Patent ID: 7551980
Filing Date: 2009-06-23
Classification: G05D,G06N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for controlling a movable robot comprising a camera, moving means, and a device for outputting a sound, which comprises: means for recognizing a subject to be followed up, which recognizes the subject on the basis of an image taken by the camera; means for recognizing a distance to from the subject having been recognized by the means for recognizing a subject to be followed up; means for controlling movement, which controls said moving means so as to keep the distance from said movable robot to the subject, having been recognized by said means for recognizing a distance to the subject to be followed up at a predetermined distance; and means for controlling the outputting of a sound, which outputs a sound or a voice related to the distance to the subject, wherein the sound or the voice from the means for controlling the outputting of a sound informs the subject about a situation regarding the distance to the subject, so as to notify the subject to keep the distance from said movable robot to the subject at the predetermined distance, and said notifying operation comprises informing the subject whether it needs to stop moving and wait based on an increase in the actual distance, determined based on the predetermined distance, between the movable robot and the subject.