Abstract: A robot apparatus includes: a grasping section configured to grasp an object; a recognition section configured to recognize a graspable part and a handing-over area part of the object; a grasp planning section configured to plan a path of the grasping section for handing over the object to a recipient by the handing-over area part; and a grasp control section configured to control grasp operation of the object by the grasping section in accordance with the planned path.

Abstract: A rotary connector, comprises an annular rotary body inserted outside a steering shaft and integrally rotated with a steering wheel, a rotator of a steering angle sensor inserted outside the steering shaft; and a tubular joint inserted outside the steering shaft and connecting the rotary body to the rotator; wherein the rotary body and the joint are connected together by a first universal joint, and the joint and the rotator are connected together by a second universal joint.

Abstract: Disclosed is a chemical thermal energy storage material structure, including a granular chemical thermal energy storage material, a clay mineral having a layered ribbon structure, and a complex metal silicate that is generated by a reaction between the above-mentioned chemical thermal energy storage material and the above-mentioned clay mineral and that includes at least one type of alkaline earth metal.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an image analyzing unit performing a process of analyzing an image shot by a camera, a voice analyzing unit performing a process of analyzing voice input from a microphone, and a data processing unit receiving inputs of an analysis result of the image analyzing unit and an analysis result of the voice analyzing unit and controlling information to be output to a user. The data processing unit determines an output mode of the information to be provided to the user based on user information obtained from at least either one of the image analysis result and the voice analysis result, and system state information, and outputs the information to the user in the determined output mode.

Abstract: The present invention provides a robot apparatus that can perform appropriate actions in accordance with the ambient conditions, and a method of controlling the behavior of the robot apparatus.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an image analyzing unit performing a process of analyzing an image shot by a camera, a voice analyzing unit performing a process of analyzing voice input from a microphone, and a data processing unit receiving inputs of an analysis result of the image analyzing unit and an analysis result of the voice analyzing unit and controlling information to be output to a user. The data processing unit determines an output mode of the information to be provided to the user based on user information obtained from at least either one of the image analysis result and the voice analysis result, and system state information, and outputs the information to the user in the determined output mode.

Abstract: Information processing apparatus in which information such as images and sounds of an external environment are processed for analyzing a position, identity, and the like of a person who is uttering words; information processing methods for executing the analysis processing in an information processing apparatus; and computer-readable media for causing an information processing apparatus to execute analysis processing are disclosed.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a plurality of information input units that inputs observation information of a real space, an event detection unit that generates event information including estimated position information and estimated identification (ID) information of a user present in the real space based on analysis of the information input from the information input unit, and an information integration processing unit that inputs the event information, and generates target information including a position and user ID information of each user based on the input event information and signal information representing a probability value for an event generating source. Here, the information integration processing unit includes an utterance source probability calculation unit having an identifier, and calculates an utterance source probability based on input information using the identifier in the utterance source probability calculation unit.

Abstract: Provided is an information processing apparatus including: a voice analysis unit which performs an analysis process for a user speech; and a data processing unit which is input with analysis results of the voice analysis unit to determine a process which is to be performed by the information processing apparatus, wherein in the case where a factor of inhibiting process continuation occurs in a process based on the user speech, the data processing unit performs a process of generating and outputting feedback information corresponding to a process stage in which the factor of inhibiting occurs.

Abstract: An information processing device includes an audio-based speech recognition processing unit which is input with audio information as observation information of a real space, executes an audio-based speech recognition process, thereby generating word information that is determined to have a high probability of being spoken, an image-based speech recognition processing unit which is input with image information as observation information of the real space, analyzes mouth movements of each user included in the input image, thereby generating mouth movement information, an audio-image-combined speech recognition score calculating unit which is input with the word information and the mouth movement information, executes a score setting process in which a mouth movement close to the word information is set with a high score, thereby executing a score setting process, and an information integration processing unit which is input with the score and executes a speaker specification process.

Abstract: A speech recognition device includes a sound source separation unit configured to separate a mixed signal of outputs of a plurality of sound sources into signals corresponding to individual sound sources and generate separation signals of a plurality of channels; a speech recognition unit configured to input the separation signals of the plurality of channels, the separation signals being generated by the sound source separation unit, perform a speech recognition process, generate a speech recognition result corresponding to each channel, and generate additional information serving as evaluation information on the speech recognition result corresponding to each channel; and a channel selection unit configured to input the speech recognition result and the additional information, calculate a score of the speech recognition result corresponding to each channel by applying the additional information, and select and output a speech recognition result having a high score.

Abstract: The invention has for its object to provide a colloidal crystal gel with which any enclosure structure is dispensed with, its production process, and an optical device using the same. The colloidal crystal gel (100) of the invention is characterized in that fine particles (110) are self-organizingly and periodically lined up in a polymer gel (120), and an ion liquid (130) is contained in the polymer gel (120). The production process is characterized in that after the fine particles (110) are self-organizingly and periodically lined up and fixed by the polymer gel (12), the polymer gel is impregnated with the ion liquid (130). The optical device is characterized in that the colloidal crystal gel is used for control of transmission, reflection and diffraction of light and for frequency conversion of light. See FIG. 1.

