US 9,186,793 B1Granted

Apparatus and methods for controlling attention of a robot

AssigneeBrain Corporation

InventorPhilip Meier

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Abstract

Apparatus and methods for controlling attention and training of autonomous robotic devices. In one approach, attention of the robot may be manipulated by use of a spot-light device illuminating a portion of the aircraft undergoing inspection in order to indicate to inspection robot target areas requiring more detailed inspection. The robot guidance may be aided by way of an additional signal transmitted by the agent to the robot indicating that the object has been illuminated and attention switch may be required. Responsive to receiving the additional signal, the robot may initiate a search for the signal reflected by the illuminated area requiring its attention. Responsive to detecting the illuminated object and receipt of the additional signal, the robot may develop an association between the two events and the inspection task. The light guided attention system may influence the robot learning for subsequent actions.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method for providing contextual instruction to a robotic apparatus, the method being performed by one or more processors configured to execute computer program modules, the method comprising:

transmitting a signal using a carrier of first variety, the signal being configured to irradiate an object;
and
transmitting an indication using a carrier of second variety to the robotic apparatus, the second variety being distinct from the first variety, the indication conveying whether detection of the first variety carrier is to be performed;
wherein:
the signal and the indication provide the contextual instruction, the contextual instruction being configured to cause the robotic apparatus to commence a task associated with a context;
the carrier of the first variety includes one or both of (i) a visible spectrum carrier having a bandwidth associated therewith or (ii) a radio spectrum carrier having a multiple access sub-channel associated therewith;
the bandwidth is different from another bandwidth associated with another signal comprising the carrier of the first variety;
the another signal and another indication provide another context capable of causing another robotic apparatus to perform another task associated with the another context;
and
the indication is capable of being provided to the another robotic apparatus.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.