Modular assembly system

Abstract

A modular assembly toy system includes assembly modules each including at least one connection interface and one or more connectors each configured to mechanically and electrically connect two of the assembly modules via the respective connection interfaces. The assembly modules include a control module and an analyzing module. The control module includes a control module communication unit configured to obtain a set of host instructions from one or more hosts and a control module processor configured to generate a set of operation instructions for control each assembly module based on at least the set of host instructions. The analyzing module includes an analyzing module sensor configured to obtain a sensor signal, an analyzing module processor configured to analyze the sensor signal to generate a first analyzing result, and an analyzing module communication unit configured to transmit the sensor signal or the first analyzing result to at least one of the hosts.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular assembly toy system, comprising:
 a plurality of assembly modules, each assembly module comprising at least one connection interface; and   one or more connectors, each connector configured to mechanically and electrically connect two of the plurality of assembly modules via the respective connection interfaces of the two assembly modules,   wherein the plurality of assembly modules include at least:
 a control module comprising:
 a control module communication unit configured to obtain a set of host instructions from one or more hosts, and 
 a control module processor configured to generate a set of operation instructions for control each assembly module based on at least the set of host instructions; and 
 
 an analyzing module comprising:
 an analyzing module sensor configured to obtain a sensor signal, 
 an analyzing module processor configured to analyze the sensor signal to generate a first analyzing result, and 
 an analyzing module communication unit configured to transmit the sensor signal or the first analyzing result to at least one of the one or more hosts. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each connector comprises two open ends adapted to fitting into the connection interfaces of the two assembly modules, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , each assembly module is substantially ball-shaped. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bus formed upon the plurality of assembly modules being mechanically and electrically connected one another via the one or more connectors,   wherein each assembly module is electrically connected to the bus in parallel.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the bus is configured to transmit a power signal and a data signal between the plurality of assembly modules. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising the one or more hosts, wherein the one or more hosts comprise:
 a control application configured to receive a first input from a user and generate, based on at least the first input, at least some of the set of host instructions at runtime when the control module is on operation; and   a programming application configured to receive a second input from a user and generate, based on at least the second input, at least some of the set of host instructions prior to the control module is on operation.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein
 the at least one of the one or more hosts is configured to transmit the sensor signal or the first analyzing result to a server via the Internet; and   the server comprises an analyzing application configured to analyze the sensor signal or the first analyzing result to generate a second analyzing result.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the second analyzing result is generated using an artificial intelligence approach. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one of the one or more hosts is further configured to:
 determine that the host is not operatively coupled to the server via the Internet, and   in response to determine that the host is not operatively coupled to the server via the Internet, invoke another analyzing application residing on the host to analyze the sensor signal or the first analyzing result to generate a third analyzing result.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the analyzing module communication unit is further configured to transmit the sensor signal or the first analyzing result to the at least one of the one or more hosts via wireless communication. 
     
     
         11 . A toy assembly module, comprising:
 at least one connection interface, each connection interface configured to mechanically and electrically connect to a connector and receive at least a power signal via the connector;   a sensor configured to obtain a sensor signal;   a processor, operatively coupled to the sensor and the at least one connection interface, configured to analyze the sensor signal to generate an analyzing result; and   a communication unit, operatively coupled to the processor, configured to transmit the sensor signal or the analyzing result to a host,   wherein at least one of the connection interface and the communication unit is configured to receive, from the host, a set of operation instructions generated based on at least the sensor signal or the analyzing result.   
     
     
         12 . The assembly module of  claim 11 , wherein communication unit is further configured to transmit the sensor signal or the analyzing result to the host via wireless communication. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly module of  claim 11 , wherein
 the sensor includes a microphone configured to obtain a voice signal; and   the processor is configured to analyze the voice signal to generate a voice recognition result.   
     
     
         14 . The assembly module of  claim 11 , wherein
 the sensor includes a camera configured to obtain an image signal; and   the processor is configured to analyze the image signal to generate an image recognition result.   
     
