Multi-Robot Job Visualization for Shared Timeline Programming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robot programming systems face challenges in optimizing operation programming for multiple robots, particularly in coordinating the execution of jobs across robots with varying execution times and dependencies, which complicates the visualization and fine-tuning of operation sequences.
Innovation Solution
A programming assistance device and method that generates job images and simulation images for multiple robots, allowing users to visualize and adjust the execution order and timing of jobs, including transitional jobs, through a user interface that displays job flowcharts, simulation, and time designation images, enabling efficient operation programming by setting execution orders, calculating standby periods, and regenerating transitional jobs based on user inputs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple robots execute jobs with varying execution times and dependencies, then robot productivity increases, but operation programming complexity and coordination difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a programming assistance device as an intermediary system that automatically generates operation programs for multiple robots. This mediator handles the complex coordination of execution times and dependencies between robots, allowing users to simply input job information while the system manages the programming complexity through automated sequence generation and timing coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the operation programming process into distinct components: job information input, automatic sequence generation, execution time calculation, and coordination management. By dividing the complex programming task into these manageable segments, the system maintains high productivity while reducing the perceived complexity for users through structured, modular processing.
2Manufacturing precision
If users need to visualize and adjust job execution sequences for multiple robots, then operation accuracy improves, but system complexity and programming time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual model (job image) that copies and represents the actual robot operation sequences. This visual copy allows users to inspect, verify, and adjust execution sequences without affecting the physical robots during programming. The job image serves as a safe virtual replica for detailed sequencing work, improving accuracy while keeping the actual system simple and unchanged.
Solution Approach 2:
The programming assistance device acts as an intermediary between user intent and robot execution, providing automated sequence generation and visual verification tools. This mediator handles the complex coordination requirements, allowing users to achieve high sequencing accuracy through simplified interfaces that automatically manage the underlying system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If users manually program execution sequences for multiple robots, then programming flexibility is maintained, but programming time and effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by automatically generating operation sequences and calculating execution times before actual robot programming. The system pre-processes job information to create initial sequences, which users can then review and adjust. This preliminary automation reduces programming time while maintaining flexibility, as users only need to refine pre-generated sequences rather than create them from scratch.
Solution Approach 2:
The programming assistance device enables self-service programming by automatically generating sequences based on user-provided job information. Users input high-level requirements and the system autonomously handles sequence generation, timing calculation, and coordination, significantly reducing programming time while preserving flexibility through user review and adjustment capabilities.
Data Source
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AI summary
A programming assistance device (100) includes a program storage unit (115) that stores a first program comprising a first set of time series jobs, each job of the first program defining at least one operation of a first robot (2), wherein the first program is configured to be performed along a shared time line; and store a second program comprising a second set of time series jobs, each job of the second program defining at least one operation of a second robot (2), wherein the second program is configured to be performed along the shared time line. The programming assistance device (100) further includes a job image generation unit (143) configured to: identify a verification target time in the shared time line based, at least in part, on a user designation; and generate, based on the first program and the second program, a job image indicating at least one of the first set of time series jobs executed by the first robot (2) and at least one job of the second set of time series jobs executed by the second robot (2) at the verification target time designated in the shared time line.