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: The present invention provides a structure that is effective in providing a robot with appropriate warmth. A robot includes a frame, a surface skin that covers the frame, a heat source that heats a fluid, and a pressurizing unit that pressurizes a space enclosed by the frame. A heated fluid flows out from the space owing to the space being pressurized. A fluid layer is formed on an inner side of the surface skin covering the frame by the fluid that has flowed out from the space.

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.

Abstract: A guest robot acquires a right of access to a resource a host robot can access after accreditation by the host robot. The host robot accredits the guest robot on condition that the guest robot is positioned within a predetermined distance. The guest robot receives behavioral characteristic information from a server that determines behavioral characteristics of the host robot, and selects a motion in accordance with the behavioral characteristic information. A behavioral restriction that is not imposed on the host robot may be imposed on the guest robot.

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, an action determining unit that selects a gesture from multiple kinds of gesture, and a drive mechanism that executes a specified movement and gesture. When a user enters a hall, an external sensor installed in advance detects a return home, and notifies the robot via a server that the user has returned home. The robot heads to the hall, and welcomes the user home by performing a gesture indicating goodwill, such as sitting down and raising an arm.

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: An object of the invention is to carry out communication wherein linguistic communication is reduced during speech communication with another party carried out by a robot outputting speech. A robot includes a sensing unit that senses an external environment and generates an input signal, a phoneme acquisition unit that acquires first phonological information formed of a multiple of phonemes based on the input signal, a phoneme generating unit that generates second phonological information differing from the first phonological information based on at least one portion of phonemes included in the first phonological information, a speech synthesizing unit that synthesizes speech in accordance with the second phonological information, and a speech output unit that, outputs the speech.

Abstract: Putting clothes on a robot is facilitated. A robot includes an operation control unit that selects a motion, a drive mechanism that executes the selected motion, a mode setting unit that sets a mode of the robot, and a power supply control unit. The operation control unit restricts a torque of an actuator included in the drive mechanism when a clothes changing mode is set, and the power supply control unit maintains energization of an electronic circuit that realizes a function of the operation control unit, even while in the clothes changing mode.

Abstract: The present application provides a robot that a user feels more strongly to be a living being. A robot includes a speech generating unit that generates speech and a speech output unit that outputs the generated speech. The robot outputs speech generated by the robot rather than outputting speech prepared in advance. Because of this, speech that is in accordance with sensor information can be generated and output, or speech unique to the robot can be generated and output.

Abstract: A robot sets a cool point as a movement target point, and specifies route coordinates and coordinates for reaching the cool point. The robot moves to the cool point via the route, which is of a lower temperature. The robot searches for the cool point by referring to a temperature map showing a temperature distribution in a range in which the robot can move. Also, the robot compiles and updates the temperature map by measuring peripheral temperature as appropriate using a thermometer incorporated in the robot.

Abstract: A robot has a horn (gripping portion). A main body portion of the robot includes a direction determining unit that determines a direction of movement, a drive mechanism that executes a determined movement, a power supply unit that supplies power to the drive mechanism, and an interrupting mechanism that interrupts a supply of power from the power supply unit when the horn (gripping portion) is pulled out. When the horn is pulled out, a spring terminal and a conductor change to a state of non-contact, and a power line is physically disconnected, because of which the robot performs an emergency stop.

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: Provided is a three-dimensional information detection device having a configuration in which detection accuracy of three-dimensional information of a measurement target object is not lowered even in a case where an optical system that includes a projection unit, a first imaging unit and a second imaging unit is covered with a light transmissive cover so that the optical system is not exposed to the outside. The three-dimensional information detection device includes the projection unit that projects an image pattern onto a measurement target object, the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit that respectively image the image pattern, a transmissive cover that covers the optical system that includes the projection unit, the first imaging unit, and the second imaging unit, and a calculation unit that calculates three-dimensional information of the measurement target object on the basis of the image pattern that is imaged using the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit.

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 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 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 he 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.