CONTROL SYSTEM OF A PORTABLE TOOL WITH AUTONOMOUS POWER SOURCE, PORTABLE TOOL, CORRESPONDING MODULE AND CONTROL METHOD

Description

1 TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The field of the invention is that of portable tools with an autonomous energy source, for example screwdriving tools used on a production line.

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to controlling the operation of such a tool based on predetermined control information and production rules.

[0003] The invention has many applications, including, but not limited to, the field of automobile production where the configuration of the tools is specific to a given workstation on a production line. A system for controlling such portable tools, for example so that they cannot be used on the wrong workstation, is therefore of primary interest. 2 TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

[0004] The context of the invention is that of the use of industrial tools, in particular autonomous (i.e. battery-powered) tools, such as a screwing tool in the context of industrial production.

[0005] For example, the automotive and aeronautical industries use sophisticated screwdriving tools, capable of performing screwdriving cycles incorporating multiple stages that vary screwdriving parameters such as: the rotation speed (different during a pre-screwing or screwing phase); the tightening strategy: determination of the torque, angle, elastic limit depending on the application. the sequencing of screwing operations, for example, the fact of slaving the report of a screwing operation to the correct completion of several screwing operations corresponding to several assembly points on the same part.

[0006] Furthermore, such screwdriving cycles may vary depending on the parts to be processed and / or the working area. It is therefore advisable to control the tools, particularly depending on the space in which they are located.

[0007] In addition, the operation of such tools is controlled by the orders of a production line control system. Such a system can be an industrial automaton, this automaton can manage: The progress of the line; The activation or deactivation of the different production tools depending on the products or vehicles arriving at each workstation; The recording of the production history including the screwing results for each product or vehicle passing through a workstation.

[0008] Historically, screwdriving tools used in industrial production were connected to a fixed controller by a cable. This controller integrates the power supply means of the tool as well as the control means of this tool. These control means make it possible to activate or deactivate the operation of the tool according to a screwdriving strategy adapted to the workstation or to retrieve the results of the screwdriving operation.

[0009] This controller itself receives its operating instructions from the production control system to which it is connected by wired means. In this way, the tool being connected by a cable to the controller, it was guaranteed that a given tool was used at the correct workstation (Here, by workstation, we mean a work space authorized for the tool in question).

[0010] However, the use of tools with autonomous energy sources (for example, battery(ies)) has become widespread in the industrial production sector, due to the comfort and ergonomics provided.

[0011] The functionality of the tools, such as battery-powered screwdrivers, has remained the same. These screwdrivers are therefore still connected by radio to a fixed external controller or a communication point with the production control system.

[0012] This radio link can be, for example, a WiFi link. In this case, the controller no longer integrates the power supply of the tool, but it integrates the means of controlling this tool and the means of communication. The fixed controller remains connected by wired means to the production control system.

[0013] These new tools with autonomous energy sources, however, have a major drawback: the absence of a cable no longer prevents an operator from moving a tool to a workstation other than the one for which it was designed and adjusted.

[0014] Negative consequences include, for example, the following for a screwdriver intended for a specific action on a specific vehicle: The tightening strategy may be unsuitable for use on a vehicle other than the one present at the workstation; and The tightening results that will be exported after tightening carried out outside the workstation will be associated with the vehicle that was present at the workstation, therefore with a vehicle that is not the one that supported the tightening operation.

[0015] These consequences are unacceptable in the context of automobile production and this has led to the parallel development of localization methods applied to such tools in an industrial environment.

[0016] Similar drawbacks are encountered with other types of stand-alone tools, e.g. drilling, and / or in other industrial applications.

[0017] Different tool location technologies were tested with the aim of slaving the operation of this tool to its presence in a geographical area corresponding to that of the workstation.

[0018] The following technologies can be cited: location by ultrasonic transmitter / receiver; location by infrared transmitter / receiver; and location by radio means, in particular ULB (for “Ultra Wide Band”) type.

[0019] UWB radio systems are currently considered the most suitable for an industrial environment. These systems rely on a radio modulation technique based on the transmission of very short pulses. The brevity of these pulses minimizes measurement errors in the propagation time between transmitter and receiver and makes these radio systems particularly suitable for distance measurement. The frequencies used are in a band from 3 to 10 GHz. Their use involves the installation of fixed beacons around the perimeter of the workstation. These beacons integrate a UWB transceiver capable of communicating with a tag embedded in the tool, itself integrating a UWB transceiver.

