A virtual creature control system, including: a communication unit configured to receive information of current states of a plurality of virtual creatures and transmit a signal for controlling operations of the plurality of virtual creatures, at least one virtual creature among the plurality of virtual creatures being hardware; and a control unit configured to generate a signal for controlling an operation of the at least one virtual creature among the plurality of virtual creatures such that the plurality of virtual creatures are not visually recognized at a same time by a specific user and control the communication unit such that the signal is transmitted to the one virtual creature. The virtual creature control system and virtual creature control method can control the plurality of virtual creatures in conjunction and promote indirect communication among a plurality of spots using the virtual creatures.

A robot includes a body, a wheel having a ground contacting surface when moving, and a wheel drive mechanism that drives the wheel so as to advance from a housing space provided in the body to an exterior and withdraw. The wheel drive mechanism causes the wheel to withdraw to the housing space in a non-ground contacting state when a housing condition is satisfied. The body has a ground contacting bottom face that comes into contact with the ground when the wheel is housed in the housing space in a non-ground contacting state.

A robot includes a body, a wheel having a ground contacting surface when moving, and a wheel drive mechanism that drives the wheel so as to advance from a housing space provided in the body to an exterior and withdraw. The wheel drive mechanism causes the wheel to withdraw to the housing space in a non-ground contacting state when a housing condition is satisfied. The body has a ground contacting bottom face that comes into contact with the ground when the wheel is housed in the housing space in a non-ground contacting state.

There is provided an information processing apparatus including a reality determiner that determines whether an object detected on the basis of sensing data is a real object or an unreal object, and a controller that performs predetermined control on the basis of a result of the determination made by the reality determiner.

A self-propelled toy, includes a “drive and control” module and a housing in the shape of a dinosaur, animal or human sliding sports player. An axle with wheels is attached to the drive and control module in the housing. A pull-back mechanism includes a motor drive/driven gear that drivingly connects to the axle drive/driven gear, wherein upon pulling back the toy body with the wheels touching the ground, the pull-back mechanism generates and stores mechanical potential energy. Upon release of the toy body, kinetic energy drives the toy in a direction opposite that of the pull-back direction. A controller is connected to the pull-back mechanism and is electrically connected to at least one light emitting diode (LED) in the toy body. When the toy is released to allow the toy to move forward, the LED is powered to generate a light signal and optionally a sound transducer generates a sound.

A self-propelled toy, includes a “drive and control” module and a housing in the shape of a dinosaur, animal or human sliding sports player. An axle with wheels is attached to the drive and control module in the housing. A pull-back mechanism includes a motor drive/driven gear that drivingly connects to the axle drive/driven gear, wherein upon pulling back the toy body with the wheels touching the ground, the pull-back mechanism generates and stores mechanical potential energy. Upon release of the toy body, kinetic energy drives the toy in a direction opposite that of the pull-back direction. A controller is connected to the pull-back mechanism and is electrically connected to at least one light emitting diode (LED) in the toy body. When the toy is released to allow the toy to move forward, the LED is powered to generate a light signal and optionally a sound transducer generates a sound.

A gaming partner can include a body having a head shaped portion and at least one display unit configured to resemble an eye of the character. At least one motor can be located in the body and configured to move a portion of the head shaped portion. A speaker and a microphone can also be associated with the gaming partner. A processor located adjacent the body can be configured to receive trigger information from a gaming/streaming device and/or a separate server. The processor can also be configured to output a signal to at least one of the display unit, the motor, the speaker, and the microphone in coordination with the trigger information such that a user receives information, such as a critique, related to the game in real time based on the signal to the at least one of the display unit, motor, speaker, and microphone.

A gaming partner can include a body having a head shaped portion and at least one display unit configured to resemble an eye of the character. At least one motor can be located in the body and configured to move a portion of the head shaped portion. A speaker and a microphone can also be associated with the gaming partner. A processor located adjacent the body can be configured to receive trigger information from a gaming/streaming device and/or a separate server. The processor can also be configured to output a signal to at least one of the display unit, the motor, the speaker, and the microphone in coordination with the trigger information such that a user receives information, such as a critique, related to the game in real time based on the signal to the at least one of the display unit, motor, speaker, and microphone.

A robot includes an operation control unit that selects a motion of the robot, a drive mechanism that executes a motion selected by the operation control unit, and a remaining battery charge monitoring unit that monitors a remaining charge of a rechargeable battery. Behavioral characteristics of the robot change in accordance with the remaining battery charge. For example, a motion with a small processing load is selected at a probability that is higher the smaller the remaining battery charge. Referring to consumption plan data that define a power consumption pace of the rechargeable battery, the behavioral characteristics of the robot may be caused to change in accordance with a difference between the remaining battery charge scheduled in the consumption plan data and the actual remaining battery charge.

A robot includes an operation control unit that selects a motion of the robot, a drive mechanism that executes a motion selected by the operation control unit, and a remaining battery charge monitoring unit that monitors a remaining charge of a rechargeable battery. Behavioral characteristics of the robot change in accordance with the remaining battery charge. For example, a motion with a small processing load is selected at a probability that is higher the smaller the remaining battery charge. Referring to consumption plan data that define a power consumption pace of the rechargeable battery, the behavioral characteristics of the robot may be caused to change in accordance with a difference between the remaining battery charge scheduled in the consumption plan data and the actual remaining battery charge.