Cobot Programming via Virtual Superimposed Meta-Cell
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques for programming collaborative robots (cobots) in multi-cell industrial facilities are cumbersome, tedious, and error-prone, requiring extensive time and effort, as programmers must independently program each cell considering various obstacles, leading to inefficiencies and increased maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A method that enables programming cobots in a tightly coupled physical-digital environment using a pseudo 'offline-online' technique, where a single robotic program is generated for multiple cells by connecting physical and virtual cobots, allowing manual teaching and virtual reality collision checks, thereby reducing the need for new sensors and improving usability and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a programmer independently programs each industrial cell one-by-one, then the cobot can be programmed to operate in each specific cell, but the programming process becomes cumbersome, tedious, and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the physical industrial cell in a simulation environment. The virtual cell includes digital twins of all physical objects, allowing the programmer to develop and test the cobot program virtually before deployment to the physical cell, significantly reducing programming time while maintaining operational reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables preliminary programming and collision detection in the virtual environment before the cobot is deployed to the physical cell. All programming activities, including obstacle avoidance and path planning, are performed in advance in the simulation, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-site programming and testing
2Reliability
If the programmer considers all possible obstacles in each physical facility cell, then collision-free operation is achieved, but the programming complexity and difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a comprehensive virtual model of all obstacles in the industrial cell, including walls, machines, and other objects. The simulation environment automatically detects collisions between the virtual cobot and all virtual obstacles, eliminating the need for the programmer to manually account for each obstacle and significantly reducing programming complexity while ensuring collision-free operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements automatic collision detection and feedback mechanisms in the simulation environment. The system continuously monitors the virtual cobot's movements and provides real-time feedback when potential collisions are detected, allowing the programmer to adjust the program efficiently without manually tracking each obstacle's position and dimensions
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cobot programs are downloaded and managed for different cells, then each cell can be programmed independently, but the maintenance costs and management effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal virtual environment that can model multiple different industrial cells with varying obstacles and configurations. A single cobot program developed in this universal simulation environment can be adapted and deployed to multiple physical cells, eliminating the need to maintain separate programs for each cell while maintaining adaptability to different cell configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the virtual simulation environment as a master template that can be copied and adapted for different physical cells. Rather than creating unique programs for each cell, the system maintains a single master program in the virtual environment that can be deployed to multiple physical cells, significantly reducing maintenance effort and costs
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Systems and a method for programming for a plurality of cells of an industrial environment. A physical cobot is provided within a lab cell comprising lab physical objects. A virtual simulation system with a user interface is provided. The virtual simulation system receives information inputs on the virtual cobot, on the virtual lab cell comprising lab virtual objects, and on a plurality of virtual industrial cells comprising virtual industrial objects. The virtual cobot and the physical cobot are connected together. A superimposed meta-cell is generated by superimposing the plurality of virtual cells and the virtual lab cell so as to obtain a single superimposed meta cell including a set of superimposed virtual objects. The virtual cobot is positioned in the superimposed meta cell. Inputs are received from the physical cobot's movement during teaching whereby the physical cobot is moved in the lab cell to the desired position(s) while providing, via the user interface, a visualization of the virtual cobot's movement within the superimposed meta cell so that collisions with any object are minimized. A robotic program is generated based on the received inputs of the physical cobot's movement.