Robot movable in a group

Robots in a group, each usually moving randomly in irregular directions but making a specific movement, upon detection by one of them, of any other robot of the group present within a certain distance, either to run away from or run after the detected other robot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

a. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to robots in a group, and more particularly it pertains to robots in a group which, though simple in arrangement, can be effectively used, for example, to let a single or plural mannequins displaced in a show window to make variation-rich movements; or to cause a vacuum cleaner to automatically move around on a floor for performing automatic cleaning of the foor; or to cause a game or play machine to make various interesting movements.

B. Brief Description of the Prior Art

There has been proposed and brought into practice various types of exhibition devices, such as for use in show windows, designed for moving commodities in a fashionable manner to enchance the effect of the display of goods. Such known devices include an apparatus for causing a single or plural mannequins to move around on the floor of a show window. Such a prior art apparatus, however, is arranged merely so as to cause the goods or mannequins to move, in a simple manner, on a rail provided for guiding the movements of these goods or these mannequins. Therefore, from such known apparatus obtained only cyclic and monotonous movements, resulting in a poor effect of display. On the other hand, known such apparatus designed to cause goods to make a varying movements is complicated in its arrangement. Also, a known game or play device which is designed to make complex movements is very complicated structurally.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide robots in a group in which each is simple in structure and which can automatically make a variety of random movement independently.

Another object of the present invention is to provide robots in a group of the type described above, each of which is arranged to move randomly in irregular directions, without the aid of any guide rail, but being capable of avoiding collision with other moving similar robots.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a robot of the type described above, which has means of a simplified structure for identifying the positions of other similar robots relative to the first occurring robot.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide robots in a group of the type described above, in which each is arranged to run after or run away from another similar robot when the latter is detected to be present within a certain distance from the first-occurring robot.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a robot of the type described above, which has controlling means so as not to deviate from the area allowed for the robot to move around.

According to the teachings of the present invention, there may be realized robots in a group which automatically move by themselves on a floor in such a manner that when these robots are positioned outside a certain distance from each other, they move randomly in irregular directions, independently but that, when any one of them is within this distance from any other one, the first robot will run after this other robot and, that furthermore when this distance is within a further limited value, then the first robot will move automatically so as to avoid a collision with the other one.

These and other objects as well as the advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reading the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 through 3 are an elevational view, a side elevation view and a top plan view, respectively, showing an example of the robot according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the whole electric circuitry employed in the robot of FIGS. 1 through 3 according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing an example of concrete circuit of the circuit block of FIG. 4, for use in identifying the relative positions of other similar robots to the first occurring robot.

FIG. 6 is a chart for explaining the function of the identifying circuit shown in FIG. 5.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are circuit diagrams showing examples of concrete circuits of the operation mode signal generating circuitry of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing an example of concrete circuit of the random signal generating circuitry of FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing an example of concrete circuit of the boundary line detecting circuitry of FIG. 4.

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing an example of concrete circuit of the sequence control circuitry of FIG. 4.

FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing an example of concrete circuit of the motor driving circuitry of FIG. 4.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a moving mannequin device utilizing an example of the robot according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown, generally at 10, an example of the robot according to the present invention. This robot 10 comprises: a main frame 11; a pair of driving wheels 12R and 12L which are respectively attached to the rotary shafts 13R and 13L of motors 16R and 16L provided on the main frame 11; and a free wheel 14 which is rotatably and laterally swingably attached to the rear portion of the main frame 11 by a laterally swingable supporting means 15. With the wheels 12R, 12L and 14 and the motors 16R and 16L provided for rotating the wheels 12R and 12L is constructed a moving means for causing the robot 10 to move. The robot 10 also includes: a sensing means 17 provided at the front side of a head portion 18 provided above the main frame 11, for sensing the infrared rays emitting from other robots of the group approaching the robot 10, and infrared ray radiating lamp 22 provided on top of the head portion 18; and a plurality of printed circuit carrying boards 19 detachably secured to a vertical frame 20 erecting from the main frame 11, the circuit boards 19 containing several electric circuits assigned for controlling the operation of the moving means. On the main frame 11, there is mounted a battery 21 which supplies the robot-moving power. At the foremost ends of both arms 23R and 23L extending forwardly and divergingly from the front portion of the main frame 11 are provided sensing coils 24R and 24L for sensing an electromagnetic field radiating from, for example, a conductive wire not shown which is laid along the boundary line of a floor area where in the robot 10 is allowed to move around, and said wire is connected to a high-frequency generator (not shown).

