Shared robot knowledge base for use with cloud computing system

A system comprising:

• a shared robot knowledge base that stores an inventory of objects, wherein the data stored in the shared robot knowledge base is accessible by a plurality of robots, wherein individual robots have a computing ability and are configured to interact with their surroundings via one or more associated sensors or electromechanical devices;
• a cloud processing engine that (i) receives a first query from a first robot, wherein the first query includes identification information associated with an object detected by the robot, and (ii) identifies data in the shared robot knowledge base based at least in part on the first query, wherein the identified data corresponds to the object of the first query and comprises robot executable instructions for interacting with the object that include instructions for controlling the object using commands sent over a communications link between the first robot and the object and wherein the instructions for interacting with the object include instructions for physically controlling the object using at least one or the electromechanical devices associated with the first robot;
• a communications interface that (i) sends the identified data to the first robot, wherein the identified data is usable by the first robot to interact with the object, and (ii) receives feedback from the first robot based on the first robot's interaction with the object;
• and
• wherein the cloud processing engine is configured to update the shared robot knowledge base by at least one of (i) revising the identified data based at least in part on the feedback from the first robot and (ii) creating new data corresponding to the object of the first query based at least in part on the feedback from the first robot.

An article of manufacture comprising tangible non-transitory computer readable media having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:

• instructions for processing a first query received from a first robot, wherein the first query includes identification information associated with an object, and wherein the first robot has a computing ability and is configured to interact with its surroundings via one or more associated sensors or electromechanical devices;
• instructions for identifying data in a shared robot knowledge base based at least in part on the first query, wherein the identified data corresponds to the object of the first query and comprises robot executable instructions for interacting with the object that include instructions for controlling the object via commands sent over a communications link between the first robot and the object, wherein the instructions for interacting with the object include instructions for physically controlling the object using at least one of the electromechanical devices associated with the first robot, wherein the shared robot knowledge base comprises data related to an inventory of objects, and wherein the data stored in the shared robot knowledge base is accessible by at least the first robot;
• instructions for initiating the transmission of the identified data to the first robot, wherein the identified data is usable by the first robot to interact with the object;
• instructions for processing feedback received from the first robot based on the first robot's interaction with the object, wherein the feedback is usable for at least one of revising the identified data or creating new data corresponding to the object of the first query;
• and
• instructions for updating the shared robot knowledge base based at least in part on the feedback received from the first robot.

A method comprising:

• receiving a first query from a first robot, wherein the first query includes identification information associated with an object detected by one or more sensors associated with the first robot;
• determining whether the identification information received in the first query corresponds to an object having an object identifier stored in a shared robot knowledge base;
• creating a new object identifier in the shared robot knowledge base in response to determining that the identification information received in the first query does not correspond to an object having an object identifier stored in the shared robot knowledge base;
• instructing the first robot to collect information about the object;
• receiving information about the object from the first robot in response to the instructions to collect information about the object, wherein the information about the object includes (i) image data and (ii) location data;
• storing data about the object in the shared robot knowledge base, wherein the stored data is based at least in part on the information received from the first robot;
• and
• generating instructions for interacting with the object based on instructions for interacting with at least one other object stored in the shared robot knowledge base, wherein the instructions for interacting with the at least one other object include instructions for controlling the object using commands sent over a communication link between the first robot and the object, and wherein the instructions for interacting with the object include instructions for physically controlling the object using at least one electromechanical device associated with the first robot.