The present technology relates to an autonomous mobile body, an information processing method, a program, and an information processing device, by which a user experience based on an output sound of the autonomous mobile body can be improved. The autonomous mobile body includes a recognition section that recognizes a paired device that is paired with the autonomous mobile body, and a sound control section that changes a control method for an output sound to be outputted from the autonomous mobile body, on the basis of a recognition result of the paired device, and controls the output sound in accordance with the changed control method. The present technology is applicable to a robot, for example.

A method of controlling a movement of a hybrid robot including a locomotion stimulation device carried by an animal includes monitoring, via a positioning component the locomotion stimulation device, a position and an orientation of the hybrid robot; providing, via a stimulator of the locomotion stimulation device, a stimulus to the animal based on an angular difference between the orientation with respect to a direct path from the position to a predetermined destination to control the movement of the hybrid robot; monitoring, via the positioning component, one or a combination of a displacement, a velocity or an acceleration of the hybrid robot in response to the stimulus; ceasing provision of the stimulus to the animal in response to the one or the combination of the displacement, the velocity or the acceleration being below a corresponding pre-defined minimum so as to allow the animal to roam freely.

An autonomous electronic bicycle comprises a frame, a wheel that can be powered by a first electronic motor, and a pedal assembly connected to a pedal motor. The pedal assembly is not mechanically connected to the wheel, but the autonomous electronic bicycle simulates a mechanical connection by powering the rear wheel proportional to the user's pedaling force. The autonomous electronic bicycle uses a virtual gear ratio based on the cadence of the rider, the current incline of the bicycle, and the current speed of the bicycle. The virtual gear ratio can be a ratio between a torque of the set of pedals and a torque of the wheel.

An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a sub-goal setting unit, a local-route planning unit, and a speed planning unit. The sub-goal setting unit sets a sub-goal on the basis of environment information including position information of a set destination, map information of a travel environment of a mobile apparatus, and self-position information of the mobile apparatus. The local-route planning unit plans a movement route of the mobile apparatus on the basis of the sub-goal. The speed planning unit plans a speed of the mobile apparatus at an end point of a route extended by a predetermined length from the sub-goal.

A utility vehicle includes: a travel structure including a front wheel, a rear wheel, a steering structure mounted to the front wheel, and a drive source that drives the front wheel and/or the rear wheel; circuitry that controls the travel structure to effect autonomous travel without manned operation in a given travel area; a route setter that sets a travel route for the autonomous travel; a vehicle location detector that detects a location of the utility vehicle; and a target detector that detects a monitoring target in the travel area. In case that the monitoring target is detected at a location during the autonomous travel, the circuitry stores the location of the monitoring target as history information. The route setter sets a reference point at the location where the monitoring target was detected and sets the travel route based on the reference point.

A vehicle control method to be executed by a controller for controlling a vehicle that travels in an area including a plurality of floors, wherein the controller is configured to: in a case where detecting occurrence of a disaster and determining that a floor on which the vehicle exists is different from a floor on which a first evacuation place being a priority evacuation place exists, set a destination to a second evacuation place existing on a floor that is a same as the floor on which the vehicle exists; and cause the vehicle to move to the second evacuation place.

A mobile omnidirectional device having a base support, four wheels pivotally connected to the base support, each wheel being driven by a drive motor, a controller for individually controlling each of the drive motors, and a power source for powering the controller and the drive motors. The device provides a zero inch turning radius and can be configured as a jib hoist or a rolling transportation cart.

A user interacts with an autonomous mobile device (AMD) using a voice user interface. The voice user interface allows a user to instruct the AMD to move, stop, go to a specified location, and so forth. The commands may include, but are not limited to: stop, stop moving, move, turn, go to, stay here, go away, and so forth. In one implementation, if the AMD is instructed by the user to go away, the AMD may move out of sight of the user from a first region to another region, such as another room. The AMD will avoid traversing the first region until a timer expires or a command to enter the first region is given.

A personal modular trunk and a modular trunk system employing the personal modular trunk for reducing privacy issues and inconveniences that may arise when a vehicle is shared. The personal modular trunk includes: a trunk body; a first communication unit installed in the trunk body and configured to communicate with a vehicle; a first driving unit installed in the trunk body and configured to transport the trunk body; a first engagement unit installed in the trunk body and configured to engage or disengage with a loading space of the vehicle; and a first control unit configured to control the first communication unit to communicate with the vehicle, control the first driving unit to transport the trunk body toward the vehicle, and control the first engagement unit to engage or disengage with the loading space of the vehicle so that the trunk body is coupled to or separated from the vehicle.

A communication apparatus includes a display part, a display output part, and a control part. A plurality of face patterns are switched and displayed on the display part. The display output part is capable of outputting a face pattern to the display part. The control part controls, in accordance with a change of the face pattern which is output by the display output part, a different operation of a communication apparatus main body than the change of the face pattern.