Robot teaching operation board and robot control system

Abstract

According to an embodiment, the robot teaching operation panel has a function of communicating only with a robot control device, and provides an interface with a user. The robot teaching operation panel acquires update data of software executed by the robot teaching operation panel from a network via the robot control device by an acquisition unit, and stores the update data in a storage unit. Then, when an update processing program for updating the software is activated by an activation unit, the robot teaching operation panel updates the software by an update unit in accordance with the update processing program on the basis of the update data stored in the storage unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a robot teaching operation panel and a robot control system for teaching or operating a robot via a robot control device. Background Art

[0002] In the past, a robot teaching operation panel has been used, which is communicatively connected to a robot control device that controls the actions of an industrial robot (hereinafter simply referred to as a robot), and provides a user interface for teaching the actions of the robot or operating the robot.

[0003] Prior Art Documents

[0004] Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-142480 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] Generally, a dedicated operating system (OS) is installed on a robot teaching operation panel, and various application software programs are executed on this OS, thereby providing functions such as accepting user input, issuing commands to the control device, and obtaining and displaying information from the control device.

[0008] However, when updates such as security updates or version upgrades are required for the OS or application software programs, since the robot teaching operation panel is only connected to the robot control device, it is difficult to rewrite the software. For example, since storage devices such as USB memory or SD cards need to be prepared to store update programs (special OS images or application software programs) and update files, there is a risk of software failures caused by operation errors or being rewritten by a third party.

[0009] Therefore, a simpler and safer method for updating software is desired.

[0010] Means for Solving the Problems

[0011] The robot teaching operation panel according to the embodiment has a function of communicating only with the robot control device and provides an interface to the user.

[0012] The robot teaching operation panel obtains update data of the software executed by its own device from a network via the robot control device by an acquisition unit, and stores it in a storage unit. Then, after the robot teaching operation panel starts an update processing program for updating the software by a start unit, the software is updated by an update unit according to the update processing program based on the update data stored in the storage unit.

[0013] The robot control system of the embodiment includes: a robot control device; and a robot teaching operation panel that communicates only with the robot control device and provides an interface with the user.

[0014] According to a request from the robot teaching operation panel, the robot control device obtains update data of the software executed by the robot teaching operation panel from the network through the communication control unit and sends it to the robot teaching operation panel.

[0015] The robot teaching operation panel obtains the update data via the robot control device through the obtaining unit and stores it in the storage unit. Then, when the robot teaching operation panel starts an update processing program for updating the software through the starting unit, the software is updated based on the update data stored in the storage unit according to the update processing program by the updating unit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 It is a block diagram showing the functional structure of the robot control system of the embodiment.

[0017] Figure 2 It is a diagram illustrating the process of updating the OS of the robot teaching operation panel by the robot control system of the embodiment.

[0018] Figure 3 It is a flowchart showing the software update process of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

[0019] An example of the embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[0020] The robot teaching operation panel of the present embodiment is a device that provides a user interface with a robot control device for controlling the actions of a robot, and is communicatively connected by wire or wirelessly to form a robot control system.

[0021] Figure 1 It is a block diagram showing the functional structure of the robot control system 1 of the present embodiment.

[0022] The robot control system 1 includes: a robot control device 10 connected to the network, and a robot teaching operation panel 20 communicatively connected only to the robot control device 10.

[0023] The robot control device 10 controls the actions of the robot according to a predetermined program and user input to the robot teaching operation panel 20, and obtains various measurement data and the like from the robot.

[0024] In addition, the robot control device 10 includes: a communication control unit 11 responsible for communication with the robot teaching operation panel 20 and communication with the network.

[0025] In this embodiment, the communication control unit 11 obtains update data of the software executed by the robot teaching operation panel 20 from the network according to a request from the robot teaching operation panel 20, and sends it to the robot teaching operation panel 20.

[0026] The robot teaching operation panel 20 is an information processing device (computer) having a control unit 21 (processor) and a storage unit 22 (memory), is communicatively connected to the robot control device 10, and provides an interface between the robot control device 10 and the user.

[0027] The control unit 21 includes an acquisition unit 211, a start unit 212, and an update unit 213, and these functional units operate by reading and executing various software stored in the storage unit 22 through the control unit 21.

[0028] The acquisition unit 211 obtains update data of the software executed by the robot teaching operation panel 20 from the network via the robot control device 10. The acquired update data is stored in the storage unit 22.

[0029] The software to be updated by the robot teaching operation panel 20 may be an OS or an application software program operating on the OS. However, here, the case of updating the OS is illustrated.

[0030] In addition, the acquisition of the update data may be performed, for example, according to an instruction from the user, or may be performed periodically, and the acquisition time point may be set appropriately.

[0031] The start unit 212 starts an update processing program for updating the software.

[0032] When the software to be updated is an OS for normal operation (first OS), the start unit 212 starts a second OS as the update processing program to replace the OS for normal operation. The second OS is a program that is only responsible for updating the first OS, and is selectively started, for example, through an option at the time of restarting the robot teaching operation panel 20.

[0033] The update unit 213 updates the software (first OS) based on the update data stored in the storage unit 22 according to the update processing program (second OS).