Abstract: The invention has for its object to provide an apparatus and process for fabricating an artificial opal film having a uniform thickness yet a large area, and provides an artificial opal film fabrication apparatus, in which a substrate (S1) coated with a suspension film (S2) having fine particles dispersed in it is located in a stage (10), and a dispersive medium of the suspension is evaporated off thereby crystallizing the fine particles to fabricate an artificial opal film, characterized by comprising a scraper (20) for adjusting the thickness of the suspension film, and a stage (10) that is movable relative thereto in a constant horizontal direction, wherein the substrate attached to that stage is positioned such that when the stage (10) moves horizontally, the thickness of the suspension film (S2) coated on that substrate (S1) and in an uncrystalliation state is controlled by the scraper (20), and crystallization by evaporation of the dispersive medium of the suspension is set off after the suspension film

Abstract: In a robot device, an action selecting/control system includes a plurality of elementary action modules each of which outputs an action when selected. An activation level calculation unit calculates an activation level AL of each elementary action on the basis of information from an internal-state manager and external-stimulus recognition unit and with reference to a data base. An action selector selects an elementary action whose activation level AL is highest as an action to be implemented. Each action is associated with a predetermined internal state and external stimulus. The activation level calculation unit calculates an activation level AL of each action on the basis of a predicted satisfaction level variation based on the level of an instinct for an action corresponding to an input internal state and a predicted internal-state variation predictable based on an input external stimulus.

Abstract: Prior colloidal crystal preparation means requires much workmanship to obtain colloidal crystals, relying much on the expertise of an operator. To utilize colloidal crystals in various fields and develop them from now on, it is in demand to establish preparation means capable of preparing colloidal crystals with good reproducibility. The object of the invention is to meet such demand. A gas compressed in a compressor (1) is controlled by a gas pulse controller (3) to generate compressed air pulses, and the pulses are then guided to a colloidal crystal preparation vessel (6) having a flat plate type capillary portion to produce a pressure fluctuation, which is in turn used as driving power, thereby giving a flow and hard-stopping motion to a colloidal solution in the flat plate type capillary for formation of colloidal crystals of good single crystallinity.

Abstract: A rotary connector, comprises an annular rotary body inserted outside a steering shaft and integrally rotated with a steering wheel, a rotator of a steering angle sensor inserted outside the steering shaft; and a tubular joint inserted outside the steering shaft and connecting the rotary body to the rotator; wherein the rotary body and the joint are connected together by a first universal joint, and the joint and the rotator are connected together by a second universal joint.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a plurality of information input units inputting information including image information or sound information in a real space, an event detection unit analyzing input information from the information input units so as to generate event information including estimated position information and estimated identification information of users present in the real space, and an information integration processing unit setting hypothesis data regarding user existence and position information and user identification information of the users in the real space and updating and selecting hypothesis data based on the event information so as to generate analysis information including user existence and position information and user identification information of the users in the real space.

Abstract: A learning apparatus for building a network structure of a Bayesian network based on learning data. In the Bayesian network, a cause and effect relationship between plural nodes is represented by a directed graph. The learning apparatus includes a storage portion in which the learning data is stored and a learning portion for building the network structure based on the learning data. The learning portion prepares an initial population of individuals formed by individuals each having a genotype in which orders between the nodes and cause and effect relationship have been stipulated, repeatedly performs processing for crossovers and/or mutations on the initial population of individuals based on a genetic algorithm, calculates an evaluated value of each individual based on the learning data, searches for an optimum one of the individuals, and takes a phenotype of the optimum individual as the network structure.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes information input units, an event detecting unit, and an information-integration processing unit. Observed values including user identification data are obtained based on image and sound information from the information input units such as a camera and a microphone. Target data set with plural user confidence factors is updated and user identification is then performed. The user identification information in the observed values is used for updating the simultaneous occurrence probability of candidate data by which targets are corresponded with respective users. The updated value of such probability is used for calculating the user confidence factors corresponding to the targets.

Abstract: A learning apparatus for building a network structure of a Bayesian network based on learning data. In the Bayesian network, a cause and effect relationship between plural nodes is represented by a directed graph. The learning apparatus includes storage means in which the learning data is stored; and learning means for building the network structure based on the learning data. The learning means prepares an initial population of individuals constituted by individuals each having a genotype in which orders between the nodes and cause and effect relationship have been stipulated, repeatedly performs processing for crossovers and/or mutations on the initial population of individuals based on a genetic algorithm, calculates an evaluated value of each of the individuals based on the learning data, searches for an optimum one of the individuals, and takes a phenotype of the optimum individual as the network structure.