Selective Axis Power Disconnection for Robot Safety and Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current manipulator systems, such as robots, require costly and inefficient complete shutdowns of all axes during unplanned movements, failing to account for non-safety-relevant axes and potentially causing injuries or operational disruptions.
Innovation Solution
Selectively monitoring and disconnecting only specific axes from power supply when they are not stationary, while keeping non-selected axes connected to prevent unnecessary shutdowns and ensure safety without halting the entire system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all axes are disconnected from power supply when standstill monitoring is violated, then operator safety is ensured, but operational efficiency deteriorates due to unnecessary shutdowns of non-safety-relevant axes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the manipulator system into multiple independent axes, each with its own standstill monitoring. When a safety violation is detected, only the specific axis that violated the monitoring is disconnected from power supply, while other axes remain operational. This segmentation allows selective shutdown rather than complete system shutdown, maintaining productivity while ensuring safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different power supply states to different axes based on their safety relevance. Selected axes under standstill monitoring are disconnected when violations occur, while non-selected axes remain connected and operational. This local differentiation of power supply status resolves the contradiction between safety and productivity.
2Reliability
If complete STOP 1 is performed for all axes, then safety is maximized, but resumption of operation becomes costly and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements selective disconnection of only the specific axis that violated standstill monitoring, rather than disconnecting all axes. This segmented approach minimizes the scope of shutdown, allowing faster resumption of operation while maintaining adequate safety through targeted power disconnection of the problematic axis only.
3Productivity
If non-selected axes remain connected to power supply, then system functionality is maintained, but safety risks may increase if those axes are not monitored
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-selects specific axes for standstill monitoring based on their safety relevance to operators. By identifying and monitoring critical axes beforehand, the system can maintain non-monitored axes in operational state without significantly increasing safety risks, as the most dangerous axes are the ones being monitored.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for controlling a manipulator system, particularly a robot system, comprising at least two driven axes (A1 - A9; A1 - A4) connected to a power supply to this end, comprising the steps of: - selecting an axis of the manipulator system (S10); monitoring the selected axis for the rest state (S80); and - separating the selected axis from a power supply (S100, S110), if it is detected that said axis is not in the rest state, wherein at least one axis that is not selected remains connected to the power supply (S70).