Interactive autonomous robot configured with in-character safety response protocols
AssigneeDisney Enterprises, Inc.
InventorsJeremy Andrew Mika, Michael Richard Honeck, Kyle G. Freeman, Michael Fusco
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method that causes a robot to mitigate safety risks during operation, the method comprising:
- analyzing sensor data while the robot performs one or more operations included in a first set of operations for performing one or more behaviors associated with a first character;
- determining that a safety risk exists based on the sensor data;
- in response to determining that the safety risk exists, transmitting a request to a safety subsystem for allocated time during which one or more attempts to mitigate the safety risk can be made while performing the one or more behaviors associated with the first character;
- and
- in response to determining that the allocated time has elapsed and that the safety risk has not been mitigated, causing the robot to execute a second operation included in a second set of operations, wherein the second set of operations corresponds to a safety protocol that is not associated with the first character and that, when executed by the robot, mitigates the safety risk.
A robot system, comprising:
- one or more memories storing at least one software module;
- and
- one or more processors that, upon executing the at least one software module, are configured to perform the steps of:
- analyzing sensor data during execution of one or more operations included in a first set of operations for performing one or more behaviors associated with a first character,
- determining that a safety risk exists based on the sensor data,
- in response to determining that the safety risk exists, transmitting a request to a safety subsystem for allocated time during which one or more attempts to mitigate the safety risk can be made while performing the one or more behaviors associated with the first character;
- and
- in response to determining that the allocated time has elapsed and that the safety risk has not been mitigated, executing a second operation included in a second set of operations, wherein the second set of operations corresponds to a safety protocol that is not associated with the first character and that, when executed, mitigates the safety risk.
One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to mitigate safety risks during operation of a robot by performing the steps of:
- analyzing sensor data captured in conjunction with the robot performing one or more operations included in a first set of operations for performing one or more behaviors associated with a first character;
- determining that a safety risk corresponding to the one or more operations exists based on the sensor data;
- in response to determining that the safety risk exists, transmitting a request to a safety subsystem for allocated time during which one or more attempts to mitigate the safety risk can be made while performing the one or more behaviors associated with the first character;
- and
- in response to determining that the allocated time has elapsed and that the safety risk has not been mitigated, causing the robot to execute a second operation included in a second set of operations, wherein the second set of operations corresponds to a safety protocol that is not associated with the first character and that, when executed by the robot, mitigates the safety risk.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.