Signal strength representation and automatic connection and control upon a self-propelled device

1. A method of connecting to a self-propelled device, the method performed by one or more processors of a mobile computing device and comprising:

detecting a radio signal emitted from the self-propelled device;

based on the detected radio signal, generating a dynamic representation of a signal strength of the radio signal;

displaying the dynamic representation of the signal strength on a display of the mobile computing device; and

when the signal strength crosses a predetermined threshold, automatically connecting to the self-propelled device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein automatically connecting to the self-propelled device comprises automatically initiating a control application to establish a connection with the self-propelled device.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein initiating the controller application comprises displaying virtual interactive controls on the display, the method further comprising:

receiving user interactions on the virtual interactive controls; and

in response to receiving the user interactions, transmitting control commands to the self-propelled device to cause the self-propelled device to maneuver in accordance with the user interactions.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the radio signal emitted from the self-propelled device comprises a Bluetooth low energy beacon.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

in response to detecting the Bluetooth low energy beacon, stabilizing a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) corresponding to the Bluetooth low energy beacon.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein stabilizing the RSSI comprises inputting individually received RSSI values into a linear regression model to output the stabilized RSSI.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the generated dynamic representation of the signal strength is based on the stabilized RSSI.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a connection to the self-propelled device is established using at least one of:

a Bluetooth wireless protocol;

a wireless USB;

a Wi-Fi protocol; or

a cellular network.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising stabilizing a received signal strength indicator to provide an accurate measurement of the signal strength of the radio signal.

10. A mobile computing device comprising:

a display;

one or more processors; and

one or more memory resources storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the mobile computing device to:

detect a radio signal emitted from the self-propelled device;

based on the detected radio signal, generate a dynamic representation of a signal strength of the radio signal;

display the dynamic representation of the signal strength on the display; and

when the signal strength crosses a predetermined threshold, automatically connect to the self-propelled device.

11. The mobile computing device of claim 10 , wherein automatically connecting to the self-propelled device comprises automatically initiating a control application to establish a connection with the self-propelled device.

12. The mobile computing device of claim 11 , wherein initiating the controller application comprises displaying virtual interactive controls on the display, and wherein the executed instructions further cause the mobile computing device to:

receive user interactions on the virtual interactive controls; and

in response to receiving the user interactions, transmit control commands to the self-propelled device to cause the self-propelled device to maneuver in accordance with the user interactions.

13. The mobile computing device of claim 10 , wherein the radio signal emitted from the self-propelled device comprises a Bluetooth low energy beacon.

14. The mobile computing device of claim 13 , wherein the executed instructions further cause the mobile computing device to:

in response to detecting the Bluetooth low energy beacon, stabilize a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) corresponding to the Bluetooth low energy beacon.

15. The mobile computing device of claim 14 , wherein stabilizing the RSSI comprises inputting individually received RSSI values into a linear regression model to output the stabilized RSSI.

16. The mobile computing device of claim 14 , wherein the generated dynamic representation of the signal strength is based on the stabilized RSSI.

17. A self-propelled device comprising:

an internal drive system to propel the self-propelled device;

a radio processor;

a main processor; and

one or more memory resources storing instructions that, when executed by the radio processor and the main processor, cause the self-propelled device to:

in a sleep mode, utilize the radio processor to: (i) emit a radio signal, (ii) establish a connection with a mobile computing device based on a proximity of the mobile computing device to the self-propelled device, and (iii) in response to establishing the connection, awaken the main processor of the self-propelled device.

18. The self-propelled device of claim 17 , wherein awakening the processor initiates a control mode on the self-propelled device, and wherein the executed instructions further cause the self-propelled device to:

in the control mode, utilize the main processor to: (i) receive control commands from the mobile computing device to maneuver the self-propelled device, and (ii) implement the control commands on the internal drive system to maneuver the self-propelled device.

19. The self-propelled device of claim 17 , wherein the radio signal corresponds to a Bluetooth low energy beacon.

20. The self-propelled device of claim 17 , wherein the executed instructions further cause the self-propelled device to:

in response to awakening the main processor of the self-propelled device, perform a greeting function comprising one or more of (i) receiving information from the mobile computing device, (ii) initiating a visual and/or an audible salutation, or (iii) communicating an audible greeting based on the received information.