforms the static, passive information presentation into an active, natural communication process, resolving the contradiction between communication effectiveness and interaction naturalness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces inducing actions as an intermediary mechanism between the autonomous mobile body and the user. These inducing actions (physical movements, positional changes) serve as a mediator that facilitates natural communication, bridging the gap between simple information presentation and effective user engagement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If an autonomous mobile body performs inducing actions to actively engage users, then communication effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication effectivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing the autonomous mobile body with multi-functional capabilities: it can move, stop, change position, and perform various inducing actions using an integrated control system. This allows a single device to handle multiple communication functions without requiring separate complex subsystems, thereby improving communication effectiveness while managing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The autonomous mobile body performs self-service by autonomously executing inducing actions based on detected user states and communication needs. The control system automatically determines and performs appropriate actions (approaching, retreating, stopping) without requiring complex external control, thereby enhancing communication effectiveness while keeping the system architecture manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If traditional agent devices rely on passive operations, then the device structure remains simple, but true communication with users cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication effectivenessVSAvoidactive engagement capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the static, passive operation mode into a dynamic, active engagement mode. The autonomous mobile body automatically performs movements, positional changes, and inducing actions based on user detection and communication context, thereby achieving true communication while maintaining manageable automation through integrated control logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces inducing actions as an intermediary layer between simple detection and complex automation. These inducing actions serve as a mediator that enables effective communication without requiring full-blown autonomous intelligence, bridging the gap between passive operation and active engagement in a practical and manageable way.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4024153B1Information processing device, method for controlling same, and program
Publication Date: 2024.03.13 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP4024153B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4024153B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4024153B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Communication with a user is more naturally and effectively realized. An information processing apparatus includes an autonomous mobile body (10) that travels while maintaining an inverted state, and an operation control unit (230) that controls an operation of the autonomous mobile body. The autonomous mobile body includes a main body (10), two wheels (570) mounted on the main body, and a drive mechanism (565) that drives the two wheels. The operation control unit controls the drive mechanism to maintain the inverted state of the autonomous mobile body by the two wheels in a first state, and make the autonomous mobile body come to rest by the two wheels and a bottom of the main body when the autonomous mobile body transfers from the first state to a second state.