Said infrared ray radiating lamp may be replaced by any other desired light-emitting source. It should be noted, however, that the use of infrared rays allows the sensing means to perform unfailing sensing of other similar robots without causing mis-sensing of any other light rays coming from other ambient light sources. Furthermore, instead of said infrared ray radiating lamp, there may be employed an infrared ray reflector. In this latter instance, it should be understood that the robot is to be provided with, in addition to the sensing means, an additional means for emitting an infrared rays, and the infrared rays reflected by this reflecting means from any other similar robot is received and sensed by the sensing means of the robot.

Description will hereunder be made on an example of the electric circuitry employed in the robot 10 of the present invention, the electric circuitry being assembled in the circuit boards 19 as described above.

In FIG. 4 is generally shown the block diagram of the whole electric circuitry which comprises: a postion identifying circuit 51 for identifying the relative positions assumed by the other robots with respect to the first robot 10; a mode signal generating circuit 52 for generating run-after mode and run-away mode signals which define the movement mode of the robot 10; a random signal generating circuit 53 for generating a random signal required to conduct the random mode of movement of the robot 10; boundary detecting circuits 54R and 54L for detecting the approach of the robot 10 toward the boundary line of the floor area allowed for the movement of the robot 10; motor driving circuits 55R and 55L; a sequence control circuit 56 for receiving said random mode signals, run-after and run-away mode signals, and boundary signals and for thereby delivering control signals to the motor circuitries 55R and 55L; and a power supplying circuitry 57 containing said battery 21 for delivering the electric power to the respective circuits mentioned above.

The position identifying circuit 51 may be divided into two circuits, i.e. a sensing circuit 51A and a level comparison circuit 51B. The sensing circuit 51A is composed of plural photo-electricity converting elements 101A, 101B, 101C, 101D and 101E and amplifiers 102A, 102B, 102C, 102D and 102E for amplifying the outputs of these elements, respectively. While, the level comparison circuit 51B is comoprised of three sections: a first section consisting of comparators 103A, 103B, 103C, 103D and 103E each being assigned for comparing the DC-levels between a first set voltage VI and the respective outputs a, b, c, d, and e of the amplifiers 102A, 102B, 102C, 102D and 102E; a second section consisting of comparators 104B, 104C and 104D each being assigned for comparing the DC-levels between a second set voltage V2 having a level lower than that of the first set voltage and the respective output b, c, and d; a third section consisting of comparators 105BC, 106DB and 105CD for comparing the DC-levels of the outputs b with c, d with b and c with d.

In FIG. 5 is shown in more detail the position identifying circuitry 51 of FIG. 4 together with an example of the concrete arrangement of the sensing means 17 of FIGS. 1-3. The sensing means 17 is formed into three separated units 17L, 17M and 17R having like hollow casings 106L, 106M and 106R, these units being mounted at the head portion 18 as shown in FIG. 1. Each of the casings 106R, 106M and 106L has an opening 107 at the front end portion thereof, a convex lens 108 fixed in the casing to face this opening 107, a slit plate 109 disposed behind the lens 108, and a filter 110 positioned behind the slit plate 109, which filter permits only infrared rays to pass therethrough Behind the filters 110 in the casings 106R and 106L are provided the sensors 101E and 101A, respectively, which may be photo-electricity converting elements responsive to infrared rays. The three sensors 101B, 101C and 101D are disposed laterally in line behind the filter 110 in the casing 106M. The sensing means 17 is adapted to receive and sense the infrared rays radiating from an other robot which assumes a certain position in both a first sensing floor area consisting of sub-areas A1, B1, C1, D1, and E1 and in a second sensing floor area consisting of sub-areas B2, C2 and D2, both the first and the second floor areas, being defined as fan-shaped floor areas diverging forwardly from the head 18 of the robot 10 (see FIG. 6). More specifically speaking, the units 17R and 17L are, respectively, assigned for the sensing in the subareas A1 and E1 of the first sensing area; the unit 17M being assigned for the sensing in the sub-areas B1, C1 and D1 of the first sensing area and the sub-areas B2, C2, and D2 area. of the second area.

