Abstract: A robot arm has: a drive gear that has a shaft; a gear frame being capable of turning about the shaft of the drive gear; a first follower gear being capable of turning, in synchronization with the drive gear, about a shaft fixed to the gear frame, in a direction opposite to the turning direction of the drive gear; a transmission control mechanism that is capable of locking the first follower gear to the drive gear; an arm that moves in synchronization with the first follower gear; and a collision detection unit that is capable of detecting a collision between the arm and an obstacle. The transmission control mechanism unlocks the follower gear from the drive gear in response to detection, by the collision detection unit, of collision between the arm and the obstacle.

Abstract: A manipulator is provided with an arm, an arm, a holding section, a first joint section pivotally interconnecting the arm and the arm, a second joint section pivotally interconnecting the arm and the holding section, a first joint driving section capable of driving the first joint section, a second joint driving section capable of driving the second joint section, a member specifying section for specifying one of the arms which has a possibility of collision with an obstacle or which has collided with the obstacle, and a control device for controlling the first joint driving section and the second joint driving section to pivotally move the one of the arms specified by the member specifying section in a direction away from the obstacle, and pivotally move the other of the arms in a direction toward the obstacle.

Abstract: The transfer assist device has a supporter for lifting a human body placed on the placement base, joint portions for changing the posture of the supporter landing sensors for detecting whether the lower surface of the supporter has landed onto a placement surface, a leg portion for moving the supporter up and down, and a control section for controlling pivotal movements of the joint portions or an elevating movement of the leg portion based on outputs from the landing sensors. The control section is operable to move at least one of the joint portions and the leg portion so as to define and hold at least one of a parallel state and an adjusted state between the placement surface of the placement base and the lower surface of the supporter, based on the outputs from the landing sensors.

Abstract: An inverted two-wheel guided vehicle is provided with a vehicle body 4 including a loading platform, a carriage 5 supported on wheels 1a, 1b, a moving mechanism 7 for displacing relative positions of the vehicle body 4 and the carriage 5, an inclination sensor 6 for detecting the posture of the vehicle body 4, and a controller 9 for controllably driving the wheels 1a, 1b and the moving mechanism 7. Since a posture control can be executed such that a seat 8 atop the vehicle body 4 is constantly horizontal by displacing the moving mechanism forward and backward even for a slope or a step in a travel path, a stable travel can be realized by preventing the collapse of baggage piles and giving no discomfort to a loaded person.

Abstract: It is aimed to provide a manipulator capable of reducing a colliding force exerted to an obstacle even in the case where the manipulator collides without being able to avoid a collision with the obstacle. A manipulator 1 includes an arm unit 3 rotatably provided on a main unit 2. A posture detector 10 executes a control to incline the arm unit 3 obliquely backward with respect to a moving direction P when the main unit 2 of the manipulator 1 is moved. Thus, the arm unit 3 collides with an obstacle 11 in an inclined state, wherefore a colliding force exerted to the obstacle 11 can be distributed.

Abstract: In order to protect a content holder, a server device (20) holds a content and distribution control information specifying a number of terminals to which the same part of the content can be streamed at the same time. When a playback request pertaining to the content is received from a plurality of terminals, distribution of the content to the terminals is controlled such that the number of terminals specified in the distribution control information is not exceeded.

Abstract: A structure is provided with a first member at a base end side, a third member at a leading end side, a second member arranged between the first and third members, and a coupling force generator for generating a first coupling force for pressing an end surface of the first member and that of the second member against each other and a second coupling force for pressing an end surface of the second member and that of the third member against each other. In this structure, the first and third members are relatively displaced upon the application of an external force larger than a coupling force generated between the end surface of the first member and that of the second member by the first coupling force, whereas the second and third members are relatively displaced upon the application of an external force larger than a coupling force generated between the end surface of the second member and that of the first member by the second coupling force.

Abstract: It is aimed to provide a cooking assistance robot and a cooking assistance method capable of efficient mixing, with which ingredients are unlikely to be unevenly heated. A cooking assistance robot for cooking by physically moving ingredients in a cooking container selects a mixing direction for leveling a mountain and performs a mountain leveling operation in the selected mixing direction in the presence of a mountain of a specified height or higher in the cooking container.

Abstract: A content management system constructed by a plurality of storage apparatuses that can communicate with one another. A 1st storage apparatus, which is one of the storage apparatuses, stores therein, in correspondence, a content and copy destination information and sends the content and the copy destination information therefrom to a 2nd storage apparatus, which is another one of the storage apparatuses. Yet another one of the storage apparatuses that is indicated by the copy destination information stores therein, in correspondence, the content and copy source information and, after the 1st storage apparatus has sent the content and the copy destination information to the 2nd storage apparatus, rewrite the copy source information such that the copy source information indicates the 2nd storage apparatus.

