Abstract: A robot includes a trunk portion frame (functioning as a “base portion”), a head portion frame (functioning as a “first movable portion”) supported by the trunk portion frame, a flexible outer skin provided in such a way as to come into contact with the head portion frame and cover the trunk portion frame, and a pair of arm portions (functioning as a “second movable portion”), provided in contact with the outer skin, whose relative displacement with respect to the trunk portion frame changes in accompaniment to a displacement of the outer skin that accords with an operation of the head portion frame.

Abstract: Ease of connecting to a robot in a charging station is increased. A charging station includes a base having an upper face up on which a wheel rides, and a power supply terminal to be connected to a charging terminal of a robot. The upper face of the base is such that a target position is set in a far side region, while a reference entrance line that connects an entrance side specific position and the target position is set, and the upper face of the base includes an inverted face of a three-dimensional curved form that provides an entering wheel with a gravitational component that acts toward the reference entrance line side. The power supply terminal is connected to the charging terminal in a state wherein the wheel has arrived at the target position.

Abstract: A robot includes an operation control unit that selects a motion of the robot, a drive mechanism that executes a motion selected by the operation control unit, and a remaining battery charge monitoring unit that monitors a remaining charge of a rechargeable battery. Behavioral characteristics of the robot change in accordance with the remaining battery charge. For example, a motion with a small processing load is selected at a probability that is higher the smaller the remaining battery charge. Referring to consumption plan data that define a power consumption pace of the rechargeable battery, the behavioral characteristics of the robot may be caused to change in accordance with a difference between the remaining battery charge scheduled in the consumption plan data and the actual remaining battery charge.

Abstract: A robot of one aspect includes a first base configuring a trunk portion, a second base configuring a head region, a connecting mechanism that connects the first base and the second base, and a drive unit that drives the connecting mechanism. The drive unit includes motors disposed on the first base. The connecting mechanism includes linking mechanisms that are disposed in parallel to each other and are driven by the motors respectively. Each linking mechanism includes a drive link fixed to a rotary shaft of the motor and a driven link that is connected to the drive link via a first joint and connected to the second base via a second joint. The first joint is a single axis hinge joint, and the second joint is a universal joint.

Abstract: A monitor is installed in an eye of a robot, and an eye image is displayed on the monitor. The robot extracts a feature quantity of an eye of a user from a filmed image of the user. The feature quantity of the eye of the user is reflected in the eye image. For example, a feature quantity is a size of a pupillary region and a pupil image, and a form of an eyelid image. Also, a blinking frequency or the like may also be reflected as a feature quantity. Familiarity with respect to each user is set, and which user's feature quantity is to be reflected may be determined in accordance with the familiarity.

Abstract: A robot of one aspect includes a soft outer skin mounted so as to cover a first region (for example, a head portion) and a second region (for example, a trunk portion). The outer skin includes a base material having elasticity. Increased elasticity regions are provided between regions in contact with each of the first region and the second region in the base material (for example, between a head portion contact region and an abdominal portion contact region, or between the head portion contact region and a back portion contact region), and have an elasticity greater than that of the contact regions.

Abstract: A robot includes an operation control unit that selects a motion of the robot, a drive mechanism that executes a motion selected by the operation control unit, and a remaining battery charge monitoring unit that monitors a remaining charge of a rechargeable battery. Behavioral characteristics of the robot change in accordance with the remaining battery charge. For example, a motion with a small processing load is selected at a probability that is higher the smaller the remaining battery charge. Referring to consumption plan data that define a power consumption pace of the rechargeable battery, the behavioral characteristics of the robot may be caused to change in accordance with a difference between the remaining battery charge scheduled in the consumption plan data and the actual remaining battery charge.

Abstract: A robot has a main body frame, an elastic body that forms a closed space between the elastic body and the main body frame, a movement mechanism that has a surface that is grounded when moving, and which is provided so as to be able to be housed in the closed space, and a drive mechanism that causes the movement mechanism to advance to an exterior of the closed space or to retreat into an interior. The elastic body elastically transforms owing to a pressing force received in accompaniment to an advancing of the movement mechanism, increasing the size of an aperture portion for exposing the movement mechanism, and elastically recovers in accompaniment to a retreat of the movement mechanism, reducing the size of the aperture portion.