The first set voltage V1 is determined of its level so that, when the respective photo-electricity converting elements 101A-101E of the units 17R, 17M and 17L receive the infrared rays impinging thereonto from any other similar robots present in the first sensing area, the respective comparators 103A-103E, upon being inputted with the outputs a, b, c, d, and e of the corresponding amplifiers 102A-102E, will deliver, respectively, the high level outputs thereof. While, the second set voltage V2 is adjusted of its level so that, when the respective photo-electricity converting elements 101B, 101C and 101D of the unit 17M receive the infrared rays from any other similar robots present in the second sensing area as well as the sub-areas B1, C1 and D1 of the first sensing area, the respective comparators 104B, 104C and 104D will deliver the high level outputs y1-y3. The respective comparators 105BC, 105CD and 105DB are adapted to deliver the high level outputs z0 z1, z2 respectively, under the conditions of the outputs b>c, c>d and d>b. The outputs of the level comparison circuit 51B are applied as the position pattern signals representing the patterns of the sensing areas in which other similar robots are present, to the mode signal generating circuit 52 shown in FIG. 4. This circuit 52 is composed of a first circuit 52A and a second circuit 52B, as can be easily seen in FIG. 4.

The first circuit 52A is provided there for generating a run-away mode signal whenever any other similar robot is present in the first sensing area. Said sequence control circuit 56, upon receipt of the run-away mode signal, will cause the motor driving circuits 55R and 55L to operate so that the robot which is present in the first area. Also, the second circuit 52B is adapted to generate a run-after mode signal whenever there is detected any other robot in the second sensing area. Upon receipt of the run-after mode signal, the sequence control circuit 56 will cause the motor driving circuit 55R and 55L to operate so that the robot 10 moves to run-after the other similar robot which is present in the second area.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the first circuit 52A consists of a binary to decimal converting circuit 151 of five bits and the five output lines 152, 153, 154, 155 and 156 thereof to which are delivered decimal outputs in such a manner as shown in FIG. 7. The respective outputs x0, x1, x3, x4 of the comparators 103A-103E in FIG. 5 are respectively inputted to the binary inputs for respective digits of the circuit 151. For instance, when all of the outputs x0-x4 are low in level, the level of the line 152 will become high; and when the level of only x1 is high, the levels of both lines 153 and 154 will become high; when the level of only x3 is high, the levels of both lines 153 and 155 will become high; when the level of only x4 is high, the level of the line 156 will become high, and so on.

• Foldable brushes
• Data transfer system
• Pace setting light for joggers
• Tunable surface wave device resonator
• Osmotic pressure sensing head
• Band pass amplifier
• Electric lamp with insulating base
• Tap holder
• Vibration energy transfer laser
• Sanitary chairs
• Quasi-corner reflectors for electromagnetic radiation
• Monolithic crystal filters
• Hygrometer
• Lighting display system
• Fabric take-up mechanism

• Oscillating vane engine
• Biological tissue strengthening device
• Diaphragm valve arrangement
• Shelter structure
• Releasable rudder lock
• Compact indirect heating vapor generator
• Radially movable clutch release bearing
• Pneumatic tire
• Grounding clip

• Process for manufacturing needle coke
• Antimicrobial compositions
• Welding torch for underwater welding
• Dynamic transistor-storage element
• Longitudinally fed component insertion apparatus
• Swimming pool surface cleaning device
• Tag applicating device
• Video window control

