Patent Application
20100168916
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to robots and, particularly to touch sensitive robots.
2. Description of Related Art
The touch sensitivity of most touch sensitive robots is realized by pressure sensors. However, a great number of pressure sensors are typically required to make the entire body of such a robot touch sensitive. As a result, the cost of the robot may be exorbitant.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a touch sensitive robot which can overcome the above-mentioned problems.
In the drawings, all the views are schematic.
Referring to
The body 10 includes a circular bottom board 12, a dome-shaped shell 14, an interactive section 16, and a pair of wheels 20. The dome-shaped shell 14 is sealed by the circular bottom board 12. As such, the circular bottom board 12 and the dome-shaped shell 14 cooperatively define an enclosed space for accommodating various components of the touch sensitive robot 100.
The interactive section 16 allows the touch sensitive robot 100 to interact with users. In this embodiment, the interactive section 16 is a control panel of the touch sensitive robot 100, and is mounted at the outer surface of the dome-shaped shell 14. However, in other alternative embodiments, the interactive section 16 can be in other forms, corresponding to the type of touch sensitive robot it belongs to. For example, the interactive section 16 can be a robotic head if the touch sensitive robot 100 is a human-like robot or an animal-like robot.
The pair of wheels 20 is movably connected to the circular bottom board 12 to facilitate motion of the body 10. In particular, the pair of wheels 20 can rotate to propel the circular bottom board 12 together with the dome-shaped shell 14 and the interactive section 16 to move along and around a surface. Also, the pair of wheels 20 can rotate independently of each other to drive the circular bottom board 12 together with the dome-shaped shell 14 and the interactive section 16 to spin around. In practice, the body 10 may further include one or more auxiliary wheels (not shown) to help the body 10 stand on its own and move around.
Also referring to
The touch sensor 30 includes an isolating cover 32, a first conductive belt 34, and a second conductive belt 36.
As shown in
The first conductive belt 34 includes a first end 34a and a second end 34b. The first conductive belt 34 is generally C-shaped, and is almost as long as the isolating cover 32. In this embodiment, the first conductive belt 34 is made of a conductive material having high elasticity, e.g., conductive rubber. As such, the first conductive belt 34 also elastically deforms easily when touched.
The second conductive belt 36 includes a third end 36a and a fourth end 36b. The second conductive belt 36 is generally C-shaped, and is as long as the isolating cover 32. Preferably, the electrical resistivity of the second conductive belt 36 is different from that of the first conductive belt 34. In this embodiment, the second conductive belt 36 is made of copper.
Referring to
Referring to
In further assembly of the touch sensitive robot 100, the power source 42 applies a voltage to the first end 34a and the second end 34b. The voltage sensor 44 is configured for measuring a voltage between the second end 34b and the fourth end 36b when the first conductive belt 34 is touched and electrically contacts the second conductive belt 36. Connections of the power source 42 and the voltage sensor 44 are not limited to the above-described embodiment. The voltage sensor 44 can instead be interconnected between any two points of the first conductive belt 34 and the second conductive belt 36, respectively. In other alternative embodiments, the power source 42 can be interconnected between the third end 36a and the fourth end 36b, and the voltage sensor 44 can be interconnected to any two points of the first conductive belt 34 and the second conductive belt 36. The controller 46 is connected to the voltage sensor 44, and is configured for controlling the driver 48 based upon a measured voltage received from the voltage sensor 44. The driver 48 is connected to the controller 46, and is configured for driving the pair of wheels 20 to rotate.
In operation of the touch sensitive robot 100, for example, a point A of the isolating cover 32 is touched by a user, as shown in
It should be understood that, in other alternative embodiments, the voltage sensor 44 can be connected to another point (hereinafter “reference point”) of the first conductive belt 34 besides the second end 34b. In such case, the voltage measured by the voltage sensor 44 is proportional to the length of the first conductive belt 34 from the reference point to the point A. With such configuration, the location of the point A can be detected by the voltage sensor 44.
In the touch sensitive robot 100, only one touch sensor 30 is employed. In addition, the touch sensor 30 is made of relatively inexpensive material and can be manufactured using relatively simple processes. Therefore, the cost of the touch sensor 30 is apt to be low. As such, the production cost of the touch sensitive robot 100 can be reduced.
It should be mentioned that the configuration of the body 10 is not limited to the present embodiment. The body 10 can be shaped and structured according to the type of touch sensitive robot employed.
It should also be noted that the touch sensor 30 is not limited to the present embodiment. For example, the isolating cover 32 can have other shapes, depending on practical requirements. In addition, the inner structure of the touch sensor 30 is not limited to the present embodiment. Any suitable structure having a pair of spaced conductive belts can be used. Beneficially, the outer conductive belt has excellent elasticity to readily deform when touched by a user. In addition, the isolating cover 32, the first conductive belt 34, and the second conductive belt 36 can all be made longer, so that they wrap around the entire outer surface of the body 10.
The connection between the touch sensor 30 and the body 10 is not limited to the present embodiment. In alternative embodiments, the touch sensor 30 can be attached to the body 10 using other techniques. For example, the isolating cover 32 can be attached to the circular bottom board 12 by adhesive.
While various exemplary and preferred embodiments have been described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art) are intended to also be covered. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200810306733.2 | Dec 2008 | CN | national |
This application is related to a copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/537,261 filed on Aug. 7, 2009 and entitled “TOUCH SENSITIVE ROBOT,” and with the same assignees as the present application. The disclosure of the above-identified application is incorporated herein by reference.
