Mobile robot device and method for controlling its operation

Mobile robot device for playing hide-and-seek based on video and distance recognition

This technology is a mobile robot device that performs hide-and-seek scenarios between a robot and a user based on video information from a camera and spatial information from a distance sensor. It features control technology that tracks the user via video during "seeker" mode and plans a path to a concealable location using surrounding obstacle information during "hider" mode.

Existing robot toys with simple combat functions fail to encourage physical activity in users and lack diversity in play, particularly in terms of emotional exchange and interaction between the user and the robot.

This technology proposes a method where a motion controller manages the drive unit based on "seeker" and "hider" modes, utilizing a camera for user recognition and light level detection, and a distance sensor for environmental awareness. It enables emotional interaction with the user by displaying facial expressions on a screen and providing audio feedback through a speaker. It can be applied to educational toys, children's play robots, and emotionally responsive service robots, offering a new direction for the robot toy market by encouraging both physical activity and emotional engagement.

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Key Features:

• An image processing unit that processes camera footage to generate display images, and an image display unit that outputs them
• A distance sensor that measures the distance to surrounding objects and a drive unit that moves the mobile robot device
• A motion control unit that manages the drive unit to perform hide-and-seek based on the captured video and measured distances
• Detects the user via captured video during "seeker" mode and controls the drive unit based on distance values during "hider" mode