Abstract
Patents in general contain much novel technological information. This paper demonstrates that the usage of patent analysis can facilitate a unique scheme for tracking technology development. In this paper, the walking technique of the Japanese biped robot is tracked as an example. The searching method of the FI (file index) and F-term classification system developed by JPO (Japan Patent Office) was employed in this study, where all the related patent data were searched from the IPDL (Intellectual Property Digital Library). This study investigated an important technique applied to the humanoid biped robot that imitates the walking behavior of the human beings on two legs. By analyzing the patent information obtained, the relative research capabilities, technical strengths, and patent citation conditions among patent competitors were compared. Furthermore, a formulated technical matrix of patent map is established in this paper to indicate that the ZMP (Zero Moment Point) control means is the main technology to achieve stabilized walking control of the humanoid biped robot. This study also incorporates relevant academic journal findings and industrial information. Results presented herein demonstrate that patents can function not only as a map for tracking a technology trajectory, but also as a guide to the main development of a new technology in years to come.
Highlights
In recent years robots with the rapid advance of information technology, electrical and mechanical control system and artificial intellect have been widely used in many applications such as industry, living matter, security, hobbies, humanoids, etc
F-term classification system developed by JPO (Japan Patent Office) was employed in this study, where all the related patent data were searched from the IPDL (Intellectual Property Digital Library)
This study demonstrates searching patent data from the IPDL to learn about technology patterns
Summary
In recent years robots with the rapid advance of information technology, electrical and mechanical control system and artificial intellect have been widely used in many applications such as industry, living matter, security, hobbies, humanoids, etc. Based on a technical report publicized by JPO (Japanese Patent Office, http://www.jpo.go.jp/indexj.htm) in 2002, the patent applications of 15,038 cases for industrial and non-industrial robots in Japan far exceed the patent applications of 3,217 cases in Europe and 2,471 cases in USA. The robot patents in Japan can be classified, in the descending order of patent amounts, into eight techniques: walking, moving distance and direction measurement, barrier ducking, learning computation, multiple robot control, image identification, sound identification, and remote control. In order to further investigate the control means and the control purposes of the walking technique for the humanoid robot, the FI (file index) and F-term classification system (Schellner, 2002) of JPO was used to analyze the related patent information and construct the related technical matrix
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