Isolated Human Work Platform for Collaborative Robot Positioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current work platforms inside aircraft fuselage assemblies are not isolated, leading to end-of-arm tooling on robots being displaced due to human or machine motion, causing positioning errors.
Innovation Solution
A base platform supports robots independently of an isolated work platform, with gantries on both sides of the work platform ensuring stable positioning, and a cable carrier system provides power and communication to the robots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a shared work platform is used for both humans and robots, then human-robot collaboration is enabled, but robot positioning accuracy deteriorates due to platform motion from human or machine activity
Solution Approach 1:
The platform is divided into two independent segments: a work platform for human operators and a base platform for robot support. These segments are isolated from each other, allowing human activity on the work platform without affecting robot positioning on the base platform. The segmentation enables both human-robot collaboration and precise robot positioning simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Gantries serve as intermediary structures that connect the work platform to the base platform while providing isolated support for robots. The gantries transfer loads to the base platform without transmitting motion from the work platform to the robots, acting as a mechanical mediator that decouples the two platforms while maintaining structural integrity.
2Device complexity
If robots are mounted directly on a work platform, then space is saved, but robot positioning stability deteriorates due to platform vibration and motion
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the robot support function from the human work function by creating distinct base platform and work platform segments. This segmentation allows the robot base to remain stable on the base platform while humans work on the separate work platform, eliminating vibration and motion transmission while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The gantries act as intermediary support structures that provide stable mounting for robots while isolating them from work platform motion. They serve as a stable mechanical bridge that connects to the motion-isolated base platform, ensuring robot positioning stability without requiring complex active stabilization systems.
3Manufacturing precision
If the work platform is isolated from the robot base, then robot positioning accuracy is improved, but structural complexity increases due to separate support systems
Solution Approach 1:
While segmentation into separate work platform and base platform is required for isolation, the patent minimizes resulting complexity by using gantries that provide both structural support and isolation functionality in a single integrated component, rather than requiring multiple separate support structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The gantries serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide structural support for the work platform, support the robots, isolate the two platforms from each other, and enable robot movement along their length. This multi-functionality reduces overall structural complexity despite the isolation requirement.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
An isolated human work platform (20) for stabilized positioning of collaborative robotics. A base platform (18) is provided, and a work platform (20) is positioned above the base platform (18) for supporting one or more humans (30). One or more robots (22) are supported on the base platform (18) independently of the work platform (20), so that movement of the work platform (20) does not affect the robots' positions. The work platform (20) is isolated from the robots (22) for stabilized positioning of the robots (22), so that the base platform (18) and work platform (20) together provide a collaborative workspace for the robots (22) and the humans (30).