Empathy toward a robot is increased by the robot emulating human-like or animal-like behavior. A robot includes a movement determining unit that determines a direction of movement, an action determining unit that selects a gesture from multiple kinds of gesture, and a drive mechanism that executes a specified movement and gesture. When a user enters a hall, an external sensor installed in advance detects a return home, and notifies the robot via a server that the user has returned home. The robot heads to the hall, and welcomes the user home by performing a gesture indicating goodwill, such as sitting down and raising an arm.

The toy includes a body section including flexible limbs and a head section rotatably coupled with the body section having eyes and eye lids. A speaker and a motor to rotate the head section are provided along with an eyes blink actuator which moves the eye lids. A touch sensor and a sound sensor for detecting sound in the vicinity of the toy are included. A rotational motion sensor detects rotational motion of the toy about selected axes. A memory is provided for storing a plurality of physical animations. A processor, coupled with the speaker, motor, eyes blink actuator, touch sensor, sound sensor, rotation motion sensor and the memory, selects at least one physical animation corresponding to signals received from the touch sensor, sound sensor and rotational motion sensor. The processor produces signals corresponding to the selected physical animation for the speaker, the motor and/or the eyes blink actuator.

The toy includes a body section including flexible limbs and a head section rotatably coupled with the body section having eyes and eye lids. A speaker and a motor to rotate the head section are provided along with an eyes blink actuator which moves the eye lids. A touch sensor and a sound sensor for detecting sound in the vicinity of the toy are included. A rotational motion sensor detects rotational motion of the toy about selected axes. A memory is provided for storing a plurality of physical animations. A processor, coupled with the speaker, motor, eyes blink actuator, touch sensor, sound sensor, rotation motion sensor and the memory, selects at least one physical animation corresponding to signals received from the touch sensor, sound sensor and rotational motion sensor. The processor produces signals corresponding to the selected physical animation for the speaker, the motor and/or the eyes blink actuator.

The use of compositions comprising a papaya mosaic virus (PapMV) moiety for stimulation of the innate immune response is provided. The PapMV moiety may be papaya mosaic virus or PapMV virus-like particles (VLPs). The PapMV compositions stimulate a sufficiently strong innate immune response to provide protection against subsequent pathogen challenge or to treat an established infection. The use of PapMV compositions to protect a subject from potential infection by a pathogen, such as a viral pathogen, a bacterial pathogen or a fungal pathogen, and the use of PapMV compositions to treat an established infection, are also provided. The PapMV compositions be administered, for example, via intranasal or pulmonary routes to elicit effects within the mucosa and/or in the respiratory system.

A toy, such as a teddy bear, that communicates with a video playing system to project visual images, including moving images and that outputs an audio signal to lull a child to sleep is provided. The system can project the images and provide the sound or can transmit data to peripheral devices for providing the visual images and the audio signal. A remote control for allowing a parent to monitor the progress of the playback is also provided.

A patient simulator having a right eye assembly including a right pupil, a right eyelid assembly including a right eyelid, a left eye assembly including a left pupil, a left eyelid assembly including a left eyelid, a transmitter configured to transmit a signal toward an object placed in front of the patient simulator, a sensor configured to sense a signal reflected off the object, and a microprocessor configured to determine a location of the object based on the sensed signal, and to effect movement of one or more of the right pupil, the right eyelid, the left eye, or the left eyelid based on the determined location of the object.

Putting clothes on a robot is facilitated. A robot includes an operation control unit that selects a motion, a drive mechanism that executes the selected motion, a mode setting unit that sets a mode of the robot, and a power supply control unit. The operation control unit restricts a torque of an actuator included in the drive mechanism when a clothes changing mode is set, and the power supply control unit maintains energization of an electronic circuit that realizes a function of the operation control unit, even while in the clothes changing mode.

An apparatus for controlling a puppet to obtain a desired position or expression, with a mounting plate having a plurality of rod apertures. A plurality of ball braces are secured to the mounting plate, each having a pair of ball apertures. A plurality of balls and rods are provided. Each ball is positioned between one of the ball apertures and rod apertures. Each rod extending through one of the balls and through one of the ball apertures and one of the rod apertures. Each rod contacting an action point on a puppet for manipulating the puppet through rotating and twisting of the ball, and longitudinal movement of the rod. The ball braces may be locked and unlocked, such that when locked, the associated ball and rod are held in position to maintain a facial expression at the action point.

An apparatus for controlling a puppet to obtain a desired position or expression, with a mounting plate having a plurality of rod apertures. A plurality of ball braces are secured to the mounting plate, each having a pair of ball apertures. A plurality of balls and rods are provided. Each ball is positioned between one of the ball apertures and rod apertures. Each rod extending through one of the balls and through one of the ball apertures and one of the rod apertures. Each rod contacting an action point on a puppet for manipulating the puppet through rotating and twisting of the ball, and longitudinal movement of the rod. The ball braces may be locked and unlocked, such that when locked, the associated ball and rod are held in position to maintain a facial expression at the action point.

In an aspect, a storage device is provided and includes a container including an exterior surface and an opening therethrough. The storage device further includes at least one movable facial feature element. The storage device further includes an actuator operatively connected to the at least one movable facial feature element for driving movement of the at least one movable facial feature element. The storage device further includes a closure structure extending along the opening, and a traveler that is movably mounted to the closure structure for movement between a first traveler position and a second traveler position to open or close the closure structure. A coupling arrangement connects the traveler to the actuator such that movement of the traveler drives movement of the actuator, which in turn drives movement of the at least one movable facial feature element.