System and method for robotic assisted wig construction

Abstract

The invention of the present disclosure includes methods for constructing wigs wherein an at least one effector attached to a robotic arm of a robot is positioned proximate to a wig cap; and the effector is then operated to fixedly attach an at least one hair to the wig cap.

1 . A method for constructing a wig comprising: 
 (a) positioning an at least one effector attached to a robotic arm of a robot proximate to a wig cap; and    (b) operating the effector to fixedly attach an at least one hair to the wig cap.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one hair is attached to the wig cap through a latch hook technique.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the three-dimensional position of the wig cap relative to the effector is registered with a controller of the robot.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the registration is obtained through at least two cameras via a triangulation technique.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the effector further comprises more than one mechanical device.  
   
   
       6 . A method for constructing a wig comprising: 
 (a) localizing the three-dimensional position of a wig cap with respect to an at least one effector attached to a robotic arm of a robot;    (b) operating the effector to retrieve the at least one hair from a hair staging area;    (c) operating the effector to fixedly attach the at least one hair retrieved from the hair staging area to a location on the wig cap specified by a controller of the robot.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the at least one hair is attached to the wig cap through a latch hook technique.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the three-dimensional position of the wig cap is localized through a video registration technique.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the position of the wig cap after the video registration is displayed as an image on a monitor.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the image is overlaid with a second image.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the three-dimensional position of the wig cap is localized through the use of an at least one universal connecter that positions a wig cap holder in a predefined location.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the effector further comprises more than one mechanical device.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the more than one mechanical devices are automatically interchangeable and cooperatively operable for robotically attaching the at least one hair to the wig cap.  
   
   
       14 . A method for constructing a wig comprising: 
 (a) registering the three-dimensional position of a wig cap with respect to an at least one effector attached to a robotic arm of a robot with a controller of the robot;    (b) co-localizing at least one fiduciary marker affixed to a model with positions on the wig cap;    (c) operating the effector to retrieve at least one hair from a hair staging area;    (d) operating the effector to fixedly attach the at least one hair retrieved from the hair staging area to a location on the wig cap in a position specified by its proximity to the co-localized position of the at least one fiduciary marker.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the at least one hair is attached to the wig cap through a latch hook technique.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the model is the individual for which the wig is being constructed.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the effector further comprises more than one mechanical device.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the more than one mechanical devices are automatically interchangeable and cooperatively operable for robotically attaching hair to the wig cap.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the three-dimensional position of the wig cap is registered through a video registration technique.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the position of the wig cap after video registration is displayed as a real-time image on a monitor.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the image is overlaid with a second image which represents the end user of the wig.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the overlaid second image is used to preplan or direct the construction of the wig.