Abstract: An autonomous mobile device has its movement controlled by a control device and includes a first sensing unit for sensing an obstacle. The control device includes a first storage unit for storing information as to a temporary positional fluctuation of the obstacle and sets as a virtual obstacle region a region where it is predicted that the obstacle sensed by the first sensing unit travels following a predetermined time passage based on the information as to the temporary positional fluctuation of the obstacle stored in the first storage unit.

Abstract: To provide a backup management device that deletes a content so as to be restorable in the future while protecting a copyright of the content, in a case where there exists a backup of the content. In an HD recorder 100, a first information storage unit 102 stores a content, a second information storage unit 103 stores a backup of the content, a secure storage unit 104 stores a hash value of the content. If receiving an instruction to delete the content so as to be restorable, a control unit 113 deletes the content from the first information storage unit 102. When the content is played back, an encryption processing unit 109 applies a calculation to the content to generate detection information, and the control unit 113 compares the hash value with the detection information to judge whether the content has been tampered.

Abstract: When a PC 20 transmits a content request to a device registration apparatus 10 in which a permitted number of devices have already been registered, an expiration time management unit 105 judges whether any registration information registered in a registration list management unit 102 has an exceeded registration expiration time. If registration information with an exceeded registration expiration time is registered in the registration list management unit 102, the registration list management unit 102 deletes this registration information, and newly registers registration information of the PC 20.

Abstract: The confidential data protection apparatus that restricts use of confidential data to a particular place, thereby satisfying high security. When the confidential data is encrypted, the image data acquisition unit 1004 captures an image in the particular place using a camera module, the place-specific code generation unit 1007 generates a place-specific code using data of the captured image, the encryption processing unit 1009 encrypts the confidential data using the place-specific code, which is deleted after use. When the confidential data is attempted to be used, the image data acquisition unit 1004 uses the camera module again to capture another image in a place where the confidential data is attempted to be used, and the place-specific code generation unit 1007 uses data of the newly captured image to generate a new place-specific code. The encryption processing unit 1009 uses the new place-specific code in an attempt to decrypt the confidential data that has been encrypted.

Abstract: A receiving unit 200 receives, from broadcast stations (10, 11), EPG information related to all the programs to be broadcast on a plurality of channels. A program recommendation unit (300) extracts, from the programs indicated in the EPG information, a recommended program, which is estimated to meet the user's preferences, in accordance with history of program recording or program viewing by the user. A subscription suggestion unit (400) counts the broadcast frequency for each of the channels of recommended programs and for each day, and then compares the counting result with a threshold value, thereby suggesting to the user, via a display unit (20), that he or she makes or cancels any one of subscriptions to the channels in accordance with the broadcast frequency of recommended programs.

Abstract: A processing apparatus is connected to a network and has a content recording/playback function. The processing apparatus stores therein, in correspondence, (i) statuses of the recording/playback process and (ii) computer virus-handling processes to be performed if the detection unit detects a computer virus. If the computer virus is detected, the processing apparatus performs one of the computer virus-handling processes in correspondence with one of the statuses of the recording/playback processes.

Abstract: To provide a playback device that plays back a content recorded in an optical disc in conjunction with execution of an application supplied by a server. The playback device includes a disc region code detection unit 2 operable to detect a region code from the optical disc; an application region code estimation unit 9 operable to estimate a region code assigned to the application based on an address of the server; a restriction unit 12 operable, if a region code assigned to the playback device, the region code detected from the optical disc, and the estimated region code assigned to the application do not match each other, to restrict the playback of the content in conjunction with the execution of the application.

Abstract: Each lifting portion includes a fixing portion and a sliding portion slidable relative to the fixing portion. The sliding portion has a placing surface on which a cared person can be placed, and the fixing portion includes an input portion used to input an operation instruction. The input portion can be located at a first position and a second position located more backward relative to the placing surface than the first position in a direction away from the cared person. Therefore, burdens of a carer can be reduced at the time of lifting up the cared person.

Abstract: A content of Copy Once cannot be copied to an external device or the like, even for the purpose of making a backup. This is inconvenient for the user. However, if copying to another device for the purpose of making a backup is permitted, the content may be copied in an unauthorized manner. The present invention provides the hard disk recorder 100 that transmits the content to the backup device 500, sets an expiration time in the content stored in the hard disk recorder 100 itself, and deletes the content stored in the hard disk recorder 100 itself after the expiration time expires.

Abstract: A loading/unloading unit is formed with an oblique surface and an upper surface having contact areas to come into contact with a cared person, and the oblique surface and the upper surface of the loading/unloading unit are vibrated in a load direction and an unload direction upon loading the cared person on the loading/unloading unit or unloading the cared person from the loading/unloading unit. Therefore, a transfer apparatus can safely transfer the cared person while preventing an occurrence of the entanglement of the hair and the like of the cared person.