A game played on a billiards/pool/snooker table is provided that includes at least one robot assigned to temporally to one of two or more players, or two or more robots, each assigned uniquely to each of the two or more players. A remote controller is in electrical or wireless communication with the at least one robot or the two or more robots, each of the individually two or more remote controllers assigned to the two or more players for control of the two or more robots. Two or more color-coded or numbered balls are provided to be engaged by the robots.

A modular sensing device can generate output via one or more output devices. The modular sensing device can include an inertial measurement unit that generates sensor data corresponding to user gestures performed by a user, a wireless communication module, a mode selector enabling the user to select a mode of the modular sensing device out of a plurality of modes, and one or more output devices configured to generate output based on the user gestures and the selected mode. The selected mode configures the manner in which the modular sensing device generates output via the one or more output devices based on the user gestures.

There is provided an information processing device to realize a rich motion expression of an autonomous mobile object by easier attitude control. The information processing device includes: a motion control unit that controls a motion of an autonomous mobile object, wherein the autonomous mobile object includes a wheel that can be stored inside a main body and that can be protruded to an outside of the main body, and the motion control unit keeps a standing state by making the wheel protruded to the outside of the main body and performs driving control of the wheel and attitude control of the autonomous mobile object in movement of the autonomous mobile object, and makes the autonomous mobile object remain still in a seated state during a stop thereof by storing the wheel inside the main body is provided.

A self-propelled device can include at least a wireless interface, a housing, a propulsion mechanism, and a camera. Using the camera, the self-propelled device can generate a video feed and transmit the video feed to a controller device via the wireless interface. The self-propelled device can receive an input from the controller device indicating an object or location in the video feed. In response to the input, the self-propelled device can initiate an autonomous mode to autonomously operate the propulsion mechanism to propel the self-propelled device towards the object or location indicated in the video feed.

A method for updating firmware on a control module of a modular assembly system is provided. Information related to noise sampled from the control module is obtained. A first encryption key is calculated based on the information. Firmware to be updated on the control module is received from a host of the modular assembly system. The firmware is encrypted based on at least a second encryption key. In response to determining that the received firmware can be decrypted, the decrypted firmware is loaded into the control module. At least one of the obtaining, calculating, receiving, determining, and loading is performed by the control module.

A robot includes a main casing, a first spherical cap and a second spherical cap, and a shaft linking the spherical caps. The robot further includes a display, a first driving mechanism causing the first and second spherical caps to be rotated by the shaft, and a second driving mechanism that causes the main casing to be rotated. The robot also includes a control circuit and an electric power source, charged by electric power from an external charger. If the remaining electric power of the electric power source is lower than or equal to a predetermined value, the second driving mechanism is controlled to stop rotation of the main casing, and the first driving mechanism is controlled to switch a rotational direction of the first spherical cap and the second spherical cap, causing the display to be reciprocally moved in a vertical direction.

An embodiment is developed for a cylindrically shaped, elliptical rolling robot that has the ability to morph its outer surface as it rolls. The morphing actuation alters lengths of the major and minor axes, resulting in a torque imbalance that rolls the robot along faster or brakes its motion. A control scheme is implemented, whereby angular position and horizontal velocity are used as feedback to trigger and define morphing actuation. A goal of the control scheme is to cause the robot to follow a given velocity profile comprised of steps and ramps. Equations of motion for the rolling robot are formulated, which include rolling resistance torque caused by deformation of the outer surface tread. A computer program solves the equations of motion, and resulting plots show that by automatically morphing its shape in a periodic fashion, the rolling robot is able to commence from an initial position, achieve constant average velocity and slow itself.

A system includes multiple assembly modules and one or more connectors. Each assembly module includes at least one connection interface, and each connector includes two open ends adapted to fitting into the connection interfaces of the two assembly modules, respectively. Each connector is configured to mechanically and electrically connect two of the assembly modules via the respective connection interfaces of the two assembly modules. The assembly modules include at least a control module having a communication unit and a processor. The communication unit is configured to obtain a set of host instructions from one or more hosts. The processor is configured to generate a set of operation instructions for each assembly module based on at least the set of host instructions.

A self-propelled device includes a spherical housing and an internal drive system. The self-propelled device can further include an internal structure having a magnet holder that holds a first set of magnets and an external accessory comprising a second set of magnets to magnetically interact, through the spherical housing, with the first set magnets.

An automatic mobile robot for facilitating activities to improve both neurotypical and autistic children's intellectual and emotional development is disclosed. The mobile robot has a non-humanoid toy shape, and includes an expressive face perceived as friendly and approachable by autistic children. The mobile robot is durable and safe for children. It includes auto-play, game, and occupational therapy modes. Games and therapeutic activities may be customized to suit each child user's developmental level. The mobile robot includes multiple sensors and components configured to process and express emotion in response to data received from the sensing units and the patterns of the user's interactions with the robot.