[0020] Based on the flight times taken by the ULB signals to circulate between beacons and tags, the control means associated with the beacons are capable of calculating the distance between each beacon and the tag, then by trilateration to calculate the location coordinates of the tag in a reference frame linked to the beacons and therefore to the workstation. It is thus possible to know in real time where the tool is located, to check its presence in the work area and to authorize or not its operation depending on whether it is in the work area or not.

[0021] Different measurement strategies are possible to make the determination of the flight time more reliable depending on material or installation constraints; these strategies have the following names: TOA (for “Time Of Arrival” in English), TDOA (for “Time Difference Of Arrival” in English) and TWR (for “Time-Weighted Return” in English), and are known to those skilled in the art.

[0022] The working area is defined in the control means, for example, by coordinates of characteristic points corresponding, for example, to angles or corners of the working area, the limits of this area being formed by lines joining these characteristic points. Patent FR3010927 describes, for example, a method for facilitating the establishment of the working area by placing the tool at the location of these characteristic points and triggering the measurement and recording of the coordinates of the characteristic points using the tool control means after activating a learning mode at the controller.

[0023] However, existing location systems have some drawbacks.

[0024] For example, the calculation of the tool's location is carried out at one of the beacons, called the "master" beacon, and the information on the tool's position is communicated to the controller which authorizes or not the tool to operate.

[0025] This approach, which involves determining the position and sending commands by a controller authorizing or not the operation of the tool, is proposed, for example, in documents FR3010927A1 or US7055233B1.

[0026] However, in some applications, there is no fixed controller but a simple WiFi access point allowing radio communication between the tool and the production control system.

[0027] In other cases, the workstation is simplified and the tool operates autonomously without a controller. Despite this autonomy, there may be a need to control the tool position.

[0028] In these circumstances, it is not possible to connect the "master" tag to a device that can control the tool, which is a handicap for this type of location system.

[0029] The need to connect the "master" beacon to a controller can be a disadvantage since the beacon is not in the same location as the controller, which requires cabling that is sometimes complicated to implement.

[0030] Patent documents US68452279B1, US2017 / 160030A1 and WO2013 / 063507A1 illustrate various control techniques known from the prior art.

[0031] There is therefore a need for a system allowing simplified and efficient control of a portable tool with an autonomous energy source, which does not have at least some of these disadvantages of the state of the art. 3 SUMMARY

[0032] According to the invention, there is provided a system for controlling a portable tool as defined in claims 1 to 9.

[0033] In such a system, the portable tool comprises means for receiving control information delivered by the at least one beacon, means for determining by itself its position in or outside a predetermined space and control means capable of controlling the behavior of the tool according to the control information and at least one predetermined production rule.

[0034] Such a system allows in particular the control by itself, and not via a server or a controller sending it commands, of a portable tool with an autonomous energy source. Indeed, it is the tool itself which controls its behavior, according to the control information received, and not a remote server, which would transmit instructions or operating orders. The control information includes geolocation information. More particularly, the tool receives signals from one or more beacons, which may carry, depending on the embodiments, location data of the tool or information allowing the tool to determine this position.Thus, geolocation information (e.g. raw information from the physical signals used by the geolocation beacon to locate the tool) can be transmitted to the tool so that the latter determines its position by itself (e.g. position coordinates, a distance to the geolocation beacon) on the basis of which its behavior will be deduced.

[0035] More specifically, the geolocation information includes data representative of the tool's location. Thus, the data representative of the tool's location (e.g., position coordinates, an angle, and / or a distance to the geolocation beacon) are determined by the geolocation beacon. The latter then transmits the data in question to the tool, thereby minimizing the computational load in the tool. The tool is then able to determine by itself whether it is in an authorized space, for example, in a good workspace. In addition, the tool is only authorized to operate when it is in a predetermined workspace. Several spaces can be defined, possibly with distinct associated operations.

