Patent ID: 7644059

Claim:
An identification system for identifying objects in an environment by gathering information from the environment near a computer system, the identification system comprising: a first object having a first RFID tag for transmitting first object information about said first object, wherein said first object information includes at least one of a shape, color, weight, symmetry information, fragility, temperature, or object content of said first object; a second object having a second RFID tag for transmitting second object information about said second object, wherein said second object information includes at least one of a shape, color, weight, symmetry information, fragility, temperature, or object content of said second object; and a robot having the computing system, the robot having: visual sensing means for receiving visual information from the environment, antenna means for wirelessly receiving said object information transmitted by said first and second objects, wherein said antenna means receives said first object information directly from said first object and said antenna means receives said second object information directly from said second object, and means for combining said visual information and said object information to identify said first and second objects and to make a first decision about at least one of said first or second objects; output means for generating an output signal based upon said first decision; a manipulator, disposed to receive said output signal, said manipulator physically manipulates at least one of said first and second objects in response to said output signal.