Sphero, Inc.

Orbotix, Inc.

Ian H Bernstein

Adam Wilson

Ross MacGregor

Chun Kong

Brian Keith Smith

David E Hygh

Jonathan Carroll

Paul Berberian

Kevin Hemmings

Fabrizio Polo

Damon Arniotes

Mickey Kong Chun

Jeffrey Wiencrot

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.

Self propelled device with magnetic coupling

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.

Multi-purposed self-propelled device

A self-propelled device is provided including a drive system, a spherical housing, and a biasing mechanism. The drive system includes one or more motors that are contained within the spherical housing. The biasing mechanism actively forces the drive system to continuously engage an interior of the spherical housing in order to cause the spherical housing to move.

Self-propelled device with actively engaged drive system

A self-propelled device is disclosed that includes a center of mass drive system. The self-propelled device includes a substantially cylindrical body and wheels, with each wheel having a diameter substantially equivalent to the body. The self-propelled device may further include an internal drive system with a center of mass below a rotational axis of the wheels. Operation and maneuvering of the self-propelled device may be performed via active displacement of the center of mass.

Self-propelled device with center of mass drive system

A self-propelled device determines an orientation for its movement based on a pre-determined reference frame. A controller device is operable by a user to control the self-propelled device. The controller device includes a user interface for controlling at least a direction of movement of the self-propelled device. The self-propelled device is configured to signal the controller device information that indicates the orientation of the self-propelled device. The controller device is configured to orient the user interface, based on the information signaled from the self-propelled device, to reflect the orientation of the self-propelled device.

Orienting a user interface of a controller for operating a self-propelled device

A multi-purposed, self-propelled device and method for operation of the self-propelled device. Certain variations can include a spherical housing having an internal drive system and a multifunctional payload space for use in a variety of applications.

A wearable device can be worn by a user, and can include one or more sensors to detect user gestures performed by the user. The wearable device can further include a wireless communication module to establish a communication link with a self-propelled device, and a controller that can generate control commands based on the user gestures. The control commands may be executable to accelerate and maneuver the self-propelled device. The controller may then transmit the control commands to the self-propelled device over the communication link for execution by the self-propelled device.

Modular sensing device for controlling a self-propelled device

A computing device operating as a controller can obtain image data from a camera component. The computing device can determine a location of the self-propelled device relative to the camera based on the image data. A virtual content may be generated on the computing device based at least in part on the location of the self-propelled device.

Remotely controlling a self-propelled device in a virtualized environment

A system comprising a self-propelled device and an accessory device. The self-propelled device includes a spherical housing, and a drive system provided within the spherical housing to cause the self-propelled device to roll. When the self-propelled device rolls, the self-propelled device and the accessory device magnetically interact to maintain the accessory device in contact with a top position of the spherical housing relative to an underlying surface on which the spherical housing is rolling on.

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Ian H Bernstein