[0036] According to a particular aspect of the system, the means for receiving control information communicate with the control means in the portable tool according to one of the techniques belonging to the group comprising: SPI links; I2C links; USB links; asynchronous serial links; digital inputs / outputs; radio means.

[0037] According to a particular aspect of the system, the data representative of the location of the tool belong to the group comprising: at least one distance between the portable tool and at least one beacon; coordinates of the portable tool in a fixed reference frame, obtained by a trilateration calculation from distances between the portable tool and at least two beacons. Two beacons may be sufficient to perform an approximate location calculation in the case where the tool is used by the operator at a height that varies little; polar coordinates of the portable tool relative to the fixed reference frame of a beacon; polar coordinates of at least two beacons relative to the tool reference frame.

[0038] According to a particular aspect of the system, the boundaries of the at least one predetermined space are defined by the data representative of the boundaries belonging to the group comprising: predetermined point coordinates corresponding to the corners of the boundaries; theoretical straight or curved junctions passing through the corners; at least one predetermined limit distance from at least one predetermined marker.

[0039] The predetermined points more generally correspond to characteristic points of the boundaries, the characteristic points in question being, for example, the aforementioned angles or corners of the boundaries. Similarly, in certain embodiments, the theoretical straight or curved junctions pass through the characteristic points in question. The portable tool incorporates a memory in which data defining the boundaries are recorded. Thus, the tool can continuously or periodically, and autonomously, check the conformity of its position with the authorized zone corresponding to the data recorded in the memory.

[0040] According to a particular aspect of the system, at least some of the signals exchanged between at least one of the beacons and the receiving means of the portable tool carry: additional data; and / or orders to activate a predetermined operating strategy and / or to deactivate the tool and / or one of its accessories.

[0041] This optimizes the use of the radio transmission channel capacity between the control system beacon(s) and the tool.

[0042] According to the invention, there is provided a control method as defined in claims 10 to 13.

[0043] The method comprises a step of determining the presence of the portable tool in or outside the at least one predetermined space from the control information. Thus, the tool is only authorized to operate when it is at the correct workstation.

[0044] The control information includes geolocation information, and the determination step includes: a step of calculating or obtaining data representative of the location of the tool from the geolocation information received by the reception means; a step of identifying the position of the tool in or outside the borders of the at least one predetermined space, based on the data representative of the location of the tool.

[0045] This way, the tool determines for itself whether it is in an authorized area, i.e. at the correct workstation.

[0046] According to a particular aspect, the method implements, in the tool, in a learning mode, a step of defining at least one predetermined workspace. Thus, the predetermined space representing the workstation in which the tool will be authorized to operate is defined directly by the operator via the implementation of a learning mode at the tool level.

[0047] According to a particular aspect of the method, the definition step implements a storage of data representative of boundaries of the at least one predetermined workspace and / or of a limit distance with respect to a predetermined beacon, by activation of a learning actuator. Thus, the tool can permanently and autonomously check the conformity of its position with the authorized zone corresponding to the data stored in the memory.

[0048] According to a particular aspect, the method comprises a step of receiving additional data in the tool and / or a step of transmitting additional data from the tool to a server, via signals exchanged with the beacons. Thus, the use of the capacity of the radio transmission channel between the beacon(s) of the control system and the tool is optimized. 4 LIST OF FIGURES

[0049] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given as an indicative and non-limiting example, and the appended drawings, in which: THE Figures 1a and 1b illustrate examples of a control system for a portable tool with an autonomous energy source according to different embodiments of the invention; the figure 2 presents a simplified example of the structure of a module mounted on the portable tool of the figure 3 ; there figure 3illustrates steps of a method for controlling the portable tool with autonomous energy source of the figure 1 according to one embodiment of the invention. 5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0050] In all figures of this document, identical elements and steps are designated by the same reference.

[0051] The general principle of the technique described is based on the control of a portable tool with an autonomous energy source carried out by the latter.

[0052] Such a system notably implements at least one geolocation beacon external to the tool, capable of communicating with the tool in question. More particularly, the portable tool comprises means for receiving control information delivered by one or more beacons and control means capable of controlling the behavior of the tool according to the control information and at least one predetermined production rule.

[0053] Thus, the direct transmission, by the geolocation beacon, of control information to the tool and their use by the tool's control means makes it possible to do away with the use of an external controller to transmit instructions to the tool, as in known techniques.

