Modular Sensorized Covering for Robot Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solutions for enhancing safety in human-robot interaction in industrial settings, such as passive and active safety measures, face challenges in practical installation and maintenance, particularly with sensorized coverings on movable robot structures, which are complex and laborious to install and remove.
Innovation Solution
A modular sensorized covering system for automated devices, comprising load-bearing structures with elastically yielding materials and integrated contact and proximity sensors, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly, and independent operation of modules, ensuring safe human-robot collaboration by detecting contact and proximity with a human operator and adjusting the robot's behavior accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensorized coverings are integrated on the manipulator to ensure active safety, then safety monitoring capability is improved, but installation complexity and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The covering is divided into multiple modular elements that can be independently installed and removed. Each module contains integrated sensors and can be attached to specific portions of the manipulator, allowing flexible configuration and simplified installation processes while maintaining comprehensive safety coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The covering modules serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide passive safety through soft material, integrate active safety sensors for monitoring, and enable easy installation/removal. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate safety systems and simplifies overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If sensorized coverings are integrated on the manipulator to ensure active safety, then safety monitoring capability is improved, but removal and replacement labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The covering is segmented into independent modules that can be easily detached and reattached. This modular design allows quick removal and replacement of individual modules without affecting the entire covering system, significantly reducing maintenance labor requirements while preserving safety functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The covering modules are designed with dynamic attachment mechanisms that allow for quick installation and removal. The modules can be easily attached during setup and quickly removed for maintenance or replacement, providing flexibility in system configuration and maintenance operations.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If soft materials are used to coat the manipulator for passive safety, then harm from impact is reduced, but structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The covering modules combine soft, impact-absorbing materials with structurally sound frameworks. This composite construction provides both passive safety through impact cushioning and sufficient structural strength to maintain manipulator integrity, resolving the contradiction between softness and strength requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The modular sensorized covering system enhances safety and ease of installation/maintenance by providing effective detection and response to human presence, ensuring safe operation and reducing the risk of accidents through modular design and integrated sensor functionality.
Implementation Method 1
coated with soft materials... to minimise the harm caused by possible impact against a human operator
Implementation Method 2
electrical sensors aimed at recognising contact or collision between the manipulator and a human operator, such as force sensors or contact sensors
Implementation Method 3
electrical sensors aimed at recognising the excessive approach between the manipulator and a human operator, such as proximity sensors
Data Source
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AI summary
An automated device, in particular a robot, comprises: - a movable structure; - actuator means, for causing displacements of the movable structure; - a control system, which includes a control unit and is able to control the actuator means; and - a sensorized covering, which covers at least part of the movable structure and integrates sensor means that include at least one of contact sensor means and proximity sensor means. The sensorized covering comprises a plurality of covering modules, each having a respective load-bearing structure of a predefined shape (40) associated to which is at least one layer of elastically yielding material. The plurality of covering modules comprises one or more sensorized covering modules (23, 24), which include respective sensor means. The load-bearing structure (40) of at least some of the covering modules (23, 24) has electrical connector means (46, 47) associated thereto, for enabling separable electrical connection of at least two different covering modules (23, 24) that are adjacent to one another.