Vehicle Inside Mirror Assembly in Narrow Robotic Spaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manual assembly of inside vehicle mirrors is inefficient due to non-uniformity and the difficulty in applying robotic pick-and-place methods, especially in narrow spaces with atypical component angles and shapes.

Innovation Solution

A system and method utilizing robots equipped with vision measurement units, fastening units, and grippers to measure and compensate for the assembly postures of atypical components like windshield glass and inside mirrors, enabling automated assembly by controlling robots to attach and fasten these components in a controlled manner, even in narrow spaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual operation is used to assemble the inside mirror, then the atypical shape and angles of components can be handled, but work organization efficiency is lower than the main line

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle atypical component shapesVSAvoidwork organization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical assembly operations with an automated robotic system equipped with vision measurement units and specialized fastening tools. The robot performs measurement, positioning, and fastening operations that were previously done manually, thereby improving work organization efficiency while maintaining the ability to handle atypical component geometries through programmatic control and adaptive measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs vision measurement units to capture and measure the actual positions and orientations of the atypical components (windshield glass and inside mirror). By measuring the actual geometric parameters and using this data to compensate for positioning, the system adapts to the atypical shapes and angles, enabling automated assembly with the same flexibility as manual operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If a simple pick-and-place robot method is used, then assembly speed is improved, but it is difficult to apply due to atypical component shapes and angles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly speedVSAvoidability to handle atypical component geometry

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary measurement of the component positions and orientations using vision measurement units before the actual assembly operation. This preliminary action captures the atypical geometry data, which is then used to calculate and apply position compensation during the assembly process, enabling the robot to adapt to non-standard component shapes and angles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses vision measurement units to continuously measure the actual positions and orientations of components during assembly. This measurement data is fed back to the control system, which calculates position compensation and adjusts the robot's movements in real-time, allowing the automated system to adapt to atypical component geometries while maintaining assembly speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If a narrow entry section fastening tool is used, then access to tight spaces is improved, but the tool complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to narrow spacesVSAvoidfastening tool design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening tool is divided into separate functional modules: a vision measurement unit for capturing component geometry, a positioning system for calculating compensation, and a fastening mechanism for executing the assembly. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently, with the fastening mechanism designed specifically for narrow space access while the measurement and control systems handle the complexity of adapting to atypical geometries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If automated assembly is implemented, then work organization efficiency is improved, but measurement and positioning precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvework organization efficiencyVSAvoidassembling position measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual positioning operations with an automated system that uses vision measurement units to precisely measure component locations. The measurement data is processed to calculate position compensation, which is then applied by the robot's control system. This substitution of manual positioning with automated measurement and calculation enables high precision positioning while maintaining improved work organization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20240190525A1System and method for assembling inside mirror for vehicle

Publication Date: 2024.06.13 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a system for assembling an inside mirror for a vehicle, the system including a plurality of robots each having at least one of a vision measurement unit, a fastening unit, and a gripper configured to grip an inside mirror for a vehicle, and a control unit configured to control the plurality of robots to measure a first mounting surface of a windshield glass and a second mounting surface of the inside mirror, move the inside mirror so that the first and second mounting surfaces are attached to each other while overlapping each other, and fasten the inside mirror and the windshield glass in a state in which the first and second mounting surfaces are attached to each other.