AACMM Hand-Control Sensor for Force-Guided Measurement Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing manually guided articulated arm coordinate measuring machines (AACMMs) face challenges in accurately determining and utilizing the operator's force and torque inputs, which are crucial for precise measurement and operation.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of an operator action sensor mounted on the hand-controlled member of the AACMM, which detects the operator's force and torque inputs and provides corresponding data to the machine, allowing for improved handling and measurement accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual guidance of the probe is used to achieve high mobility and good accessibility, then the operator's force and torque inputs become difficult to determine accurately, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual guidance capabilityVSAvoidmeasurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the purely mechanical manual guidance system with a hybrid system that incorporates an operator action sensor. This sensor detects the operator's force and torque inputs and converts them into electrical signals that the control unit can process, thereby substituting direct mechanical force transmission with an electromechanical sensing and control system that preserves measurement precision while maintaining manual guidance capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The operator action sensor provides real-time feedback about the operator's force and torque inputs to the control unit. This feedback loop allows the system to compensate for operator actions and maintain measurement accuracy, as the control unit can process the sensor data to correct or adjust the probe position based on the detected operator inputs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If the operator directly controls intermediate members to achieve desired probe pose, then handling becomes complex, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprobe pose accuracyVSAvoidhandling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The operator action sensor acts as an intermediary between the operator's manual inputs and the probe positioning system. Instead of the operator directly controlling multiple intermediate members, the sensor captures the operator's force and torque inputs and the control unit processes this information to achieve the desired probe pose, simplifying the operator's task while maintaining positioning accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The operator action sensor serves multiple functions: it detects force inputs, detects torque inputs, and provides data for both positioning control and measurement compensation. This multi-functionality allows a single device to address both the ease of operation and measurement precision requirements without adding separate control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4534947A1Human interaction element with measurement function for coordinate measuring machine
Publication Date: 2025.04.09 HEXAGON INNOVATION HUB GMBH
  • EP4534947A1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP4534947A1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2f
  • EP4534947A1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to an articulated coordinate measuring machine (1) comprising, a base, a set of articulated elements, a probe and an operator action sensor (403) mounted on a hand-controlled member (141). The operator action sensor is configured to derive operator action data, regarding a force or a torque exerted or a displacement caused by an operator action on a hand-controlled member of the articulated arm coordinate measuring machine.