In FIG. 8 is shown an example of the second circuit 52B of the mode signal generating circuit 52. This circuitry 52B for generating run-after mode signals includes: a binary to decimal converting circuit 201 of three bits, the circuit 201 for receiving the outputs x0, x1 and x2 of the comparators 105DB, 105CD and 105BC in FIG. 5 as the inputs for the respective bits thereof; an OR gate 202 which receive, as its inputs, the outputs y1, y2, y3 of the comparators 104D, 104C, 104B respectively, and AND gates 203, 204 and 205. The outputs of the coverting circuit 201 are applied, via lines 206, 207 and 208, to the gates 203, 204 and 205 in such manner as shown in FIG. 8 together with the output of the gate 202. And also, there are provided a line 209 applied with the gate 202 output and lines 210, 211 and 212 for delivering the outputs of the respective gates 203, 204 and 205. This circuit 52B functions as follows. Under the conditions that either the outputs y1 or y2 or y3 is of a high level, the level of line 209 is rendered high, and the gates 203, 204 and 205 all will become open. In this state, the respective outputs delivered from the converting circuit 201 can be delivered onto the respective lines 210, 211 and 212 via the lines 206, 207 and 208 and the gates 203, 204 and 205, respectively. For instance, when the output z0 has a high level, the line 210 will have a high level. On the other hand, all of the lines 209, 210, 211 and 212 will remain at a low level when neither the output y1 nor the outputs y2 nor y3 has a high level.

FIG. 9 shows a simple example of the random signal generating circuit 53. This circuit is composed of a clock pulse generator 251, shift registers 252 and 253, exclusive OR gates 254 and 255, phase inverters 256 and 257, and output lines 258 and 259. The clock pulse generated by the generator 251 is used as the shifting pulse for the shift registers 252 and 253. To the exclusive OR gates 254 and 255 are respectively inputted, for example, both the first and third bit outputs and both the second and third bit outputs of the registers 252 and 253, and the outputs of the gates 254 and 255 are respectively inputted, after a phase-inversion through the invertors 256 and 257, to the resisters 252 and 253. The third bit outputs of both the registers 252 and 253 is delivered as random signals onto the lines 258 and 259, respectively. The random signals are applied to the sequence control circuit 56 for making the random-mode movement of the robot 10, i.e. the sequence control circuit 56 will, upon receipt of only said random signal, control the operation of the motor driving circuit 54R and 54L in such a way that the robot 10 is caused to move randomly in response to said random signal.

An example of the boundary detecting circuits 54R and 54L are shown in FIG. 10, which comprises amplifiers 301R 301L for amplifying the induced voltage in the sensing coils 24R and 24L, and comparators 302R and 302L for comparing the outputs of the amplifiers 301R and 301L with a third set voltage level. The third set voltage is adjusted so that the comparators 302R and 302L will deliver the positive outputs when the sensing coils 24R and 24L sense the electromagnetic field along the boundary of said floor area allowed for the robot movement. The outputs of the comparators 302R and 302L are applied, as a boundary signal, through lines 303R and 303L to the sequence control circuit 56. Upon receipt of this boundary signal, the sequence control circuit 56 will cause the motor driving circuits 54R and 54L to operate so that the robot 10 is caused to move away from the boundary of the floor area.

With reference to FIG. 11, description will be made on an example of the sequence control circuit 56. This circuit 56 includes a first group of AND gates 351-358, a second group of AND gates 359-363, a third group of AND gates 364-366, a fourth group of OR gates 367-370, a mono-stable multivibrator 371, inverters 372 and 373, AND gates 374 and 375, and a binary-decimal converting circuit 376 of two bits. The mono-stable multivibrator 371 delivers, upon each receipt of the signals on the line 153 of the circuit 52A in FIG. 7, a positive pulse having a constant pulse width. This pulse is applied to the respective gates 364-366 after a phase-inversion through the inverter 372 so that the gates 364-366 are closed while the positive pulse is delivered. The converting circuit 376 receives, as inputs, the signals on the lines 303R and 303L of the boundary detecting circuits 54R and 54L in FIG. 10 and thereby delivers output signal onto one of the output lines 376A-376D to control the conduction of the gates 367-370. In the instance wherein the level of the line 376A is low, the gates 351-358 are all closed. The conduction of the gates 359-363 is controlled by the level of the line 152 of the circuit 52A. The gates 374 and 375 for receiving, as inputs, the signals on the lines 258 and 259 of the random signal generating circuit 53 will respectively become open while the level of the lines are hold high. The output signals of the sequence control circuit 56 are delivered onto the line 377-380. These output signals are applied to the motor driving circuits 55L and 55R.

