Collaborative robot system
The collaborative robot system addresses the lack of usage status management by integrating user identification and control units with a solar cell, ensuring authorized access and reducing power consumption, thereby preventing unauthorized use and enhancing user tracking.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- AISAN IND CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-25
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-04
AI Technical Summary
Existing collaborative robot systems lack effective management of usage status, including user identification and location tracking, which can lead to unauthorized movement and operation, and do not efficiently manage power consumption.
A collaborative robot system equipped with a receiving unit for user identification, a storage unit for storing user information, and a control unit to manage movement and operation, integrated with a solar cell for power supply, ensuring authorized user access and usage tracking.
Prevents unauthorized movement and operation of collaborative robots, enables efficient user management, and reduces power consumption by allowing only authorized users to operate and move the robot, facilitating easy tracking of usage status and conditions.
Smart Images
Figure 2026091681000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This specification discloses a technology related to a collaborative robot system.
Background Art
[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a robot system for customer service. The robot system in Patent Document 1 assigns an ID to a user in advance and executes an action corresponding to each user when receiving the user's ID. In this robot system, detailed information corresponding to each user's ID is stored in a server. When the robot system receives the ID, it reads out the detailed information from the server and executes an appropriate action corresponding to each user.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] In the field of robot systems, collaborative robots that move a robot system to a predetermined location and work with a user are known. Collaborative robots are often used by multiple users. Therefore, it is important for collaborative robots to manage the usage status of the collaborative robot, such as which user moved it to where. However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 cannot manage the usage status of the collaborative robot. The purpose of this specification is to provide a technology for managing the usage status of a collaborative robot.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0005] The first technology disclosed herein is a collaborative robot system having a collaborative robot mounted on a mobile platform and capable of moving with a user to a predetermined location, wherein the collaborative robot system may include a receiving unit for receiving user identification information, a storage unit for storing the user's identification information, and a control unit for controlling the movement of the mobile platform. In this collaborative robot system, the control unit may enable the movement of the mobile platform when the identification information received by the receiving unit matches the identification information stored in the storage unit.
[0006] A second technology disclosed herein is a collaborative robot system of the first technology, wherein the working robot includes an operating unit whose operation is controlled by the control unit, and the control unit may enable the operation of the operating unit when the identification information received by the receiving unit matches the identification information stored in the storage unit.
[0007] A third technology disclosed herein is a collaborative robot system of the second technology described above, wherein the storage unit may store the user's identification information and the operating time of the operating unit in association with each other.
[0008] A fourth technology disclosed herein is a collaborative robot system of any of the first to third technologies described above, further comprising a solar cell, the solar cell may supply power to at least one of the receiving unit and the control unit. [Effects of the Invention]
[0009] According to the first technology, movement of the mobile platform is permitted only when pre-stored user identification information is received, thus preventing unauthorized individuals from moving the collaborative robot. This prevents the collaborative robot from being moved to an unintended location by unauthorized users. Furthermore, since user identification information is received, it is possible to determine which user moved the collaborative robot, making it easy to manage the robot's usage status.
[0010] According to the second technology, the users of the collaborative robot can be restricted. Therefore, those who have not been assigned identification information cannot not only move the collaborative robot, but also operate it in the location where the collaborative robot is present. This makes it even easier to manage the usage of the collaborative robot.
[0011] According to the third technology, it is possible to identify which user was using the work robot and at what time. Therefore, in the event of a malfunction in the work robot, it is possible to identify the user and check the conditions under which the work robot was being used. This makes it even easier to manage the usage status of collaborative robots.
[0012] According to the fourth technology, the amount of commercial electricity used can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0013] [Figure 1] A schematic diagram of the collaborative robot system is shown. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0014] Referring to Figure 1, the collaborative robot system 10 will be described. The collaborative robot system 10 can be used in factories and other facilities to move with the user, for example, to the manufacturing site (an example of a designated location), to move products (workpieces), or to inspect products. The collaborative robot system 10 comprises a mobile platform 12 and a collaborative robot 20 mounted on the mobile platform 12.
[0015] The mobile platform 12 is equipped with a wheel control unit 16 and wheels 14. The wheel control unit 16 can switch the wheels 14 between a movable state and a non-movable state. When the wheels 14 are in the movable state, the mobile platform 12 can move. When the wheels 14 are in the non-movable state, the mobile platform 12 cannot move. The user can only move the collaborative robot 20 to the manufacturing site, etc., when the wheels 14 are in the movable state. The switching of the wheel control unit 16 between the movable state and the non-movable state is performed by the control unit 18. Details of the control unit 18 will be described later.
[0016] The collaborative robot 20 comprises a solar cell 2, a receiving unit 6, a control unit 18, a storage unit 8, and a work robot 4. The work robot 4 is also equipped with an operating unit 3. The solar cell 2 supplies power to the receiving unit 6 and the control unit 18. Alternatively, the power generated by the solar cell 2 may be supplied directly to the receiving unit 6 and the control unit 18. In the collaborative robot 20, a battery (not shown) may be provided, and the power generated by the solar cell 2 may be supplied to the battery, which in turn supplies power to the receiving unit 6 and the control unit 18.
