Robot having a changeable character

An autonomous toy robot comprising:

• a self-propelled robot body having a housing in which primary electronics that includes a programmed processor is integrated,
• wherein the primary electronics is to detect an identification in response to an outer cover being fitted onto the housing, and
• wherein in response to the identification being detected, the programmed processor becomes re-configured in accordance with a robot character software program that is assigned the identification, to change behavior of the robot;
• wherein the primary electronics comprises memory in which there are stored a plurality of robot character software programs or profiles that are each assigned a different identification,
• wherein the plurality of robot character programs re-configure the programmed processor to control behavior of the robot so as to be consistent with that of a plurality of different robot characters, respectively,
• wherein the primary electronics detects an identification in response to an outer cover being fitted onto the housing, performs a look up in said memory to find the detected identification, and re-configures the programmed processor with the robot character software program that is assigned to the detected identification;
• and
• wherein one of the plurality of robot character software programs has been authored in part by an end user of another toy robot who has decided to share his robot character software program with other end users.

An autonomous toy robot comprising:

• a self-propelled robot body having a housing in which primary electronics that includes a programmed processor is integrated,
• wherein the primary electronics is to detect an identification in response to an outer cover being fitted onto the housing, and
• wherein in response to the identification being detected, the programmed processor becomes re-configured in accordance with a robot character software program that is assigned the identification, to change behavior of the robot;
• wherein the primary electronics comprises memory in which there are stored a plurality of robot character software programs or profiles that are each assigned a different identification,
• wherein the plurality of robot character programs re-configure the programmed processor to control behavior of the robot so as to be consistent with that of a plurality of different robot characters, respectively,
• wherein the primary electronics detects an identification in response to an outer cover being fitted onto the housing, performs a look up in said memory to find the detected identification, and re-configures the programmed processor with the robot character software program that is assigned to the detected identification;
• wherein when the primary electronics detects a first robot character in response to increased proximity with a first toy robot that is fitted with a first outer cover, the programmed processor becomes re-configured in accordance with a first plurality of rules for interaction with the first robot character, and
• wherein when the primary electronics detects a second robot character in response to increased proximity with a second toy robot that is fitted with a second outer cover, the programmed processor becomes re-configured in accordance with a second plurality of rules for interaction with the second robot character, wherein the first and second plurality of rules are different.

A character skin for a toy robot, comprising:

• an outer cover that can be fitted onto a robot body housing of a self-propelled toy robot and then removed from the housing, the outer cover includes an identifier that provides an identification of a robot character software program,
• wherein, when the outer cover Is fitted onto the robot body housing, the toy robot electronically detects the identification and executes the robot character software program which changes behavior of the toy robot;
• wherein the outer cover further comprises
• a digital camera;
• a serial communications and power supply bus interface integrated in the outer cover that is to connect with a counterpart bus interface in the robot body housing to form a wired communications link and a wired power supply link, when the outer cover has been fitted onto the robot body housing;
• and
• control logic coupled to the digital camera and to the bus interface integrated in the outer cover,
• wherein the digital camera and the control logic and circuitry of the bus interface in the outer cover are powered through the power supply link, and
• wherein the control logic receives commands from a programmed processor in the robot body housing, for controlling operation of the digital camera, and sends captured digital images to the programmed processor in the robot body housing, through the communications link.

A character skin for a toy robot, comprising:

• an outer cover that can be fitted onto a robot body housing of a self-propelled toy robot and then removed from the housing, the outer cover includes an identifier that provides an identification of a robot character software program,
• a power supply bus interface integrated in the outer cover that is to connect with a counterpart bus interface in the robot body housing to form a wired power supply link, when the outer cover has been fitted onto the robot housing;
• and
• an energy harvesting unit coupled to the bus interface in the outer cover, to supply power to electronics in the robot body housing, through the wired power supply link;
• and
• wherein, when the outer cover Is fitted onto the robot body housing, the toy robot electronically detects the identification and executes the robot character software program which changes behavior of the toy robot.