[0054] As described in the example below, the invention notably allows the tool to control its own operation according to its position, which it can, depending on the embodiments, determine itself or receive from one of the beacons.

[0055] Furthermore, it should be noted that portable tools with an autonomous energy source that do not communicate with an external controller or a production line control system can also be controlled based on information provided directly by the geolocation beacon.

[0056] We now describe, in relation to the Figures 1a, 1b And 2, examples of a control system for a portable tool 100 with an autonomous energy source as well as a module 101 mounted on the portable tool 100 in question according to different embodiments of the invention.

[0057] The invention can be applied to many types of portable tools with an autonomous energy source, in particular screwdrivers, drills, etc.

[0058] Subsequently, the example of an electric screwdriver 100 with controlled tightening is described more particularly, which is conventionally used to ensure, during a screwing operation, the tightening of an assembly, that is to say the connection of several parts for example by means of one or more screws tightened to a torque whose value is chosen so that the assembly is sufficiently rigid but with a maximum torque so as not to damage said screw. Therefore, the target tightening torque is an example of operating parameters of the tool 100. Other operating parameters can be defined such as the screwing angle or the transition from the elastic phase of a screw to the plastic phase.

[0059] Such a tool 100 generally comprises a housing comprising a handle and containing in particular the following elements: a synchronous motor equipped with a rotor; a transmission incorporating a reduction; a terminal member capable of carrying a screw bit; a torque sensor intended to detect the achievement of a target torque; an angle sensor intended to measure the angle between the rotor and the stator of the motor; a means of controlling the tool allowing an operator to use this tool, this control means is typically an electric trigger; at least one battery constituting the source of electrical energy; and a transmitter-receiver module 9 allowing radio communication (WiFi network for example) in a bidirectional manner with its controller 10 to receive in particular the usage parameters.

[0060] Furthermore, such a tool 100 also includes: control means 202 continuously controlling the engine and receiving information from sensors on the operation in progress; and reception and possibly transmission means 104 allowing radio communication (here by implementing a ULB radio link on a frequency band between 3 and 10 GHz) with at least one geolocation beacon 110, 110', 110", 110'" external to the tool 100 to receive in particular control information making it possible to define a behavior of the tool taking into account at least one predetermined production rule.

[0061] Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the system uses ULB type radiofrequency signals. The position of the tool is then determined via an evaluation of the distance between the tool and the at least one beacon 110, 110', 110", 110"' of the system. Certain ULB beacons also make it possible to determine at what angle the tool is perceived by the beacon relative to its own reference frame.

[0062] More particularly, the reception means 104 communicate here with the control means 202 via an SPI link 107 (for “Serial Peripheral Interface” in English). The reception means 104 are connected to the control means of the tool 202 by wire conductors or printed circuit, these conductors allow the exchange of signals and the electrical power supply of the module.

[0063] In the case of installing a module on a tool that does not originally have conductors to connect the module to the tool's control means, the module may integrate a radio communication element capable of communicating with the radio communication means that the tool uses to communicate with the controller (Wifi, Bluetooth, etc.).

[0064] In variants, other interfaces are used for the exchange of data between the reception means 104 and the control means 202, for example an I2C link (for “Inter-Integrated Circuit” in English), a USB link (for “Universal Serial Bus” in English), an asynchronous serial link, or more generally digital inputs / outputs.

[0065] In certain variants of the signaling used between the at least one geolocation beacon 110, 110', 110", 110"' and the tool 100, the control information comprises geolocation information (for example raw information, such as time of flight or other, from the ULB signals used by the geolocation beacon to locate the tool). In this way, the tool 100 is able to determine its position by itself on the basis of the geolocation information provided, and therefore to deduce a behavior based on the determined position.

[0066] In this case, the reception means can integrate means for calculating data representative of the location 105 of the tool from the raw information.

[0067] In other signaling variants, the geolocation information directly comprises the data representative of the location of the tool 100 itself. In this way, the computational load is minimized in the tool 100.

[0068] In the embodiment illustrated in the Figure 1a (a single beacon 110), such data representative of the location of the tool 100 are for example: at least one distance between the portable tool 100 and the beacon 110; and polar coordinates of said portable tool relative to the fixed reference of a beacon 110 (for example when the beacon 110 in question comprises at least two antennas configured to allow source separation and therefore the determination of an angle).

