Robot apparatus, methods and computer products

Abstract

A robotic system (“new robot”) operative for performing at least one task in an environment, the system comprising: learn-from-predecessor functionality governed by a data exchange protocol, which controls short-range wireless knowledge transfer from a short-range wireless transmitter in a predecessor robot system (“old robot”) to a short-range wireless receiver in said robotic system, said knowledge comprising at least one environment-specific datum previously stored by the predecessor robot.

1 . An advanced robotic system, referred to a new robot including a computer-controlled actuator with sensors which is operative for performing at least one task in an environment, said advanced robotic system comprising:
 a short-range wireless receiver in said advanced robotic system;   a learn-from-predecessor functionality including a processor which is governed by a data exchange protocol,   said processor is configured to control short-range wireless knowledge transfer from a short-range wireless transmitter in a predecessor robot system, referred to an old robot, to the short-range wireless receiver,   wherein the wireless knowledge transfer comprises copying from the old robot into the new robot at least one environment-specific datum,   wherein the at least one environment-specific datum comprises: (i) trained machine-learning models; and (ii) labeled data and rules for performing at least one robot task; and   wherein the new robot is configured to use:   (i) the copied at least one environment-specific datum which includes machine-learning models;   (ii) labeled data; and   (iii) capabilities different from capabilities of the old robot,   for deducing updated rules for performing the at least one robot task,   wherein the updated rules include the different capabilities of the new robot, wherein the updated rules include a modified scope of the at least one robot task performable by the new robot,   wherein the modified scope comprises one or more extensions of the at least one robot task according to user confirmation,   wherein the new robot can perform one or more extensions while the old robot cannot perform the one or more extension that the new robot can perform,   wherein the new robot is configured to: (i) perform said modified scope; (ii) update rules; and (iii) map an area in which the at least one task to be performed.   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the system is further operative for searching the environment for at least one robot still deployed in the environment, to serve as the predecessor robot. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein said at least one task is performed differentially, in the presence of different humans. 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one environment-specific datum learned from the predecessor robot, comprises at least one spatial attribute of the environment's physical layout and wherein said at least one environment-specific task comprises cruising at least a predefined portion of said layout. 
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one environment-specific datum comprises at least one trained model. 
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one environment-specific datum comprises labeled data. 
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one environment-specific datum comprises at least one rule governing at least one robot task. 
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one environment-specific datum comprises an if-then rule programmed into the predecessor robot by a human or learned by the predecessor robot from its own predecessor or from its own experience in the environment. 
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 8 , wherein said if-then rule has the form: if a condition on at least one of: (i) detected location of a recognized mobile entity such as a human or a pet; (ii) time; or (iii) environment attribute, is met, then at least one task parameter is defined. 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one environment-specific datum learned from the predecessor robot comprises at least one face of at least one human who has, to date, frequented said environment. 
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said learn-from-predecessor functionality is operative to transfer predetermined sensitive information only via a wired connection using a USB or an Ethernet cable. 
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the new robot and the old robot communicate using a direct Point-to-Point Protocol. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the new robot and the old robot communicate via a WIFI router. 
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the old robot sends its model number to the new robot upon request, and the new robot stores in a computer memory a list of old robot models including at least one data item relevant to between-robots knowledge transfer, for each model on the list. 
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 14 , wherein said at least one data item includes a learning mode which the new robot should select, when learning from the old robot. 
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the new robot updates at least one of the old robot's firmware and the old robot's software, thereby to transfer knowledge to the old robot. 
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one datum comprises a labelled dataset of human family member images, for a human family residing in the environment. 
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the system also includes teach-successor functionality governed by a data exchange protocol, known to the system and to a successor robot system, which controls short-range wireless knowledge transfer from a short-range wireless transmitter in the system to a short-range wireless receiver in said successor robot, said knowledge comprising at least one environment-specific datum stored in a computer memory in the system. 
     
     
         19 . A robotic method allowing a robot (“new robot”) to perform at least one task in an environment, said robotic method comprising:
 providing a learn-from-predecessor functionality including a processor which is governed by a data exchange protocol, said processor controls a short-range wireless knowledge transfer from a short-range wireless transmitter in a predecessor robot system (“old robot”) to a short-range wireless receiver in a robotic system (“new robot”), and 
 wherein said processor is using said learn-from-predecessor functionality to transfer knowledge comprising at least one environment-specific datum which was previously stored by the old robot, to the new robot. 
 
     
     
         20 . A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory tangible computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code is adapted to be executed to implement a robotic method allowing a robot (“new robot”) to perform at least one task in an environment, said computer program product comprising:
 providing learn-from-predecessor functionality including a processor which is governed by a data exchange protocol, which controls short-range wireless knowledge transfer from a short-range wireless transmitter in a predecessor robot system (“old robot”) to a short-range wireless receiver in a robotic system (“new robot”), and 
 
       wherein said processor is using said functionality to transfer knowledge comprising at least one environment-specific datum which was previously stored by the predecessor robot, to the new robot.