As shown in FIG. 12, the motor driving circuits 55L and 55R may comprise: transistors Tr1-Tr4 having relays Ry1-Ry4 connected in series in the collector circuits of these transistors. Through the make-contacts c1 and c2 of the relays Ry/ Ry2, either a positive or a negative voltage from the power supplying circuit 57 may be applied to the right motor 16R for the driving thereof. Similarly, the left motor 16L may be driven with either a positive or a negative voltage applied thereto from the power supplying circuit 57 through the make-contacts c3 and c4 of the relays Ry3 and Ry4. Diodes D1-D4 may be connected in parallel with the respective relays Ry1 or Ry4 for protecting the transistor Tr1- Tr4 against the back electromotive force of the relays. Resistors R1-R4 are provided for biasing the transistors Tr1-Tr4. These transistors Tr1-Tr4 are controlled of their conduction in response to the levels of the lines 377-380.

Description will hereunder be made on the operation of the above mentioned robot 10 according to the present invention.

In the instance wherein there are no other robots present in the first and the second sensing areas of the sensing means 17 of the robot 10 itself and wherein the electromagnetic field representing the boundary of the moving area for the robot 10 is not sensed by the sensing coils 24R and 24L, the outputs x0-x4, y1-y3, and z0-z3 of the level comparison circuit 51B are all of a low level so that the line 152 only is of the high level among the lines 152-156 and 209-205 of the circuit 52 and that the line 376A of the circuit 376 in the circuit 56 is of a high level, and the lines 303R and 303L of the circuits 54R and 54L are of a low level. Accordingly, the gates 374, 375, 351-358 and 359-363 are opened, i.e. they are held in the conductive state, so that the random signals delivered onto the lines 258 and 259 of the circuit 53 are applied, through the conductive gates 357, 358, 362 and 363 and the OR gates 367 and 369, to the base electrodes of the transistors Tr1 and Tr3 of the circuits 55L and 55R. Thus, the respective transistors Tr1 and Tr2 are turned on and off at random and independently of each other in response to the random signals applied thereto, and thereby the contacts c1 and c3 of the relays Ry1 and Ry3 are turned on and off. As a result, the respective motors 16R and 16L are caused to rotate randomly in the forward direction. The robot 10, therefore, moves randomly in irregular directions, i.e. the robot 10 moves in a random mode.

When the robot 10 has approached near the boundary of the moving area the then the electro-magnetic field along the boundary has been sensed by one of the sensing coils 24L and 24L, it should be noted that for example, the circuit 376 will deliver an output signal onto the line 376B thereof so that the transistors Tr2 and Tr3 will be turned on to close the contacts c2 and c3. As a result, the left and the right motors 16L and 16R will rotate in the forward and reverse directions, respectively, so that the robot 10 will turn clockwise about the center axis thereof to run-away from the boundary line. This is the first run-away mode of the movement of the robot 10 according to the present invention. It can be easily understood that, in this state, the gates 374, 375, 351-363 are closed and accordingly the random signals are prevented from being applied to the driving circuits 55L and 55R.

If another robot of the present invention enters the sub-area A1, for instance, of the first sensing area for the sensing means 17, the sensor 101 of the sensing unit 17L will receive the infrared rays emitting from the lamp 22 of the another robot, and therefore the corresponding amplifier 102A will deliver an output a having a higher level than that of the first set voltage V1. Accordingly, the comparator 103A will deliver a high level output signal x0. Whereupon, the levels of the lines 154 and 376A will become high and the transistors Tr2 and Tr3 will be turned on. Whereby, the robot 10 will turn clockwise about its center axis to avoide a collision with this another similar robot. This is the second run-away mode of movement of the robot 10. Needless to say, the random signals are inhibited at the gates 357 and 358 in this mode. Thereafter, if there is sensed the presence of no other robot in the first sensing area, the robot 10 changes its movement mode from this specific mode to the usual random mode mentioned above.

