Interactive turret robot

Number: 9927235
Published: 2018-03-27
Filed: 2014-12-04
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Haseltine; Eric C.; Goslin; Michael P.; Olson; Joseph L.; Bassett; Katherine M.; Stillman; Frederick A.; Stobar; James K.; McLaughlin; JoAnn
CPC: A63H33/005; G01C3/08; A63H30/04
Verdict: High Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Interactive turret robot.

Abstract

One embodiment provides an apparatus that includes a plurality of wheels configured to rotate in either of two rotational directions about an axis of rotation. The apparatus further includes a turret portion disposed between the two wheels and rotatable about the axis of rotation in either of the two rotational directions and independently of the plurality of wheels. Additionally, the apparatus includes a motor configured to provide torque to the plurality of wheels and the turret portion. The motor can cause each of the plurality of wheels to rotate independently in either of the two rotational directions when operating in a first rotational speed mode. The motor can also cause the turret portion to rotate in either of the two rotational directions independently of the plurality of wheels when operating in a second rotational speed mode which is faster relative to the first rotational speed mode.

Background

BACKGROUND(1) Field of the Invention(2) The present invention generally relates to home entertainment, and more specifically to techniques for providing an immersive playtime environment using interactive devices that include an interactive turret bot.(3) Description of the Related Art(4) Computer graphics technology has come a long way since video games were first developed. Relatively inexpensive 3D graphics engines now provide nearly photo-realistic interactive game play on hand-held video game, home video game and personal computer hardware platforms costing only a few hundred dollars. These video game systems typically include a hand-held controller, game controller, or, in the case of a hand-held video game platform, an integrated controller. A user interacts with the controller to send commands or other instructions to the video game system to control a video game or other simulation. For example, the controller may include a joystick and buttons operated by the user.(5) While video games allow the user to interact directly with the video game system, such interactions primarily influence the graphical depiction shown on the video game device (or on a connected display), and rarely influence any other objects outside of the virtual world. That is, a user may specify an input to the video game system, indicating that the user's avatar should perform a jump action, and in response the video game system could display the user's avatar jumping. However, such interactions a

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising: a plurality of wheels configured to rotate in either of two rotational directions about an axis of rotation; a turret portion disposed between the two wheels and rotatable about the axis of rotation in either of the two rotational directions and independently of the plurality of wheels; and at least one motor configured to provide torque to the plurality of wheels and the turret portion, wherein the at least one motor can cause each of the plurality of wheels to rotate independently in either of the two rotational directions when operating in a first rotational speed mode, and wherein the at least one motor can cause the turret portion to rotate in either of the two rotational directions independently of the plurality of wheels when operating in a second rotational speed mode which is faster relative to the first rotational speed mode. 14. A method, comprising: receiving, at a first apparatus and at a first moment in time, an infrared signal using an infrared transceiver; receiving, at the first apparatus and at a second moment in time, an ultrasound signal using an ultrasound transceiver, wherein the infrared signal and the ultrasound signal were transmitted from a second device at substantially the same time; calculating a time lapse value between the first moment in time and the second moment in time; and determining the distance between the first apparatus and the second apparatus based on the calculated time lapse value. 16. An apparatus, comprising: two wheels configured to rotate in either of two rotational directions about an axis of rotation, wherein each of the two wheels contains a flat side surface such that the apparatus can sit upright on the flat side surface; a turret portion disposed between the two wheels and rotatable about the axis of rotation in either of the two rotational directions and independently of the two wheels, wherein the turret portion has mass unequally distributed about the axis of rotation; a sensor configured to detect when the apparatus is sitting upright on one of the flat side surfaces of one of the two wheels; at least one motor configured to provide torque to the two wheels and the turret portion, wherein the at least one motor can cause each of the two wheels to rotate independently in either of the two rotational directions when operating in a first rotational speed mode, and wherein the at least one motor can cause the turret portion to rotate in either of the two rotational directions independently of the two wheels when operating in a second rotational speed mode which is faster relative to the first rotational speed mode; and logic configured to transition between a first state in which the apparatus is sitting upright on one of the flat side surfaces of one of the two wheels and a second state in which the apparatus is not sitting upright by engaging the at least one motor in the second rotational speed mode to cause the turret portion of the apparatus to rotate, until detecting that the transition is complete based on a change in a reading from the sensor.