     
         15 . The assembly module of  claim 11 , wherein the set of operation instructions are generated based on another analyzing result, the another analyzing result generated based on the sensor signal or the analyzing result using an artificial intelligence approach by a server that is operatively coupled to the host via the Internet. 
     
     
         16 . A modular assembly toy system, comprising:
 a plurality of assembly modules, each assembly module being substantially ball-shaped, at least one of the assembly modules comprising at least one connection interface; and   one or more connectors, each connector configured to mechanically and electrically connect two of the plurality of assembly modules via the connection interface of one of the two assembly modules,   wherein the plurality of assembly modules include at least:
 a control module comprising:
 a communication unit configured to obtain a set of host instructions from one or more hosts, and 
 a processor configured to generate a set of operation instructions for each assembly module based on at least the set of host instructions; and 
 
 an actuation module comprising:
 a set of propellers, and 
 a motor configured to drive the set of propellers based on at least the set of operation instructions for the actuation module generated by the processor. 
 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein
 the control module further comprises a sensor configured to obtain a sensor signal indicative of attitude of the system at runtime when the actuation module is on operation; and   the processor is configured to generate the set of operation instructions for the actuation module based on at least the sensor signal.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a bus formed upon the plurality of assembly modules being mechanically and electrically connected one another via the one or more connectors,   wherein each assembly module is electrically connected to the bus in parallel.   
     
     
         19 . A modular assembly toy system, comprising:
 a plurality of assembly modules, each assembly module comprising at least one connection interface and being substantially ball-shaped; and   one or more connectors, each connector configured to mechanically and electrically connect two of the plurality of assembly modules via the respective connection interfaces of the two assembly modules, each connector comprising two open ends adapted to fitting into the connection interfaces of the two assembly modules, respectively,   wherein the plurality of assembly modules include at least a control module comprising:
 a communication unit configured to obtain a set of host instructions from one or more hosts, and 
 a processor configured to generate a set of operation instructions for each assembly module based on at least the set of host instructions. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the control module further comprises:
 a physical switch configured to in response to an input from a user, interrupt and resume the obtaining of at least some of the set of host instructions or the generating of the set of operation instructions.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of assembly modules further include a power module comprising:
 a power supply configured to generate a power signal for the plurality of assembly modules.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of assembly modules further include a color recognition module comprising:
 a light sensor configured to obtain a light signal from an object; and   a processor configured to determine a color of the object based on at least the light signal.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of assembly modules further include a movement module that is substantially ball-shaped, the movement module comprising:
 a motor configured to rotate the entirety of the movement module.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of assembly modules further include an infrared sensor module comprising:
 an infrared transmitter configured to emit a first infrared beam to an object; and   an infrared receiver configured to obtain a second infrared beam reflected from the object.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a bus formed upon the plurality of assembly modules being mechanically and electrically connected one another via the one or more connectors,   wherein each assembly module is electrically connected to the bus in parallel.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the bus is configured to transmit a power signal and a data signal between the plurality of assembly modules. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising the one or more hosts, wherein at least one of the one or more hosts is configured to:
 encrypt firmware to be updated on the control module; and   transmit the encrypted firmware to the control module.   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising the one or more hosts, wherein the one or more hosts comprise:
 a control application configured to receive a first input from a user and generate, based on at least the first input, at least some of the set of host instructions at runtime when the control module is on operation; and   a programming application configured to receive a second input from a user and generate, based on at least the second input, at least some of the set of host instructions prior to the control module is on operation.   
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the first input includes at least one of:
 a command received from a graphical user interface rendered by one of the one or more hosts;   a motion or gesture detected by a sensor on one of the one or more hosts; and   a voice detected by a microphone on one of the one or more hosts.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 the one or more hosts, wherein at least one of the one or more hosts is configured to:
 communicate with the communication unit via wireless communication; and 
 communicate with a server via the Internet; and 
   the server configured to:
 receive a sensor signal or a first analyzing result from the host; 
 analyze the sensor signal or the first analyzing result using an artificial intelligence approach to generate a second analyzing result; and 
 transmit the second analyzing result to the host.