Abstract: A joint structure is used in connecting a first region and a second region of a robot. The joint structure includes a first member provided in the first region, a second member provided in the second region and having an engagement face that engages with the first member, and a coupling mechanism that causes a coupling force of the first member and the second member to be utilized to the full so that an engaged state of the first member and the second member is maintained. The coupling mechanism breaks the engaged state when a relative displacement of the first member and the second member from the engaged state exceeds a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A robot includes an operation control unit that selects a motion of the robot, a drive mechanism that executes a motion selected by the operation control unit, an eye control unit that causes an eye image to be displayed on a monitor installed in the robot, and a recognizing unit that detects a user. The eye control unit causes a pupil region included in the eye image to change in accordance with a relative position of the user and the robot. A configuration may be such that the eye control unit causes the pupil region to change when detecting a sight line direction of the user, or when the user is in a predetermined range.

Abstract: A robot of one aspect includes an outer skin with which a main body is covered. The outer skin includes an engagement portion that engages with the main body by the main body being covered therewith, extended portions that extend from the engagement portion, and attachment members, formed of a hard material, attached to the extended portions so as to extend in a width direction. The outer skin is fixed to the main body by the attachment members being fixed to the main body.

Abstract: A robot detects a voice using a microphone array, and identifies a sound source direction. The robot directs a head portion in the sound source direction. When an object including characteristics as a voice emitting body is detected in a filming region of a sound source direction identified using the microphone array, the voice emitting body is identified as a voice emission source. When a voice emitting body is identified as a voice emission source, the robot directs a body toward a sound source (emission source). When a special environmental sound is detected, a predetermined motion is executed.

Abstract: A planar touch sensor (an electrostatic capacitance sensor) for detecting a contact by a user on a body surface is installed on a robot. Pleasantness and unpleasantness are determined in accordance with a place of contact and a strength of contact on the touch sensor. Behavioral characteristics of the robot change in accordance with a determination result. Familiarity with respect to the user who touches changes in accordance with the pleasantness or unpleasantness. The robot has a curved form and has a soft body.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention relates to a robot including an operation determining unit that selects an operation of the robot, a drive mechanism that executes the operation selected by the operation determining unit, a body temperature detecting unit that detects a basic body temperature of a user, and a physical condition determining unit that determines a physical condition of the user based on a basic body temperature cycle of the user. When the basic body temperature of the user reaches a predetermined consideration timing in the basic body temperature cycle, the robot changes an amount of activity thereof.

Abstract: A robot includes a body, a wheel having a ground contacting surface when moving, and a wheel drive mechanism that drives the wheel so as to advance from a housing space provided in the body to an exterior and withdraw. The wheel drive mechanism causes the wheel to withdraw to the housing space in a non-ground contacting state when a housing condition is satisfied. The body has a ground contacting bottom face that comes into contact with the ground when the wheel is housed in the housing space in a non-ground contacting state.

Abstract: Moderate heteronomy is introduced while respecting a concept of a robot that acts autonomously. A robot includes an actuality input system that acquires environment information relating to an actual space, a virtual reality input system that acquires an action order forwarded by a fairy, an operation control unit that determines a first motion of the robot in accordance with the action order based on the environment information, and determines a second motion of the robot in accordance with the action order, and a drive mechanism that executes the first motion and the second motion.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention provides technology of changing behavioral characteristics when clothing is put on a robot. An autonomously acting robot includes an operation control unit that controls an operation of the robot, a drive mechanism that executes an operation specified by the operation control unit, and an equipment detecting unit that detects clothing worn by the robot. The robot refers to action restriction information correlated in advance to the clothing, and regulates an output of the drive mechanism.

Abstract: Empathy toward a robot is increased by the robot emulating human-like or animal-like behavior. A robot includes a movement determining unit that determines a direction of movement, a drive mechanism that executes a specified movement, and a familiarity managing unit that updates familiarity with respect to a moving object. The robot moves away from a user with low familiarity, and approaches a user with high familiarity. Familiarity changes in accordance with a depth of involvement between a user and the robot.

Abstract: A robot includes a filming unit that films a periphery, and a movement control unit that controls a distance from a filmed target object in accordance with a size of the target object. The robot may further include an operation control unit that controls an operation of a head portion, and a recognizing unit that recognizes a face of the filmed target object. The operation control unit may control the operation of the head portion so that a line of sight of the head portion reaches an angle of looking up directed at the face of the target object. The movement control unit may control the distance from the target object in accordance with a height of the target object.