Abstract:
The present invention relates to a robot and a control method adapted for the robot. The method includes a) measuring time; b) performing a normal biological action when the time reaches a beginning time of a biological function; c) judging whether an instruction is received while during the biological function; d) if the instruction is received while during the biological function, fetching an action adjustment parameter of the biological function and performing an output; e) after the output is finished, resuming performing the normal biological action; and f) stopping the normal biological action when the time reaches an ending time of the biological function.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The disclosure relates to a robot and, more particularly, to a robot and a control method adapted for the robot. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     There are a variety of robots on the market today, such as electronic toys, electronic pets, and the like. Some robots can simulate biological functions. For example, a robot may close its eyes to simulate sleeping. What is needed though, is a robot that can respond to instructions from a user related to the simulated biological functions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the robot. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a hardware infrastructure of a robot in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an example of a biological function table of the robot of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an example of an output adjustment table of the robot of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a control method implemented by the robot of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a hardware infrastructure of a robot in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The robot  1  has a repertoire of actions that simulate biological functions. The actions may include body actions and/or sounds. The robot  1  may be programmed to simulate the biological functions according to a schedule and may also receive instructions from a user. 
     The robot  1  includes a storage unit  10 , a clock unit  20 , an input unit  30 , an output unit  40 , and a processing unit  50 . The storage unit  10  stores an action database  110 , a biological function table  120  of the robot  1 , and an output adjustment table  130  of the robot  1 . The action database  110  stores a list of normal biological actions and predetermined actions to be performed by the robot  1 . The robot  1  performs the normal biological actions during the biological functions. When the robot  1  is not during the biological functions and receives the instructions from the user, the robot  1  performs the predetermined actions. 
       FIG. 2  is an example of the biological function table  120  of the robot of  FIG. 1 . The biological function table  120  stores relationships among biological functions of the robot  1 , time periods, and normal biological actions. The biological function table  120  of the robot  1  includes a biological function column, a time period column, and a normal biological action column. The biological function column records a plurality of biological functions of the robot  1 , such as “sleeping,” “eating,” and the like. 
     Each of the biological functions is assigned a time period. The time period column records a time period of each biological function of the robot  1 . Each time period includes a beginning time and an ending time. For example, 23:00 pm is the beginning time and 8:00 am is the ending time of the “sleeping” biological function. At 23:00 pm the robot  1  begins the “sleeping” biological function, and at 8:00 am the robot  1  ends the “sleeping” biological function. The normal biological action column records a normal biological action of each biological function performed by the robot  1 . Once the robot  1  enters a biological function, the robot  1  performs the normal biological action of the biological function until the ending time of the biological function comes. 
       FIG. 3  is an example of the output adjustment table  130  of the robot of  FIG. 1 . The output adjustment table  130  stores relationships among the biological functions, user instructions, action adjustment parameters, and outputs. The output adjustment table  130  includes the biological function column (the same as in  FIG. 2 ), a user instruction column, an action adjustment parameter column, and an output column. The user instruction column records a plurality of instructions from the input unit  30  in response to user input during the biological functions, such as a “touch head” instruction during the “sleeping” biological function, a “how are you” sound instruction during the “eating” biological function, and the like. In this way a user can vary the robots performance of actions in an entertaining or educational way, rather than solely relying on the robots schedule. 
     The action adjustment parameter column records an action adjustment parameter of each of the biological functions. For example, the action adjustment parameter of the “sleeping” biological function is assigned “action/sound slowly,” and the action adjustment parameter of the “eating” biological function is assigned “action slowly and sound lower.” The output column records a plurality of outputs to be performed by the robot  1 . When the robot  1  receives an instruction from the input unit  30  during a biological function, the processing unit  50  performs an output according to the action adjustment parameter of the biological function and pauses the normal biological action of the biological function. For example, when the robot  1  receives the “touch head” instruction from the input unit  30  while during the “sleeping” biological function, the processing unit  50  controls the robot  1  to open eyes and walk slowly. When the robot  1  receives the “how are you” sound instruction from the input unit  30  while during the “eating” biological function, the processing unit  50  controls the robot  1  to stand up and say “not bad” quietly. If the robot  1  is not during the biological functions and receives the “touch head” instruction from the input unit  30 , the processing unit  50  only controls the robot  1  to walk in an average speed. 
     The clock unit  20  is configured for measuring time. The input unit  30  is configured for generating the instructions in response to user input. The output unit  40  is configured for outputting an action. The processing unit  50  further includes a management module  510 , a judgment module  520 , and a performing module  530 . The management module  510 , connected to the clock unit  20 , is configured for managing each biological function of the robot  1 . When the time of the clock unit  20  reaches a beginning time of a biological function, the management module  510  fetches a normal biological action of the biological function from the biological function table  120  and controls the performing module  530  to begin performing the normal biological action defined in the action database  110 , and the output unit  40  begins outputting the normal biological action. When the time of the clock unit  20  reaches an ending time of the biological function, the management module  510  finishes the biological function and controls the performing module  530  to stop the normal biological action. 
     The judgment module  520  is configured for judging whether the input unit  30  generates the instructions in response to user input during the biological functions. If the input unit  30  generates an instruction while during a biological function, the judgment module  520  controls the performing module  530  to pause the normal biological action of the biological function, and fetches the action adjustment parameter of the biological function from the output adjustment table  130  and controls the performing module  530  to perform an output according to the action adjustment parameter, the output unit  40  outputs the output. 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a control method implemented by the robot of  FIG. 1 . In step S 400 , the clock unit  20  measures time. In step S 140 , the time of the clock unit  20  reaches the beginning time of the biological function. In step S 420 , the management module  510  fetches a normal biological action of the biological function from the biological function table  120  and controls the performing module  530  to begin performing the normal biological action defined in the action database  110 , and the output unit  40  outputs the normal biological action. In step S 430 , the judgment module  520  judges whether the instruction from the input unit  30  is received while during the biological function. If the instruction is not received during the biological function, the procedure returns to step S 420 . 
     If the instruction is received while during the biological function, in step S 440 , the judgment module  520  fetches the action adjustment parameter of the biological function from the output adjustment table  130  and controls the performing module  530  to perform the output according to the action adjustment parameter. In step S 450 , after the output is finished, the judgment module  520  controls the performing module  530  to resume performing the normal biological action of the biological function. In step S 460 , when the time of the clock unit  20  reaches the ending time of the biological function, the management module  510  controls the performing module  530  to stop the normal biological action. 
     It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus, the present examples and embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.