IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,001,226
Granted Patent B2
US 12,001,226 · App. 17/635,935 · Granted Jun 4, 2024

Information processing apparatus, control method, and program

Inventors: Nobuo Nishi (Tokyo, JP); Kazutaka Takaki (Tokyo, JP); Tatsuo Sekimoto (Tokyo, JP); Junichiro Misawa (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
G05D1/0891B25J5/007B25J9/0003B25J9/0009B25J11/001
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,001,226
App. No.
17/635,935
Granted
Jun 4, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Communication with a user is more naturally and effectively realized. An information processing apparatus includes an autonomous mobile body ( 10 ) that travels while maintaining an inverted state, and an operation control unit ( 230 ) that controls an operation of the autonomous mobile body. The autonomous mobile body includes a main body ( 10 ), two wheels ( 570 ) mounted on the main body, and a drive mechanism ( 565 ) that drives the two wheels. The operation control unit controls the drive mechanism to maintain the inverted state of the autonomous mobile body by the two wheels in a first state, and make the autonomous mobile body come to rest by the two wheels and a bottom of the main body when the autonomous mobile body transfers from the first state to a second state.

Claims (28)

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

an autonomous mobile body that travels while maintaining an inverted state; and

an operation control unit that controls an operation of the autonomous mobile body, wherein

the autonomous mobile body includes:

a main body,

two wheels mounted on the main body, and

a drive mechanism that drives the two wheels, and

the operation control unit controls the drive mechanism to:

maintain the inverted state of the autonomous mobile body by the two wheels in a first state, and

make the autonomous mobile body come to rest by the two wheels and a bottom of the main body when the autonomous mobile body transfers from the first state to a second state.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom of the main body includes a protrusion provided at a position that comes into contact with a floor surface in the second state.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein a center of gravity of the autonomous mobile body in the second state is located between a perpendicular line passing through a center of an axle of the two wheels and a perpendicular line passing through a contact portion between the protrusion and the floor surface.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the protrusion is provided on a back side of the autonomous mobile body with respect to an axle of the two wheels.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the operation control unit causes the two wheels to rotate to move the autonomous mobile body backward by controlling the drive mechanism when the autonomous mobile body transfers from the second state to the first state.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the protrusion is made of metal, plastic, or ceramics.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the bottom of the main body is provided with an opening to house the two wheels, and

the two wheels are housed in the main body and protruding from the opening.

8. A method for controlling an autonomous mobile body that travels while maintaining an inverted state, wherein

the autonomous mobile body includes a main body, two wheels mounted on the main body, and a drive mechanism that drives the two wheels, and

the drive mechanism is controlled to:

maintain the inverted state of the autonomous mobile body by the two wheels in a first state, and

make the autonomous mobile body come to rest by the two wheels and a bottom of the main body when the autonomous mobile body transfers from the first state to a second state.

9. A program causing a processor to control an autonomous mobile body that travels while maintaining an inverted state, wherein

the autonomous mobile body includes a main body, two wheels mounted on the main body, and a drive mechanism that drives the two wheels, and

the processor controls the drive mechanism to:

maintain the inverted state of the autonomous mobile body by the two wheels in a first state, and

make the autonomous mobile body come to rest by the two wheels and a bottom of the main body when the autonomous mobile body transfers from the first state to a second state.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2022
From: NISHI, NOBUO; TAKAKI, KAZUTAKA; SEKIMOTO, TATSUO; MISAWA, JUNICHIRO
To: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059957/0830 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2019-155101 · Aug 27, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220334597A1 · Oct 20, 2022