Articulated Robot Arm Radar Envelope for Adaptive Collision Guarding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automated equipment in collaborative environments relies on physical and electronic barriers that are time-consuming to set up, calibrate, and can be ineffective due to human interference or inadequate coverage, hindering collaboration between humans and automated systems like robots and vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A collaborative robot guarding system utilizing radar sensors mounted on articulated arms, which dynamically adjust their scanning zone based on motion characteristics to detect obstacles and humans, enabling agile and adaptive navigation and trajectory planning within variable workspaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical and electronic barriers are installed around automated equipment, then safety is improved, but setup time and calibration time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces static physical and electronic barriers with a dynamic radar-based sensing system that moves with the robot arm. The sensing array dynamically adjusts its coverage area based on the robot's position and motion, eliminating the need for fixed barriers that require extensive setup and calibration while maintaining safety through continuous, adaptive monitoring of the collaborative workspace.
2Reliability
If fixed physical barriers are used, then safety coverage is improved, but adaptability to different locations and configurations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The radar sensing system is mounted on the moving robot arm or cart, allowing it to dynamically reposition and reconfigure its sensing coverage as the robot moves to different locations. This dynamic positioning capability provides continuous safety coverage adapted to each new position without requiring physical barriers to be reinstalled, thereby achieving both comprehensive safety coverage and high adaptability to different locations and configurations.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If broad space illumination with infrared is used, then detection coverage is improved, but false detection of improbable objects increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs radar sensors that emit localized electromagnetic waves in specific directions aligned with the robot arm's motion characteristics, rather than using broad infrared illumination that activates all sensors. This localized, directional sensing approach focuses detection resources on areas where obstacles are most likely to occur based on the robot's movement patterns, improving detection accuracy by reducing false detections of improbable objects while maintaining adequate detection coverage.
4Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If all sensors are activated to illuminate the whole region, then comprehensive object detection is improved, but energy consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically activates only the radar sensors that are relevant to the current robot arm position and motion trajectory. Rather than continuously activating all sensors in the array, the system adjusts which sensors are active based on real-time robot state, thereby maintaining comprehensive detection capability for probable engagement zones while reducing overall system complexity and energy consumption by keeping unnecessary sensors inactive.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances safety and efficiency by allowing robots to navigate dynamically within collaborative spaces, avoiding obstacles and humans while maintaining effective operation, even in changing environments, thus improving collaboration and reducing setup time.
Implementation Method 1
A collaborative robot guarding system utilizing radar sensors mounted on articulated arms
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic transport system including a drive section connected to a frame. An articulated arm coupled to the drive section providing the arm with arm motion in a collaborative space, corresponding to the frame, from a first location, in which the arm has a first shape, to another different location of the arm in the collaborative space in which the arm has another different shape. An electromagnetic affection envelope borne by the arm so that the electromagnetic affection envelope is defined by the arm and is close coupled and substantially conformal to at least part of a dynamic contour of each different arm shape of the arm. A controller connected to the drive section and configured so that in response to detection of entry of a collaborative object into the electromagnetic affection envelope, the controller commands a change in at least one predetermined characteristic of the arm motion.