System and method for instructing a device

1. A system for instructing a device, comprising:

a signal source configured to provide at least one visual signal where the at least one visual signal is substantially indicative of at least one activity to be performed by the device;

a visual signal capturing element configured to capture the at least one visual signal and to communicate the at least one captured visual signal to the device, where the device is configured to interpret the at least one visual signal and perform the at least one activity autonomously and without requiring any additional signals or other information from the signal source; and

a display configured to assist in providing the visual signal, where the display is configured to show a cursor that substantially mimics in substantially real time the visual signal in a simulated environment with virtual objects, and where the cursor's interactions with the virtual objects indicate the at least one activity to be performed.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 where the visual signal capturing element communicates the at least one visual signal to the device in a format in which the device recognizes the activity to be performed.

3. The system as defined in claim 1 further comprising at least one interpreter, where the at least one interpreter translates the at least one visual to the device in a format in which the device recognizes the activity to be performed.

4. The system as defined in claim 1 where the device is a robot.

5. The system as defined in claim 4 where the robot includes at least one actuator that performs the at least one activity.

6. The system as defined in claim 1 where the device performs the at least one activity without mimicking the visual signal exactly.

7. The system as defined in claim 1 where the device performs the activity efficiently by determining and following feasible trajectories.

8. The system as defined in claim 1 where the at least one activity to be performed by the device includes lifting, moving, and placing an object.

9. The system as defined in claim 1 where the visual signal capturing element includes at least one camera.

10. The system as defined in claim 9 where the at least one camera is capable of capturing visual signals in three dimensions.

11. The system as defined in claim 1 where the device begins to perform the activity while the visual signal is being provided by the signal source.

12. The system as defined in claim 1 where the device performs the at least one activity at a location remote from the signal source.

13. A method of instructing a device, comprising:

providing at least one visual signal by a signal source, where the at least one visual signal is substantially indicative of at least one activity to be performed by the device;

providing a visual signal capturing element configured to capture the at least one visual signal;

communicating the at least one visual signal from the visual signal capturing element to the device, where the device interprets the at least one visual signal and performs the at least one activity autonomously and without requiring any additional signals or other information from the signal source; and

providing a display configured to assist in providing the visual signal, where the display is configured to show a cursor that substantially mimics in substantially real time the visual signal in a simulated environment with virtual objects, and where the cursor's interactions with the virtual objects indicate the at least one activity to be performed.

14. The method as defined in claim 13 where the device is a robot.

15. The method as defined in claim 13 further comprising determining and following feasible trajectories to perform the activity efficiently.