Modular Robot Control Architecture with Reconfigurable I/O Blocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) often require vendors to modify robot inputs and outputs to fit their existing I/O maps, necessitating updates and changes in robot systems during manufacturing processes.
Innovation Solution
A robot system with a modular I/O map architecture that includes predefined blocks with grouped inputs and outputs, allowing applications to be dynamically placed and ordered without modifying the I/O map, enabling stackable and interchangeable applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the I/O map is modified to fit different applications and tooling, then the robot system can accommodate various manufacturing requirements, but the complexity of maintaining and updating the I/O map increases
Solution Approach 1:
The I/O map is segmented into multiple standardized blocks, each representing a functional unit with predefined inputs and outputs. This segmentation allows the robot system to accommodate different applications by selectively combining blocks rather than modifying the entire I/O map, thereby maintaining adaptability while reducing maintenance complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Each block in the I/O map is designed with universal inputs and outputs that can interface with various applications and tooling. This multi-functionality enables the same block to serve different purposes depending on the application context, allowing the robot system to adapt to different manufacturing requirements without requiring custom I/O configurations for each application.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the I/O map is updated for each new application or tooling configuration, then the robot system can be reconfigured for different manufacturing processes, but the time and resources required for reconfiguration increase
Solution Approach 1:
The I/O map blocks are pre-configured with standardized inputs and outputs during the design phase. This preliminary action ensures that when reconfiguration is needed, the system can simply select and combine pre-defined blocks rather than creating new configurations from scratch, significantly reducing the time and resources required for reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic block assignment where applications can be dynamically associated with appropriate blocks based on the manufacturing requirements. This dynamic reconfiguration capability allows the robot system to adapt to different processes quickly by changing block associations rather than modifying the underlying I/O map structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple applications are integrated into the robot system, then the system becomes more versatile, but the difficulty of managing and organizing inputs and outputs increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each application is associated with one or more dedicated blocks that encapsulate its specific inputs and outputs. This segmentation isolates the I/O management of each application within its own block, making it easier to manage and organize multiple applications without creating a complex tangled web of I/O connections. Each block acts as an independent container for its application's I/O requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A robot is disclosed. The robot includes at least one robot component and a controller. The controller is configured to control the at least one robot component based at least on: (1) an Input/Output (I/O) map comprising a plurality of blocks that are each associated with predefined inputs and outputs; and (2) an application associated with at least one block of the plurality of blocks, the application executes the associated predefined inputs and outputs to control the at least one robot component.