A mobile robot that recognizes people

In order for mobile robots to interact effectively with people they will have to recognize faces. We describe a robot system that finds people, approaches them and then recognizes them. The system uses a variety of techniques: color vision is used to find people; vision and sonar sensors are used to approach them; a template-based pattern recognition algorithm is used to isolate the face; and a neural network is used to recognize the face. All of these processes are controlled using an intelligent robot architecture that sequences and monitors the robot´s actions. We present the results of many experimental runs using an actual mobile robot finding and recognizing up to six different people