INTERACTIVE AUTONOMOUS ROBOT CONFIGURED FOR PROGRAMMATIC INTERPRETATION OF SOCIAL CUES

Number: 20200094418
Published: 2020-03-26
Filed: 2019-06-20
Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors: MIKA; Jeremy Andrew, HONECK; Michael Richard, FUSCO; Michael
CPC: A63G31/02; B25J11/0005; B25J5/007; B25J9/163; B25J9/1664; G01S17/88; G05B19/406; G05B19/4155; G05D1/0088; G05D1/0214; G05D1/228; G05D1/617
Verdict: High Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Autonomous interactive robot interpreting social cues (droid-adjacent).

Abstract

An interactive autonomous robot is configured for deployment within a social environment. The disclosed robot includes a show subsystem configured to select between different in-character behaviors depending on robot status, thereby allowing the robot to appear in-character despite technical failures. The disclosed robot further includes a safety subsystem configured to intervene with in-character behavior when necessary to enforce safety protocols. The disclosed robot is also configured with a social subsystem that interprets social behaviors of humans and then initiates specific behavior sequences in response.

Background

BACKGROUNDField of the Various Embodiments

The various embodiments relate generally to robotics, and, more specifically, to an interactive autonomous robot configured for programmatic interpretation of social cues.Description of the Related Art

A typical theme park provides guests with access to a variety of different types of attractions. For example, a given theme park could include rides, carnival games, scheduled performances, interactive experiences with theme park characters, water play areas, video game arcades, and so forth. Each of these different attractions generally includes thematic elements that relate in some way to one or more overarching themes associated with the park as a whole. For example, a theme park associated with a specific group of movies could include theme park characters derived from characters found in one or more of those movies.

Theme park characters can be implemented using several different approaches, including, for example, pre-programmed stationary animatronics or mobile robots controlled remotely. With any of these approaches, the fundamental goal of theme park characters is to provide guests with personalized, interactive, character-to-guest experiences. Such experiences are important from a guest satisfaction perspective because character-to-guest experiences enhance guest immersion within the overarching theme(s) of the theme park. For example, most children would be exceedingly happy to interact with a theme park ch

Claims

1. A computer implemented method that causes a robot to negotiate social interactions during operation, the method comprising: analyzing sensor data while the robot performs one or more operations included in a first set of operations associated with a performance; identifying, based on sensor data, a first social cue that indicates the occurrence of a first social interaction with the robot; and in response to identifying the first social cue, causing the robot to execute a second operation included in a second set of operations that corresponds to the first social interaction. 9. A robot system, comprising: a memory storing at least one software module; and a processor that, upon executing the at least one software module, is configured to perform the steps of: analyzing sensor data during execution of one or more operations included in a first set of operations associated with a performance, identifying, based on sensor data, a first social cue that indicates the occurrence of a first social interaction with a first entity, and in response to identifying the first social cue, executing a second operation included in a second set of operations that corresponds to the first social interaction. 18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to negotiate social interactions during operation of a robot by performing the steps of: analyzing sensor data while the robot performs one or more operations included in a first set of operations associated with a performance; identifying, based on sensor data, a first social cue that indicates the occurrence of a first social interaction with the robot; and in response to identifying the first social cue, causing the robot to execute a second operation included in a second set of operations that corresponds to the first social interaction.