[0069] Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in the Figure 1bin which the control system comprises four beacons 110, 110', 110", 110"' the data representative of the location of the tool 100 can also be: coordinates of the portable tool 100 in a fixed reference frame, obtained by a trilateration calculation from distances between the portable tool 100 and at least two beacons among the four beacons 110, 110', 110", 110‴; polar coordinates of at least two beacons among the four beacons 110, 110', 110", 110"' relative to the reference frame of the tool 100; and data representative of distances between at least two beacons among the four beacons 110, 110', 110", 110"' and the tool 100.

[0070] Whatever the mode of implementation considered ( figure 1a or 1b ) and whatever the aforementioned signaling variant considered, the predetermined production rules used by the tool 100 can thus take into account the location of the tool. Such a rule is for example: authorize the operation of the portable tool 100 and / or one of its accessories, if the tool 100 is located in a predetermined space 130, 130' (representative of the workstation authorized for the tool 100); prevent the operation of a tool 101 and / or one of its accessories, if the tool 101 in question is not located in the predetermined space 130, 130' in question; authorize a particular operation of the portable tool 100 and / or one of its accessories, according to a predetermined operating strategy, if the tool is located in the predetermined space 130, 130'.

[0071] Thus, the tool 100 is only allowed to operate, in a particular way or not, when it is in an authorized area, that is to say at a good workstation in practice.

[0072] This authorized zone, or predetermined space, can in particular be defined in two dimensions (floor area), and represent all or part of a circle of radius R ( Figure 1a ), an ellipse, a rectangle ( Figure 1b ), a combination of these surfaces, or more generally any suitable shape, defined by rectilinear, curved or any boundaries. Space can also be defined in three dimensions.

[0073] To do this, the portable tool 100 comprises means 106 for determining the presence of the portable tool 100 in or outside the predetermined space 130 comprising: means for calculating or obtaining 105 (depending on the aforementioned signaling variant considered) data representative of the location of the tool 100 from the geolocation information received by the reception means 104; means for identifying 106 the position of the tool 100 in or outside the borders 131 of the predetermined space 130, as a function of the data representative of the location of the tool 100.

[0074] Thus, the tool is able to determine whether it is in an authorized area, that is to say in the predetermined space 130 representative of the correct workstation.

[0075] In some cases, several predetermined spaces can be defined, possibly with different behaviors allowed for the tool depending on the space. For example, the tool can be used in two areas of a production line, and the operation (torque and / or screwing sequence for example) can be adapted according to the area considered, and therefore the operation to be carried out by the tool.

[0076] More particularly, depending on the geometry of the predetermined space 130, 130', its boundaries 131, 131' can be defined by representative data belonging to the group comprising: predetermined point coordinates corresponding to the angles of the boundaries 131, 131'; theoretical straight or curved junctions passing through the angles in question; at least one predetermined limit distance from at least one beacon 110 (or 110' or 110" or 110‴).

[0077] In other embodiments, the predetermined points correspond more generally to characteristic points of the boundaries 131, 131', the characteristic points in question being for example the aforementioned angles or corners of the boundaries 131, 131'. Similarly, in certain embodiments, the theoretical straight or curved junctions pass through the characteristic points in question.

[0078] Furthermore, the means 106 for identifying the position of the tool 100 integrate a memory 203 in which data defining the boundaries 131 in question are recorded.

[0079] In this way, the tool 100 can continuously, or periodically, and autonomously check the conformity of its position in the predetermined space 130 (i.e. the authorized zone) corresponding to the data recorded in the memory.

[0080] In order to define the predetermined space 130, 130' and to store the data defining the corresponding boundaries 131, 131', the portable tool 100 can be used, according to the example illustrated, in at least two modes: a learning mode in which the predetermined space 130, 130' is defined via definition means 106; a working mode, in which the control means 202 control the tool 100 according to its geolocation relative to the predetermined space 130, 130'.

