Multi-Robot Operation Permission Control to Prevent Input Conflicts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional remote control robot systems require multiple user interfaces for operators to manually control multiple robots, which is inefficient and impractical, especially when abnormalities occur and operation modes need to be switched.
Innovation Solution
A robot system with multiple robot bodies, operation devices, motion controllers, operation target selectors, and an operation permitting device that allows a single operation device to control multiple robots, enabling permission-based operation and preventing simultaneous manipulation from multiple devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple operation devices are prepared for multiple robots, then each robot can be controlled independently, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single operation device is designed to control multiple robot bodies through the operation permitting device. The operation device generates operational information that can be selectively applied to different robots, making one device serve multiple functions that previously required separate devices for each robot.
Solution Approach 2:
The operation permitting device acts as an intermediary between the operation device and multiple robot bodies. It receives permission requests, determines whether to grant permission based on current operation states, and controls which robot can be operated at any given time, thereby enabling centralized control while preventing conflicts.
2Device complexity
If a single operation device controls multiple robots, then the number of interfaces is reduced, but the risk of operation conflicts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The operation permitting device continuously monitors the operation state of each robot body and uses this feedback to make real-time permission decisions. When a robot is already being operated, the system receives feedback about this state and prevents additional permission requests, thereby avoiding operation conflicts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system preemptively prevents potential operation conflicts by checking the current operation state before granting permission. The determinator in the operation permitting device evaluates permission requests against existing operations and blocks conflicting requests before they can cause problems, rather than resolving conflicts after they occur.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual operation mode is switched for multiple robots, then operational flexibility improves, but the number of required user interfaces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single operation device is designed to handle operation mode switching for multiple robot bodies. It can generate operational information that switches robots between automatic and manual modes, and can control multiple robots sequentially, thereby providing the adaptability of multiple interfaces with the simplicity of one device.
Data Source
AI summary
A robot system includes robot bodies, operation devices each configured to accept operation and generate operational information for causing the robot body to operate, motion controllers configured to control operation of the corresponding robot body in response to the operational information, operation target selectors configured to receive an operation for selecting any of the robot bodies and request a permission to operate the selected robot body based on the operational information from the corresponding operation device, and an operation permitting device having a determinator configured to receive the permission request from the operation target selector and determine whether a permission is to be granted for the permission request. When the permission request is received, and the operation of the robot body selected by the operation target selector based on the operational information from a different operation device is permitted, the determinator prohibits the permission to the permission request.