The ever-expanding list of professions which might soon be replaced by hi-tech. solutions is still growing strong. Sony Interactive Entertainments Inc. (Tokyo) has just been granted a US patent for its Robot As Personal Trainer
Embodiments of the present invention disclose methods and systems that are used to assist a user to perform an activity, such as a physical training, with the help of a robot.
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When the robot detects that the user is engaged in an exercise routine either based on the schedule followed by the user or based on explicit instructions received from the user, the robot moves into one or more positions proximal to the user so that the robot can capture images of a posture and motion of the user while the user is performing an exercise from the exercise routine.
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The robot then provides feedback so as to assist the user in correcting the posture or movement for the different exercises defined in the exercise routine. The robot may continue monitoring the actions and motions of the user and provide additional feedback.
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The robot thus acts as a “Personal Trainer” providing feedback to the user, just like a real-life personal trainer, as the user is performing the exercise by capturing different angles of a posture and providing feedback on the posture.
Patent research Martin Gardiner