Semi-supervised intent recognition system and method

1. A robotic system configured to execute a semi-supervised intent recognition control program, the robotic system comprising a leg actuator unit that includes:

a processor;

a user interface comprising a single button;

a joint configured to be aligned with a knee of a leg of a user wearing the leg actuator unit;

an upper arm coupled to the joint and extending along a length of an upper leg portion above the knee of the user wearing the leg actuator unit;

a lower arm coupled to the joint and extending along a length of a lower leg portion below the knee of the user wearing the leg actuator unit; and

an actuator configured to actuate the upper arm and lower arm and move the leg actuator unit into a plurality of different position states, and

where executing the semi-supervised intent recognition control program causes the robotic system to:

receive a state transition intention input via the single button for indicating, via only pressing the single button, an intention to make a state transition without indicating, via pressing the single button, a specific state transition of a plurality of possible state transitions to be made, and pressing the single button only indicating a user intention to make a state transition from a first state to a second state, with the second state being identifiable by the robotic system from a plurality of possible different states, only the single button is useable to generate the state transition intention input, and

in response to the state transition intention input, the processor is configured to change the robotic system from operating in a first mode with sensitivity to detecting state transitions at a first sensitivity level to temporarily operating in a second mode with sensitivity to detecting state transitions while operating in the second mode at a second sensitivity level that is more sensitive than the first sensitivity level;

identify a state transition of the plurality of possible state transitions to be made while operating in the second mode and using the second sensitivity level, and in response, facilitate the identified state transition by actuating the robotic system; and

automatically switch back to the first mode from the second mode without input from the single button.

2. The robotic system of claim 1 , wherein the first state is a standing state and wherein the plurality of possible different states comprise:

a sitting state; and

a walking state.

3. The robotic system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of possible state transitions to be made comprise:

a standing state to a sitting state; and

a standing state to a walking state.

4. The robotic system of claim 1 , wherein identifying the state transition at the second sensitivity level is based at least in part on a set of sensor data obtained from one or more sensors of the robotic system, and wherein the set of sensor data identifies the state transition at the second sensitivity level, but would not identify the state transition at the first sensitivity level of the first mode.

5. The robotic system of claim 1 , wherein identifying the state transition while operating in the second mode and using the second sensitivity level comprises:

determining that the robotic system is in a standing state, with the robotic system having an option to transition to either of a sit state or walk state from the standing state while operating in the second mode and after receiving the state transition intention input;

monitoring for state transitions including for a state transition to either of the sit state or walk state; and

identifying the state transition using the second sensitivity level, the state transition being to one of the sit state or walk state, and in response, facilitating the transition to the one of the sit state or walk state by actuating the robotic system.

6. The robotic system of claim 1 , wherein receiving a state transition intention input does not trigger a state transition by the robotic system, and wherein receiving a state transition intention input does not limit state transition options of the robotic system.

7. A robotic system that comprises a semi-supervised intent recognition control program, a processor, and a user interface comprising a single button, the robotic system configured to execute the semi-supervised intent recognition control program, where executing the semi-supervised intent recognition control program causes the robotic system to:

in response to a state transition intention input, the processor of the robotic system is configured to change the robotic system from operating in a first mode with sensitivity to detecting state transitions at a first sensitivity level to operating temporarily in a second mode with sensitivity to detecting state transitions at a second sensitivity level that is more sensitive than the first sensitivity level, wherein the state transition intention input is generated via the single button for indicating an intention to make a state transition without indicating a specific state transitions of a plurality of possible state transition to be made, wherein the single button is the only portion of the user interface that is useable to generate the state transition intention input,

identify a state transition of the plurality of possible state transitions to be made while operating in the second mode and using the second sensitivity level;

facilitate the identified state transition by actuating the robotic system; and

automatically switch back to the first mode from the second mode without input from the single button.

8. The robotic system of claim 7 , wherein the state transition intention input only indicates an intention to make a state transition from a first state to a second state, with the second state being selectable from a plurality of possible different states.

9. The robotic system of claim 8 , wherein the first state is a standing state and wherein the plurality of possible different states comprise:

a sitting state; and

a walking state.

10. The robotic system of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of possible state transitions to be made comprise:

a standing state to a sitting state; and

a standing state to a walking state.

11. A robotic system comprising:

a user interface comprising a single button and a processor, in response to a single state transition intention input from the single button, the processor is configured change the robotic system from operating in a first mode with sensitivity to detecting state transitions at a first sensitivity level to operating temporarily in a second mode with sensitivity to detecting state transitions at a second sensitivity level that is more sensitive than the first sensitivity level,

wherein the state transition intention input indicates an intention to make a state transition from a first state to a second state without indicating a specific state transition of a plurality of possible state transitions to be made, with the second state being possible from a plurality of possible different states, the single button is the only portion of the interface element that is configured to generate the state transition intention input, the processor configured to identify a state transition of the plurality of possible state transitions to be made while operating in the second mode and using the second sensitivity level; and facilitate the identified state transition by actuating the robotic system and automatically switch back to the first mode from the second mode without input from the single button.

12. The robotic system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of possible state transitions to be made comprise:

a standing state to a sitting state; and

a standing state to a walking state.

13. The robotic system of claim 11 , wherein the first state is a standing state and wherein the plurality of possible different states comprise:

a sitting state; and

a walking state.

14. The robotic system of claim 11 , wherein identifying the state transition at the second sensitivity level is based at least in part on sensor data that identifies the state transition at the second sensitivity level, but would not identify the state transition at the first sensitivity level of the first mode.

15. The robotic system of claim 11 , wherein identifying the state transition while operating in the second mode and using the second sensitivity level comprises:

determining that the robotic system is in a first physical state, with the robotic system having an option to transition to a plurality of physical states from the first physical state while operating in the second mode and after receiving the state transition intention input; and

identifying the state transition using the second sensitivity level, the state transition being to one of the plurality of physical states, and in response, facilitating the transition to the one of the plurality of physical states by actuating the robotic system.