Abstract: The invention teaches a method proposing two new indices for evaluating thermal evolution in oils from different basins and organofacies. The first index is based on the distribution ratio of high molecular weight sulfur compounds, belonging to the DBE 6 (benzothiophene) and DBE 9 (dibenzothiophene) series. The second index, called TEI, was created from the profile of aromatic hydrocarbons and molecules containing N, O and S. Both parameters were obtained from the direct characterization of the oils, by using the photoionization at atmospheric pressure (APPI) technique combined with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS).

Abstract: A test apparatus detects the presence of a connector such as a body clip within a holder of a wiring harness assembly board and is configured to confirm at least one characteristic of the connector defined by a positional relationship between two features of the connector. The holder has a receiving section for receiving the connector, and first and second contact elements that are engaged by the first and second features of the connector when it is inserted in the holder. The first and second contact elements are operative to activate a signal generator. The first and second contact elements have a positional relationship corresponding to the desired characteristic of the connector and are configured such that the signal generator is only operated when the first and second contact elements are contacted simultaneously by the first and second features of the connector.

Abstract: A coffee machine makes use of a valve arrangement for controlling the coupling of a water heater outlet selectively to one of two or more outlets, such as a steam delivery nozzle and a brew chamber. The valve arrangement comprises an active valve between the inlet channel and a first one of the outlets and a passive valve downstream of the active valve from the water heater outlet, coupled to a second one of the outlets. A cam surface controls the active valve, wherein the angular position of the cam surface controls the coupling of the inlet channel to the first one of the outlets. The rotation may be driven by rotational coupling to a brew chamber motor. This coffee machine design makes use of a single valve arrangement to provide the flow control from the water heater. This provides a compact arrangement with a low component count and simple control mechanism. It also enables all valve mechanisms to be outside the water or steam flow.

Abstract: A gateway object (48) for transmitting and receiving data to and from an object of a robot apparatus (1) is allocated to a radio LAN PC card (41) of the robot apparatus (1), and a gateway object (52) for transmitting and receiving data to and from an object on a personal computer (32) is allocated to a network adapter (31) of a remote system (30). When the radio LAN PC card (41) and the network adapter (31) are connected with each other by radio or wired connection, inter-object communication is carried out between the gateway object (48) of the radio LAN PC card (41) and the gateway object (52) of the network adapter (31), thereby carrying out inter-object communication between the object of the robot apparatus (1) and the object of the personal computer (32). Thus, preparation of a program is facilitated.

Abstract: Sentences corresponding to internal statuses of a robot device or the like are created and uttered, thereby expressing the internal statuses. The robot device or the like comprise means for recognizing an external status, and means for generating an emotion based on the internals status, whereby a change in the emotion is reflected upon a dialogue. The internal status is not associated with a sentence, but it exists independently of the system and is always varied depending on various external inputs and internal changes of the system. Accordingly, even when the same question is made on the robot device or the like, the contents of a reply are changed depending on the internal status at that time, and a manner of providing a reply also differs depending on the internal status.

Abstract: A robot system includes a speech recognition unit for converting speech information into text information, and a database retrieval unit for extracting a keyword included in the text information from a database. By designating a plurality of basic actions on a speech basis, and storing an action record, a combined action formed by combining the plurality of basic actions in time-series order can be named as a new action only in voice-based interaction. A user can designate complicated continuous actions by using only one word, and can easily have a conversation with the robot.

Abstract: A robot is proposed which has a speech recognition unit to detect information supplied simultaneously with or just before or after detection of a touch by a touch sensor, an associative memory/recall memory to store action made correspondingly to the touch and input information (speech signal) detected by the speech recognition unit in association with each other, and an action generator to control the robot to make action recalled by the associative memory/recall memory based on a newly acquired input information (speech signal). The robot has also a sensor data processor to allow the robot to act correspondingly to the touch detection by the touch sensor. Thus, the robot can learn action in association with an input signal such as speech signal.

Abstract: A robot apparatus causes the emotion in a feeling part (130) to be changed based on the information acquired by a perception part (120) to manifest the behavior of information acquisition as autonomous behavior. The robot apparatus includes a behavior control part for causing the robot apparatus to manifest a language acquisition behavior and a meaning acquisition part. The robot apparatus also includes a control part for performing the behavior control of pointing its object of learning. The robot apparatus causes changes in internal states, which are ascribable to the object, to be stored in a memory part in association with the object.