[0034] Then, the update unit 213 restarts the robot teaching operation panel 20, thereby switching to the updated first operating system.

[0035] The update data may be an image file of the software (first OS). In this case, the update unit 213 replaces the entire software with the image file.

[0036] For example, in order to enable the software failure to be repaired, the image file may also remain in the storage unit 22 after the update process.

[0037] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing the process of updating the OS of the robot teaching operation panel 20 through the robot control system 1 of the present embodiment.

[0038] During the operation of the robot teaching operation panel 20 with the normal OS, it receives an update file from the external network via the communication control unit 11 of the robot control device 10 that is the communication object, and saves it in a predetermined storage area (storage unit 22).

[0039] Then, at a predetermined time point, the robot teaching operation panel 20 restarts with the update OS to replace the normal OS.

[0040] When the update OS does not provide the communication function with the robot control device 10, when it confirms the update file in the storage area and updates the normal OS, it causes the robot teaching operation panel 20 to restart.

[0041] Thereby, the updated normal OS operates and the communication with the robot control device 10 is restored.

[0042] Figure 3 This is a flowchart showing the software update process of the present embodiment.

[0043] What is shown here is the following situation: The process is started by the user's selection, and a series of processes related to the update of the OS are continuously executed.

[0044] In step S1, when the user selects to update the OS, the acquisition unit 211 acquires the update file on the external network via the robot control device 10, and saves it in the storage unit 22.

[0045] In step S2, the startup unit 212 restarts the robot teaching operation panel 20 using the image of the update OS stored in advance. In addition, since the update OS only installs the function of updating the normal OS, the connection with the robot control device 10 is lost at this time.

[0046] In step S3, the update unit 213 updates the normal OS using the update file saved in step S1.

[0047] In step S4, the update unit 213 restarts the robot teaching operation panel 20 again using the normal OS that has been updated in step S3. Thereby, the connection with the robot control device 10 is restored.

[0048] In addition, the saving of the update file in step S1 is not limited to this time point, and it can also be executed in advance regardless of whether there is an instruction from the user.

[0049] According to this embodiment, the robot teaching operation panel 20 obtains update data of software from the network via the communicable robot control device 10, and thus can update the software using a pre-stored update processing program. Therefore, there is no need to use storage devices such as SD cards or USB memories, and additionally store update data through user operations.

[0050] As a result, risks such as update failures, software malfunctions, or being rewritten by a third party due to operation errors can be suppressed, and the robot teaching operation panel 20 can update the software simply and safely. In addition, the update processing program will not leak from the robot teaching operation panel 20, and regarding the update data, by accessing a specific file on the network that is securely managed, the risk of being rewritten by a third party will also be suppressed.

[0051] In addition, the robot teaching operation panel 20 can also save an image file of the software as update data, thereby replacing the entire software.

[0052] Thus, when a software malfunction occurs, for example, the robot teaching operation panel 20 can be easily rewritten to recover.

[0053] The software to be updated can be an OS. In this case, the robot teaching operation panel 20 can update the normal OS by restarting using the update OS, and then operate again with the updated normal OS by restarting.

[0054] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described respective embodiments. These embodiments can be subjected to various additions, replacements, changes, partial deletions, etc. within the scope not departing from the gist of the invention, or within the scope not departing from the idea and gist of the present invention derived from the content described in the claims and its equivalents. For example, in the above embodiments, the order of each operation or the order of each process is shown as an example and is not limited to these orders.

[0055] Description of Reference Numerals

[0056] 1 Robot control system

[0057] 10 Robot control device

[0058] 11 Communication control unit

[0059] 20 Robot teaching operation panel

[0060] 21 Control unit

[0061] 22 Storage unit

[0062] 211 Acquisition unit

[0063] 212 Startup unit

[0064] 213 update unit.

Claims

1. A robot teaching operation panel that communicates only with a robot control device and provides an interface to a user, characterized in that, the robot teaching operation panel includes: an acquisition unit that acquires update data of software executed by the robot teaching operation panel from a network via the robot control device; a storage unit that stores the update data; a start unit that starts an update processing program for updating the software; an update unit that updates the software based on the update data stored in the storage unit according to the update processing program.

2. The robot teaching operation panel according to claim 1, characterized in that, the storage unit stores an image file of the software as the update data, and the update unit replaces the entire software with the image file.

3. The robot teaching operation panel according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the software is a first operating system for normal operation, the start unit starts a second operating system as the update processing program to replace the first operating system, and after updating the first operating system, the update unit switches to the updated first operating system by restarting.

4. A robot control system includes: a robot control device; a robot teaching operation panel that communicates only with the robot control device and provides an interface to a user, characterized in that, the robot control device includes: a communication control unit that acquires update data of software executed by the robot teaching operation panel from a network according to a request from the robot teaching operation panel and sends it to the robot teaching operation panel, and the robot teaching operation panel includes: an acquisition unit that acquires the update data via the robot control device; a storage unit that stores the update data; a start unit that starts an update processing program for updating the software; an update unit that updates the software based on the update data stored in the storage unit according to the update processing program.

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