[0081] To do this, the definition means 202 comprise a learning actuator 205 (which may be the trigger for activating the tool in the working mode or a button in the case of a module mounted on a tool for which the use of the trigger in a learning mode has not been provided) making it possible to indicate the presence of the tool 100 in a predetermined angle of the space 130, 130' and / or at a distance from a given beacon 110 (or 110' or 110" or 110‴). In other embodiments, the learning actuator 205 makes it possible to indicate the presence of the tool 100 near a characteristic point of the boundaries 131, 131' of the at least one predetermined space 130, 130', such a characteristic point being for example the aforementioned angle or a corner of the boundaries 131, 131'.

[0082] In this way, the operator 120 can, in the learning mode, move along the boundary 131, 131' of the predetermined space 130, 130' that he wants to define while actuating the learning actuator 205. Thus, the data representative of the position at which the tool 100 is located at the moment when the learning actuator 205 is actuated, make it possible to define the boundaries 131, 131' of the predetermined space 130, 130' and to store them in the memory 203.

[0083] Alternatively, the predetermined space 130, 130' may be configured externally, and be transmitted and recorded in the memory 203 of the tool.

[0084] Furthermore, in other signaling variants between the geolocation beacon 110 (or 110' or 110" or 110"') and the tool 100, at least some of the signals exchanged between the geolocation beacon 110 (or 110' or 110" or 110"') and the reception means 104 of the portable tool 100 carry: additional data; and / or orders for activating a predetermined operating strategy and / or deactivating the tool 100 and / or one of its accessories; and / or operating strategies.

[0085] This optimizes the use of the radio transmission channel capacity between the control system beacon(s) and the tool.

[0086] When it comes to data transmitted by the geolocation beacon 110 (or 110' or 110" or 110‴) (powered by a server 140 or production control system) to the tool 100, such additional data defines for example the activation of a production or screwing strategy or the deactivation of the screwdriver.

[0087] Similarly, when it comes to data transmitted by the tool to the geolocation beacon 110 (then to the server 140), such additional data may be, for example, traceability data (the tool 100 indicates that it has correctly screwed all the screws provided on the engine), an identifier of the operator 120, an identifier of the accessory used, etc.

[0088] These operating modes can be used, for example, if at least one beacon, the one acting as the "master" beacon, is connected to the production control system and thus replaces a fixed external controller or a communication point with the production control system.

[0089] In the embodiment illustrated in the figure 2, means of reception and possibly transmission 104 integrating means of calculation or obtaining 105 (depending on the aforementioned signaling variant considered) of data representative of the location of the tool; means of identification 106 of the position of the tool associated with a memory 203 (for example a RAM memory) are embedded in a module 101 intended to be mounted on the portable tool 100.

[0090] This modular aspect makes it possible, for example, to upgrade a tool not initially designed to support the control technique according to the invention, or to transfer the module 101 to another tool, in the event of a breakdown.

[0091] In other embodiments not illustrated, the means in question as well as the memory 203 are directly implemented in the tool 100.

[0092] Furthermore, the means in question (means for calculating or obtaining 105 data representative of the location of the tool, means for identifying 106 the presence of the portable tool 100 in or outside the predetermined space 130) are implemented for example in the form of a processing unit equipped for example with a processor, and controlled by a computer program stored in a read-only memory (for example a ROM memory or a hard disk). At initialization, the code instructions of the computer program are for example loaded into the memory 203 before being executed by the processor of the processing unit.

[0093] More particularly, the means in question may be implemented indifferently on a reprogrammable computing machine (a PC computer, a DSP processor or a microcontroller) executing a program comprising a sequence of instructions, or on a dedicated computing machine (for example a set of logic gates such as an FPGA or an ASIC, or any other hardware module). In the case where the means in question are implemented with a reprogrammable computing machine, the corresponding program (i.e. the sequence of instructions) may be stored in a removable storage medium (such as for example a flash memory, a USB key, a floppy disk, a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM) or not, this storage medium being partially or totally readable by a computer or a processor.

[0094] We now describe, in relation to the figure 3 , the steps of a method for controlling the portable tool 100 with autonomous energy source of the Figures 1a, 1b And 2 according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0095] First, in a learning mode, the tool 100 implements a step E300 of defining the predetermined workspace 130, 130', for example by the operator 120 via the implementation of a learning mode at the level of the tool 100 as described above in relation to the Figures 1a and 1b .