Abstract: A robot apparatus (1) includes leg blocks (3A to 3D), head block (4), etc. as a moving part (16), a motion controller (102), learning unit (103), prediction unit (104) and a drive unit (105). When the moving part (106), any of the blocks, is operated from outside, the learning unit (103) learns a time-series signal generated due to the external operation. The motion controller (102) and drive unit (105) control together the moving part (106) based on a signal generated at the moving part (106) due to an external force applied to the robot apparatus (1) and a signal having already been learned by the learning unit (103) to make an action taught by the user. The prediction unit (105) predicts whether the moving part (106) makes the taught action according to the initial signal generated at the moving part (106) due to the applied external force. Thus, the robot apparatus (1) can learn an action taught by the user and determine an external force-caused signal to make the taught action.

Abstract: A robot system includes a speech recognition unit for converting speech information into text information, and a database retrieval unit for extracting a keyword included in the text information from a database. By designating a plurality of basic actions on a speech basis, and storing an action record, a combined action formed by combining the plurality of basic actions in time-series order can be named as a new action only in voice-based interaction. A user can designate complicated continuous actions by using only one word, and can easily have a conversation with the robot.

Abstract: Sentences corresponding to internal statuses of a robot device or the like are created and uttered, thereby expressing the internal statuses. The robot device or the like comprise means for recognizing an external status, and means for generating an emotion based on the internals status, whereby a change in the emotion is reflected upon a dialogue. The internal status is not associated with a sentence, but it exists independently of the system and is always varied depending on various external inputs and internal changes of the system. Accordingly, even when the same question is made on the robot device or the like, the contents of a reply are changed depending on the internal status at that time, and a manner of providing a reply also differs depending on the internal status.

Abstract: A robot apparatus (1) includes leg blocks (3A to 3D), head block (4), etc. as a moving part (16), a motion controller (102), learning unit (103), prediction unit (104) and a drive unit (105). When the moving part (106), any of the blocks, is operated from outside, the learning unit (103) learns a time-series signal generated due to the external operation. The motion controller (102) and drive unit (105) control together the moving part (106) based on a signal generated at the moving part (106) due to an external force applied to the robot apparatus (1) and a signal having already been learned by the learning unit (103) to make an action taught by the user. The prediction unit (105) predicts whether the moving part (106) makes the taught action according to the initial signal generated at the moving part (106) due to the applied external force. Thus, the robot apparatus (1) can learn an action taught by the user and determine an external force-caused signal to make the taught action.

Abstract: A gateway object (48) for transmitting and receiving data to and from an object of a robot apparatus (1) is allocated to a radio LAN PC card (41) of the robot apparatus (1), and a gateway object (52) for transmitting and receiving data to and from an object on a personal computer (32) is allocated to a network adapter (31) of a remote system (30). When the radio LAN PC card (41) and the network adapter (31) are connected with each other by radio or wired connection, inter-object communication is carried out between the gateway object (48) of the radio LAN PC card (41) and the gateway object (52) of the network adapter (31), thereby carrying out inter-object communication between the object of the robot apparatus (1) and the object of the personal computer (32). Thus, preparation of a program is facilitated.

Abstract: A robot apparatus causes the emotion in a feeling part (130) to be changed based on the information acquired by a perception part (120) to manifest the behavior of information acquisition as autonomous behavior. The robot apparatus includes a behavior control part for causing the robot apparatus to manifest a language acquisition behavior and a meaning acquisition part. The robot apparatus also includes a control part for performing the behavior control of pointing its object of learning. The robot apparatus causes changes in internal states, which are ascribable to the object, to be stored in a memory part in association with the object.

Abstract: A robot (1) is proposed which includes a speech recognition unit (101) to detect information supplied simultaneously with or just before or after detection of a touch by a touch sensor, an associative memory/recall memory (104) to store action made correspondingly to the touch and input information (speech signal) detected by the speech recognition unit (101) in association with each other, and an action generator (105) to control the robot (1) to make action recalled by the associative memory/recall memory (104) based on a newly acquired input information (speech signal). The robot (1) includes also a sensor data processor (102) to allow the robot (1) to act correspondingly to the touch detection by the touch sensor. Thus, the robot (1) can learn action in association with an input signal such as speech signal.