Social behavior rules for a medical telepresence robot

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9776327-B2
Application number	US-201514931641-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 3, 2015
Priority date	May 22, 2012
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for social behavior of a telepresence robot are disclosed herein. A telepresence robot may include a drive system, a control system, an object detection system, and a social behaviors component. The drive system is configured to move the telepresence robot. The control system is configured to control the drive system to drive the telepresence robot around a work area. The object detection system is configured to detect a human in proximity to the telepresence robot. The social behaviors component is configured to provide instructions to the control system to cause the telepresence robot to operate according to a first set of rules when a presence of one or more humans is not detected and operate according to a second set of rules when the presence of one or more humans is detected.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A telepresence robot comprising:
a drive system configured to move the telepresence robot;
a control system configured to control the drive system to drive the telepresence robot around a work area;
an object detection system configured to detect a human in proximity to the telepresence robot; and
a social behaviors component configured to provide instructions to the control system to cause the telepresence robot to operate according to a first set of rules when a presence of one or more humans is not detected and operate according to a second set of rules when the presence of one or more humans is detected;
wherein the second set of rules comprise a first maximum speed outside a first radius of the human and a second maximum speed outside a second radius and within the first radius.

2. The telepresence robot of claim 1 , wherein telepresence robot is configured to request assistance from a human based on an inability of the telepresence robot to perform a task.

3. The telepresence robot of claim 1 , wherein the second set of rules comprise maintaining a minimum distance from the human.

4. The telepresence robot of claim 3 , wherein the social behaviors component determines the minimum distance from the human based on a zone where the human and the telepresence robot are located.

5. The telepresence robot of claim 4 , wherein a minimum distance for an intensive care unit zone of a hospital is greater than a minimum distance for an outpatient care zone of the hospital.

6. The telepresence robot of claim 3 , further comprising a status determination system to determine a current status for one or both of the telepresence robot and the human, wherein the minimum distance to be maintained from the human is based on the current status.

7. A telepresence robot comprising:
a drive system configured to move the telepresence robot;
a control system configured to control the drive system to drive the telepresence robot around a work area;
an object detection system configured to detect a human in proximity to the telepresence robot; and
a social behaviors component configured to provide instructions to the control system to cause the telepresence robot to operate according to a first set of rules when a presence of one or more humans is not detected and operate according to a second set of rules when the presence of one or more humans is detected, wherein the second set of rules comprise maintaining a minimum distance from the human; and
a status determination system to determine a current status for one or both of the telepresence robot and the human, wherein the minimum distance to be maintained from the human is based on the current status.

8. The telepresence robot of claim 7 , wherein the current status comprises an emergency status for the telepresence robot.

9. The telepresence robot of claim 7 , wherein the status determination system determines the current status based on a speed at which the human is moving.

10. The telepresence robot of claim 1 , wherein the first set of rules comprises maximizing avoidance of collision with objects, wherein the second set of rules comprises collision avoidance with humans.

11. The telepresence robot of claim 10 , wherein the first set of rules comprises navigating in a middle of a navigable area.

12. The telepresence robot of claim 10 , wherein the second set of rules comprises navigating toward a side of the navigable area.

13. The telepresence robot of claim 10 , wherein the first set of rules include a first minimum distance from an object and wherein the second set of rules comprises a second minimum distance from the object, wherein the second minimum distance is less than the first minimum distance.

14. The telepresence robot of claim 13 , wherein the second set of rules further comprise a minimum human distance, wherein the minimum human distance is greater than the second minimum distance.

15. The telepresence robot of claim 1 , wherein the first set of rules comprises traveling at a first maximum speed and wherein the second set of rules comprises traveling at a second maximum speed, wherein the second maximum speed is less than the first maximum speed.

16. The telepresence robot of claim 1 , wherein the object detection system is configured to detect the human using a camera.

17. The telepresence robot of claim 16 , wherein the object detection system is configured to detect the human using one or more of face detection, feature classification for body shapes, and motion detection.

18. A telepresence robot comprising:
a drive system configured to move the telepresence robot;
a control system configured to control the drive system to drive the telepresence robot around a work area;
an object detection system configured to detect a human in proximity to the telepresence robot; and
a social path component configured to provide instructions to the control system to limit the telepresence robot to a first maximum speed outside a first radius of the human and a second maximum speed outside a second radius and within the first radius.

19. The telepresence robot of claim 7 , wherein the current status comprises an emergency status for the human.

Assignees

• Intouch Tech Inc
• Irobot Corp

Inventors

• Pinter Marco
• Lai Fuji
• Sanchez Daniel Steven
• Ballantyne James
• Roe David Bjorn
• Wang Yulun
• Jordan Charles S
• Taka Orjeta
• Wong Cheuk Wah

Classifications

• Y10S901/49

  Protective device · CPC title

• Y10S901/01

  Mobile robot · CPC title

• B25J9/1676 Primary

  Avoiding collision or forbidden zones · CPC title

• Y10S901/47

  Optical · CPC title

• G16H40/67

  for remote operation · CPC title