Electronic system with simulated sense perception and method of providing simulated sense perception

Abstract

A method of providing sense perception to an electronic system includes capturing a plurality of data sets, each data set representing an observation of a scene from a different perspective, comparing the data sets to one another to identify invariants in the data sets, comparing the invariants of the data sets to identify objects including the invariants, and outputting data indicative of the identified objects and invariants. The different perspectives can be temporal (e.g., time sequenced), positional (e.g., movement of sensors), or can exhibit some other difference in perspective. The data sets can include data indicative of optical images, sound, and/or any other type of sensory data. In that example, the invariants are data representations of color patches in an optical image. In a particular method, the data sets include data indicative of at least three different types of sense perceptions including, but not limited to, acoustical, optical, and pressure.

1 . A method of providing sense perception to an electronic system, said method comprising:
 capturing a plurality of data sets, each data set representing an observation from a different perspective;   comparing said data sets to one another to identify invariants in said data sets;   comparing said invariants of said data sets to identify objects including said invariants; and   outputting data indicative of said identified objects and invariants.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said different perspectives are temporal. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said different perspectives are positional. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said data sets include data indicative of optical images. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said data sets include data indicative of sound. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said data sets include data indicative of sound. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said data sets include data indicative of at least three different types of sense perceptions. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of comparing said data sets to one another to identify said invariants includes:
 determining the difference in perspective of said data sets;   comparing the data sets using the difference in perspective to determine differences and/or similarities;   grouping particular data satisfying one or more predetermined measurement ranges; and   generating sensation data indicative of said grouped data to represent said invariants.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of identifying objects including said invariants includes:
 determining the difference in perspective of said data sets;   comparing said invariants to determine relative position;   grouping said invariants based on relative position; and   generating object data indicative of said grouped invariants to represent perceived objects.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising integrating all object data and any ungrouped sensation data into a single data structure representative of the observation. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said invariants include color patches in an optical image represented by said data sets. 
     
     
         12 . A system comprising:
 a sensor set;   a sensor interface operative to communicate with said sensor set to capture a plurality of data sets, each data set representing an observation from a different perspective; and   a processing unit for processing data and code, said code including a sense perception routine operative to compare said data sets to one another to identify invariants in said data sets, to compare said invariants of said data sets to identify objects including said invariants, and to provide data indicative of said identified objects and invariants.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said different perspectives are temporal. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said different perspectives are positional. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said sensor set includes an optical sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said sensor set includes an acoustical sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said sensor set includes an acoustical sensor. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 said sensor set includes at least three different types of sensors; and   said data sets include data indicative of at least three different types of sense perceptions.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said sense perception routine is operative to:
 determine the difference in perspective of said data sets;   compare the data sets using the difference in perspective to determine differences and/or similarities in said data sets;   group particular data satisfying one or more predetermined measurement ranges; and   generate sensation data indicative of said grouped data to represent said invariants.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said sense perception routine is operative to:
 determine the difference in perspective of said data sets;   compare said invariants to determine relative position;   group said invariants based on relative position; and   generate object data based on said grouped invariants to represent perceived objects.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein said sense perception routine is further operative to integrate all object data and any ungrouped sensation data into a single data structure representative of said observation. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said invariants include color patches in an optical image represented by said data sets. 
     
     
         23 . A robot comprising:
 an electro-mechanical control system;   a plurality of sensors;   a simulated consciousness system; and   means for processing data from said sensors to discern objects in an environment of said robot.