[0096] More particularly, the definition step E300 implements a storage E300a of data representative of the borders 131, 131' of the predetermined workspace and / or of a limit distance relative to the beacon 110, by activation of the learning actuator 205. This representative data may correspond to a set of points defined by the actuator 205, or, preferably, results of a calculation of borders (for example in the form of characteristic points, for example angles or corners of the borders, and of portions of straight line or curve connecting two characteristic points).

[0097] In this way, the tool can verify at any time and autonomously the conformity of its position with the authorized zone corresponding to the data stored in the memory 203.

[0098] During a reception step E310, the reception means 104 of the tool 100 receive control information delivered directly by the beacon 110 (or 110' or 110" or 110"').

[0099] During a transmission step E320, the reception means 104 of the tool 100 transmit the control information to the control means 202 via the SPI link 107. The control means 202 are thus able to control the behavior of the tool 100 as a function of the control information and at least one predetermined production rule as described above in relation to the Figures 1a and 1b .

[0100] The information received may in particular be raw data returned from the beacons 110, 110', 110", 110"', from which the control means 202 determine a position, compare it to the boundaries 131, 131' to determine the presence of the tool in or outside the predetermined space 130, 130', and control the tool accordingly, authorizing its operation or not, and if necessary by selecting a specific operating mode. In a variant, the position is determined by one of the beacons 110 (or 110' or 110" or 110"') (by compiling the data provided by several beacons if necessary) and received directly by the reception means 104.

[0101] Furthermore, during a step E330 of receiving additional data, the tool 100 receives from the beacon 110 (or 110' or 110" or 110‴) for example general information (for example a type of vehicle to be processed, corresponding to a particular operating mode, etc.).

[0102] Similarly, during a step E340 of transmitting additional data, the tool 100 transmits to the beacon 110 (or 110' or 110" or 110‴) for example an identifier of the operator 120 and / or traceability data.

[0103] During a determination step E350, the tool 100 thus determines whether it is in or outside the predetermined space 130, 130'.

[0104] To do this, the control information includes geolocation information (which is either raw information from the ULB signals used by the geolocation beacon to locate the tool, or directly the data representative of the location of the tool 100 according to the signaling variant discussed above in relation to the Figures 1a and 1b which is considered). Tool 100 thus performs: a step of calculating or obtaining E350a (depending on the signaling variant considered) data representative of the location of the tool from the geolocation information received by the reception means 104; and a step of identifying the position E350b of the tool in or outside the borders 131, 131' of the predetermined space 130, 130', as a function of the data representative of the location of the tool 100.

[0105] During a control step E360, the control means 202 control the behavior of the tool 100 as a function of the control information and at least one predetermined production rule as described above in relation to the Figures 1a and 1b .

Claims

1. Control system for controlling a portable, drilling or screwing industrial tool (100) with a stand-alone power source, on a production line comprising at least one predetermined space corresponding to a station, or working area, said control system comprising said tool and at least one fixed geolocation beacon (110) capable of communicating with said tool via a wireless means, characterized in that said system implements a module (101) intended to be mounted in or on said tool, said module comprising: - a memory (203) capable of storing at least data representative of predetermined boundaries (131, 131') characterizing a plurality of predetermined spaces (130, 130'); - means (104) for receiving and sending control information delivered to or received by said at least one beacon (110), implementing ultra-wideband radio communication in a frequency band between 35 and 10 GHz, the control information comprising, receive-side, i.e. when sent from said at least one beacon to said tool, geolocation information and information making it possible to define activation of a production or screwing strategy, and, send-side, i.e. when sent from the tool to said at least one beacon, additional data such as traceability data, an identifier of an operator and / or an identifier of an employed accessory; - means (105) for computing or obtaining data representative of the location of said tool from the received geolocation information; - means (106) for identifying the position of said tool in or outside of one of said predetermined spaces, depending on said data representative of the location of said tool and on said data representative of the predetermined boundaries; and in that said tool interacts with said module and further comprises: - control means (202) capable of controlling the behaviour of said tool itself depending on the identified position of said tool in or outside of said predetermined spaces, to permit operation of the portable tool and / or of one of its accessories, if the tool is found in at least one predetermined space, and to prevent operation of the tool and / or of one of its accessories, if the tool is not found in at least one predetermined space, and permitting distinct types of operation according to said predetermined spaces, each type of operation corresponding to at least one predetermined production rule permitting a particular type of operation of the tool and / or of one of its accessories in compliance with a predetermined operating strategy associated with the predetermined space in question, the operating strategy comprising the screwing strategy and / or torque, taking into account the information received by said receiving and sending means (104).

