Multi-Robot Load Control for Synchronized Maintenance Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robot control systems fail to synchronize the timing of component replacements across multiple robots, leading to varying maintenance times and reduced productivity due to unpredictable failure predictions.
Innovation Solution
A controller system that includes a failure prediction section to predict the failure time of each robot and a load adjustment section to adjust the work load of each robot based on the predicted failure times, ensuring all robots operate until a common maintenance time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If component replacement is performed based on individual failure predictions for each robot, then reliability is improved by preventing unexpected failures, but productivity deteriorates due to varying maintenance times causing production disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the maintenance scheduling of multiple robots by synchronizing their operation loads so that they reach their maintenance timepoints simultaneously. This allows consolidated maintenance activities instead of individual maintenance events, ensuring reliability through timely replacements while maintaining productivity by minimizing production disruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the operation loads of robots based on their individual failure predictions. By flexibly modifying work assignments and operation intensities, the system guides robots to converge on a common maintenance timepoint, resolving the contradiction between preventive maintenance requirements and production continuity.
2Reliability
If maintenance is performed at different times for different robots based on individual failure predictions, then reliability is improved by addressing each robot's specific needs, but productivity worsens due to repeated maintenance activities and labor inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual maintenance schedules into a single synchronized maintenance event. By adjusting operation loads, robots that would have required maintenance at different times are instead guided to reach their maintenance timepoints together, eliminating repeated maintenance activities and reducing total maintenance time and labor requirements.
3Productivity
If robot operation loads are adjusted to synchronize maintenance times, then productivity is improved by reducing maintenance disruptions, but device complexity increases due to the need for coordinated load management across multiple robots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the controller continuously monitors individual robot failure predictions and adjusts operation loads accordingly. This closed-loop control system uses failure prediction data as feedback to dynamically modify maintenance scheduling, achieving synchronized maintenance and improved productivity through automated coordination rather than complex manual planning.
Data Source
AI summary
A controller for controlling a plurality of robots includes a failure prediction section configured to predict a failure time for each of the robots; and a load adjustment section configured to perform adjustment of a work load of each of the robots according to each of the predicted failure times, so that each of the robots operates until a maintenance time determined in common to each of the robots.