[0017] The receiver 6 can receive identification information (ID) stored on the ID card owned by the user. The identification information received by the receiver 6 is transmitted to the control unit 18. The control unit 18 checks with the storage unit 8 to determine whether the received identification information belongs to a person authorized to use the collaborative robot 20. If the received identification information matches the identification information stored in the storage unit 8, the control unit 18 transmits an operation signal to the wheel control unit 16 and the operation unit 3. The storage unit 8 stores the identification information assigned to the user of the collaborative robot 20. When registering a new user of the collaborative robot 20, the receiver 6 reads the user's identification information and registers it in the storage unit 8.
[0018] When the wheel control unit 16 receives an operational signal from the control unit 18, the wheel control unit 16 switches the wheels 14 to a movable state. This allows the user to move the mobile platform 12 (collaborative robot 20) to the manufacturing site. Before the wheel control unit 16 receives the operational signal from the control unit 18, the wheel control unit 16 maintains the wheels 14 in a non-movable state. Therefore, those who are not authorized to use the collaborative robot 20 cannot move the mobile platform 12 (collaborative robot 20).
[0019] When the operating unit 3 receives an operational signal from the control unit 18, the operating unit 3 switches to a movable state and can operate the work robot 4. This allows the user to perform tasks using the work robot 4 in the manufacturing area. The operation of the work robot 4 is controlled by the control unit 18. Before the operating unit 3 receives the operational signal from the control unit 18, the operating unit 3 maintains the work robot 4 in an operational disabled state. Therefore, those who are not authorized to use the collaborative robot 20 cannot operate the work robot 4.
[0020] After the operating unit 3 switches to the operational state, the storage unit 8 stores the start time, operating time, etc., of the operating unit 3 (working robot 4), along with identification information. Therefore, the owner (manager) of the collaborative robot system 10 can check the date and time, usage time, and user records of when the collaborative robot system 10 was used. This allows the owner (manager) of the collaborative robot system 10 to identify the user and check the circumstances under which the working robot 4 was being used, such as when a malfunction occurs in the working robot 4.
[0021] Summarize the advantages of the collaborative robot system 10. In the collaborative robot system 10, the identification information given to the user of the collaborative robot 20 is received, and only when the received identification information matches the identification information stored in the storage unit 8, the collaborative robot 20 can be moved and the work robot 4 can be operated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a person not permitted to use the collaborative robot 20 from moving the collaborative robot 20, and it is also possible to prevent a person not permitted to use the collaborative robot 20 from operating the work robot 4.
[0022] In the collaborative robot system 10, the operation date and time of the work robot 4 and the like are stored in association with the identification information. As a result, the owner (administrator) of the collaborative robot system 10 can grasp which user used the collaborative robot system 10 when, and can easily manage the usage status of the collaborative robot system 10.
[0023] (Other embodiments) In the above embodiment, an example in which the solar cell supplies power to the receiving unit and the control unit has been described. However, the solar cell may supply power only to the receiving unit or only to the control unit. Also, in the technology disclosed in this specification, the solar cell is not an essential component, and the solar cell may be omitted.
[0024] In the above embodiment, an example in which when the identification information received by the receiving unit matches the identification information stored in the storage unit, the control unit transmits an operable signal to the operation unit (work robot) and the wheel control unit has been described. However, the control unit may not transmit an operable signal to the operation unit and may transmit an operable signal only to the wheel control unit. Even in this case, a person not permitted to use the collaborative robot cannot move the collaborative robot (mobile platform), and only a person (user) permitted to use the collaborative robot can move the collaborative robot (mobile platform). As a result, it is possible to prevent inconveniences such as the collaborative robot being moved to an unintended location.
[0025] In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the storage unit stores user identification information and the operating time of the operating unit (work robot) in association with each other. However, in the technology disclosed herein, associating user identification information with the operating time of the operating unit (work robot) is not an essential configuration and may be omitted.
[0026] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, these are merely illustrative and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technologies described in the claims include various modifications and changes to the specific examples illustrated above. Furthermore, the technical elements described in this specification or drawings exhibit technical usefulness individually or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the technologies illustrated in this specification or drawings achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving even one of these objectives constitutes technical usefulness in itself. [Explanation of symbols]
[0027] 4: Work robots 6: Receiving Unit 8: Storage section 10: Collaborative robot systems 12: Mobile platform 18: Control Unit
Claims
1. A collaborative robot system having a working robot mounted on a mobile platform and a collaborative robot that can move with the user to a designated location, The collaborative robot system comprises a receiving unit that receives user identification information, a storage unit that stores the user's identification information, and a control unit that controls the movement of the mobile platform. A collaborative robot system in which the control unit enables the movement of the mobile platform when the identification information received by the receiving unit matches the identification information stored in the storage unit.
2. A collaborative robot system according to claim 1, The aforementioned work robot includes an operating unit whose operation is controlled by the control unit, A collaborative robot system in which the control unit enables the operation of the operating unit when the identification information received by the receiving unit matches the identification information stored in the storage unit.
3. A collaborative robot system according to claim 2, The collaborative robot system includes a storage unit that stores the user's identification information and the operating time of the operating unit in association with each other.
4. A collaborative robot system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Furthermore, it is equipped with solar panels. The aforementioned solar cell supplies power to at least one of the receiving unit and the control unit in a collaborative robot system.