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a learning actuator (205) making it possible to indicate the presence of said tool in a corner and / or at a boundary of said predetermined spaces and / or at a reference distance from at least one of said beacons.

3. Control system according to claim 1, characterized in that said geolocation information comprises data representative of the location of the tool.

4. Control system according to claim 3, characterized in that said data representative of the location of said tool belong to the group comprising: - at least one distance between said portable tool and at least one beacon; - coordinates of said portable tool in a fixed frame of reference, obtained via a trilateration calculation from distances between said portable tool and at least two beacons; - polar coordinates of said portable tool with respect to the fixed frame of reference of a beacon; - polar coordinates of at least two beacons with respect to the frame of reference of said tool.

5. Control system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said boundaries of said predetermined spaces are defined by data representative of boundaries belonging to the group comprising: - predetermined point coordinates corresponding to the corners of said boundaries; - straight or curved theoretical junctions passing through said corners; - at least one predetermined limit distance from at least one predetermined beacon.

6. Control system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least some of the signals exchanged between at least one of said beacons and said module carry: - additional data; and / or - orders to activate a predetermined operating strategy and / or to deactivate said tool and / or one of its accessories.

7. Control system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means (104) for receiving control information communicate with said control means (202) using one of the techniques belonging to the group comprising: - SPI connections; - I2C connections; - USB connections; - asynchronous serial links; - digital inputs / outputs; - radio means.

8. Control system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the portable tool comprises means for defining said predetermined spaces, in a learning mode.

9. Control system according to claim 8, characterized in that said defining means comprise a learning actuator (205) making it possible to indicate the presence of said tool in a corner of said predetermined spaces and / or at a distance from at least one beacon.

10. Control method for controlling a portable tool (100) with a stand-alone power source via a control system according to any of Claims 1 to 10, said portable tool being equipped with control means (202) capable of controlling the behaviour of said tool, implementing at least one fixed geolocation beacon (110, 110', 110", 110‴) capable of communicating with said portable tool, characterized in that it implements, in said portable tool, the following steps: - receiving (E310) control information delivered by said at least one beacon, said control information comprising geolocation information and information making it possible to define activation of a production or screwing strategy; - sending (E340) additional data such as traceability data, an identifier of an operator and / or an identifier of an employed accessory; - determining (E350) whether said portable tool is present in or outside of said at least one predetermined space from said control information, this comprising: - a step (E350a) of said receiving means computing or obtaining said data representative of the location of said tool from said received geolocation information; - a step (E350b) of identifying the position of said tool in or outside of one of said predetermined spaces, depending on said data representative of the location of said tool; - controlling (E360) the behaviour of said tool depending on whether said portable tool is present in or outside of said predetermined spaces, to permit operation of the portable tool and / or of one of its accessories, if the tool is found in at least one predetermined space, and to prevent operation of the tool and / or of one of its accessories, if the tool is not found in at least one predetermined space, and permitting distinct types of operation according to said predetermined spaces, each type of operation corresponding to at least one predetermined production rule permitting a particular type of operation of the tool and / or of one of its accessories in compliance with a predetermined operating strategy, or permitted behaviour, associated with the predetermined space in question, the operating strategy comprising the screwing strategy and / or torque, taking into account the information received in said receiving step.

11. Control method according to claim 10, characterized in that it implements, in said tool, in a learning mode, a step (E300) of defining said predetermined working spaces.

12. Control method according to claim 11, characterized in that said defining step stores (E300a) data representative of boundaries of said predetermined working spaces and / or a limit distance from a predetermined beacon, via activation of a learning actuator (205).

13. Control method according to any of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that it comprises a step (E330) of receiving additional data from said tool and / or a step (E340) of transmitting additional data from said tool to a server (140), via signals exchanged with said beacons.