Systems and methods for multi-sectional show robot

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024190015-A1
Application number	US-202318545790-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 19, 2023
Priority date	May 14, 2020
Publication date	Jun 13, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A robotic system includes a multi-sectional show robot. The multi-sectional show robot includes a primary robot with a controller and one or more sensors. The one or more sensors are configured to acquire feedback indicative of an environment surrounding the primary robot. The multi-sectional show robot also includes a secondary robot configured to removably couple to the primary robot to transition the multi-sectional show robot between a disengaged configuration, in which the primary robot is decoupled from the secondary robot, and an engaged configuration, in which the primary robot is coupled to the secondary robot. The controller is configured to operate the primary robot based on the feedback and a first control scheme with the multi-sectional show robot in the disengaged configuration and to operate the primary robot based on a second control scheme with the multi-sectional show robot in the engaged configuration.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A robotic system, comprising:
a primary robot; a first secondary robot comprising a first aesthetic corresponding to a first character portion of a theme; a second secondary robot comprising a second aesthetic corresponding to a second character portion of the theme; and a control system comprising one or more controllers, wherein the control system is configured to:
control a first action of the robotic system in response to determining a first correlation between the primary robot and the first secondary robot at a first point in time; and
control a second action of the robotic system in response to determining a second correlation between the primary robot and the second secondary robot at a second point in time different than the first point in time, wherein the second action is different than the first action.

22 . The robotic system of claim 21 , wherein the first aesthetic is different than the second aesthetic.

23 . The robotic system of claim 21 , wherein the control system is configured to control a third action of the robotic system in response to determining a third correlation between the primary robot, the first secondary robot, and the second secondary robot at a third point in time different than the first point in time and the second point in time, wherein the third action is different than the first action and the second action.

24 . The robotic system of claim 21 , wherein the first action, the second action, or both includes:
movement of the robotic system; audio output from a speaker of the robotic system; or visual output from a display, projector, or light of the robotic system.

25 . The robotic system of claim 21 , wherein the control system is configured to:
select the first action from a first plurality of actions corresponding to a first character control scheme; and select the second action from a second plurality of actions corresponding to a second character control scheme.

26 . The robotic system of claim 21 , wherein the first character portion and the second character portion correspond to parts of a common character.

27 . The robotic system of claim 21 , wherein the control system is configured to:
determine the first correlation between the primary robot and the first secondary robot by determining a first proximity or engagement between the primary robot and the second secondary robot; and determine the second correlation between the primary robot and the second secondary robot by determining a second proximity or engagement between the primary robot and the second secondary robot.

28 . The robotic system of claim 27 , comprising one or more sensors configured to detect the first proximity or engagement, the second proximity or engagement, or both.

29 . A robotic system, comprising:
a primary robot comprising a first aesthetic corresponding to a first character portion of a theme; a secondary robot comprising a second aesthetic corresponding to a second character portion of the theme; and a control system comprising one or more controllers, wherein the control system is configured to:
control a first action of the robotic system in response to determining a correlation between the primary robot and the secondary robot; and
control a second action of the robotic system in response to determining a lack of the correlation between the primary robot and the secondary robot, wherein the second action is different than the first action.

30 . The robotic system of claim 29 , wherein the first character portion and the second character portion correspond to parts of a common character.

31 . The robotic system of claim 30 , wherein the first character portion corresponds to an appendage or a head of the common character.

32 . The robotic system of claim 29 , wherein the control system is configured to determine the correlation between the primary robot and the secondary robot by determining a proximity or engagement between the primary robot and the secondary robot.

33 . The robotic system of claim 32 , wherein the primary robot comprises one or more sensors configured to detect the proximity or engagement.

34 . The robotic system of claim 29 , wherein the first action, the second action, or both includes:
movement of the robotic system; audio output from a speaker of the robotic system; or visual output from a display, projector, or light of the robotic system.

35 . A robotic system, comprising:
a first robot comprising a first aesthetic corresponding to a first part of a character; a second robot comprising a second aesthetic corresponding to a second part of the character; and a control system comprising one or more controllers, wherein the control system is configured to:
control a first action of the robotic system in response to determining an engagement between the first robot and the second robot; and
control a second action of the robotic system in response to determining a disengagement between the first robot and the second robot.

36 . The robotic system of claim 35 , wherein the first part of the character comprises an appendage or head.

37 . The robotic system of claim 35 , comprising a third robot comprising a third aesthetic corresponding to a third part of the character, wherein the control system is configured to:
control a third action of the robotic system in response to determining a second engagement between the first robot and the third robot; and control a fourth action of the robotic system in response to determining a second disengagement between the first robot and the third robot.

38 . The robotic system of claim 37 , wherein the control system is configured to:
control a fifth action of the robotic system in response to determining a third engagement between the second robot and the third robot; and control a sixth action of the robotic system in response to determining a third disengagement between the second robot and the third robot.

39 . The robotic system of claim 35 , comprising one or more sensors configured to detect the engagement between the first robot and the second robot, the disengagement between the first robot and the second robot, or both.

40 . The robotic system of claim 35 , wherein the control system is configured to:
detect a proximity between a human and the robotic system; and control the first action of the robotic system in response to determining the engagement between the first robot and the second robot by controlling a gesture of the robotic system toward the human.

Assignees

• Universal City Studios Llc

Inventors

• Jeromin Aaron Chandler
• Krauthamer Akiva Meir
• Garnier Timothy Fitzgerald
• Hertzler Elam Kevin
• Pearse Matthew Sean
• Knox Samuel James
• Wilson Lee Marvin
• Humphreys Kimberly Anne
• Nichoson Cody Daniel
• Dressen Trace Andrew

Classifications

• B25J9/1697

  Vision controlled systems · CPC title

• B25J11/0005

  Manipulators having means for high-level communication with users, e.g. speech generator, face recognition means · CPC title

• B25J13/089

  Determining the position of the robot with reference to its environment · CPC title

• B25J9/1674

  characterised by safety, monitoring, diagnostic · CPC title

• B25J9/1664

  characterised by motion, path, trajectory planning · CPC title