When, on the other hand, the sensing means 17 senses the presence of another robot in the second sensing area thereof, the robot 10 will take the following mode of movement, i.e. the robot 10 will move in such a way as to run after this another robot at a certain distance left between the robot 10 and the another robot. More specifically, when another robot has entered the sub-sensing area C2 of the second sensing area, the amplifier 102C delivers an output signal c of a level higher than that of the second set voltage V2 but lower than that of the first set voltage V1 so that the comparator 104C and the comparator 105CD will deliver high level outputs y2 and z1, respectively. The levels of the lines 152, 209 and 211 will become high and the line 376A of the circuit 376 will have high level. Therefore, the transistors Tr1 and Tr3 are turned on and thereby the both motors 16R and 16L will rotate in the forward direction, thus causing the robot to move straight toward the another robot so as to run after it.

In case the another robot has been caught within the first sensing area by the run-after movement of the robot 10, the robot 10, in turn, will take the second run-away mode of movement. Let us now assume that the another robot has entered the sub-area C1, for instance, of the first sensing area. The levels of lines 153, 154, 209 and 211 will become high so that the gates 374, 375 and 359-363 will be closed immediately and that the gates 364-366 will be closed during the period of time corresponding to the pulse width of the output of the mono-stable multivibrator 371. Thus, after a pause of the movement, the robot 10 will start to turn counter-clockwise about its center axis to avoide a collision against the another robot.

Let us also assume that two or more other robots enter the first and/or the second sensing area. For instance, when two other robots have entered, respectively, into the sub-area A1 and E1, the level of the line 156 will become high, with the result that the robot 10 will move straight forwardly.

In short, the movements of the robot according to the present invention may be divided roughly into the following three modes, i.e. the random mode, the run-away mode and the run-after mode. When there is no other robot present in the first and the second sensing areas of a first robot and when this first robot is positioned apart from the boundary of the area for the robot movement, the robot will take the random mode of movement in which this robot will move randomly in irregular directions and independently of the other robots. This robot, however, will take the run-away mode of movement, when there is present any other robot in the first sensing area of this robot. In such an instance, the robot will move so as to run-away from the other robot in the first sensing area, i.e. to avoid a collision against the other robot. Similarly, when the robot has approached the boundary, the robot will take the run-away mode and, accordingly, it will move away from the boundary. On the other hand, if any other robot has entered the second sensing area, the run-after mode is taken by the robot so that the robot moves to run after the other robot at a certain distance left between them.

Description will hereunder be made on an example of use of the robot according to the present invention. In FIG. 13, there is shown an example of a moving mannequin device employing the robots of the present invention. In the device, the mannequins M1, M2 and M3 are mounted on the robots RB1, RB2 and RB3, respectively. The robots RB1, RB2 and RB3 move around in irregular directions and independently of each other on the floor F while carrying the mannequins M1, M2 and M3. When the robots RB1, RB2 and RB3, i.e. the mannequins M1, M2 and M3 have moves close to the boundary area E of the floor F, they will start to move away from the boundary area E. And also, when one of the robots, e.g. the robot RB1 is moving into the second sensing area of another one robot, e.g. the robot RB2, this robot RB2 will move after that robot RB1. Moreover, when still another robot, e.g. the robot RB1 has entered the first area of the other robot, e.g. the robot RB3, this robot RB3 will move away from the robot RB1.

Thus, according to the present invention, there can be obtained a moving mannequin device in which the respective mannequins will move in an interesting fashion. More specifically, the mannequins will move randomly independently of each other at some time, and will move more or less groupwise at some other time. Needless to say, the robot of the present invention can be employed for various other uses.