NC-Robot Command Batching to Cut Handshake Cycle Time

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional numerical control systems require multiple handshake processes for each command block, leading to increased communication processing time and prolonged cycle times in robot control.

Innovation Solution

A numerical control system that bundles multiple robot commands into groups and sends them together with a program launch command, reducing the frequency of handshake processes and shortening communication processing time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple handshake processes are executed for each command block to ensure reliable communication between numerical control device and robot control device, then communication reliability is improved, but communication processing time increases and cycle time lengthens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual command transmissions into a single batch transmission. Instead of executing handshake processes for each command block separately, the system bundles multiple robot commands into one transmission unit, performing a single handshake process for the entire batch. This combining approach maintains communication reliability while dramatically reducing the cumulative time spent on repeated handshake procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by preparing and bundling multiple robot commands in advance before transmission. The numerical control device collects multiple command blocks, bundles them into a single robot command group, and then executes the handshake process once for the entire bundled set. This preliminary bundling action eliminates the need for repeated handshake processes that would otherwise occur with individual command transmissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If multiple handshake processes are executed for each command block to ensure proper data transfer, then data transfer accuracy is improved, but the number of processing steps increases and cycle time lengthens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer accuracyVSAvoidnumber of processing steps

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual command transmissions into a single batch transmission. Instead of executing handshake processes for each command block separately, the system bundles multiple robot commands into one transmission unit, performing a single handshake process for the entire batch. This combining approach maintains communication reliability while dramatically reducing the cumulative time spent on repeated handshake procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the robot control program into multiple command blocks that can be bundled together. By organizing commands into discrete blocks that can be grouped and transmitted as a unit, the system maintains the structural integrity needed for accurate processing while enabling efficient batch transmission. This segmentation allows the system to balance data accuracy requirements with reduced processing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If handshake processing is executed frequently for each command block to maintain communication synchronization, then communication synchronization is improved, but productivity decreases due to increased cycle time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication synchronizationVSAvoidrobot control productivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual command transmissions into a single batch transmission. Instead of executing handshake processes for each command block separately, the system bundles multiple robot commands into one transmission unit, performing a single handshake process for the entire batch. This combining approach maintains communication reliability while dramatically reducing the cumulative time spent on repeated handshake procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables continuous processing by reducing interruptions from frequent handshake processes. By bundling multiple commands into single transmissions, the system minimizes the frequency of synchronization interruptions, allowing the robot control operation to proceed more continuously. This reduces idle time and improves overall productivity while maintaining necessary communication synchronization at reduced intervals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS12498702B2Numerical control system, and industrial machine control method

Publication Date: 2025.12.16 FANUC LTD

AI summary

A numerical control system 1 is provided with a numerical control device 5 and a robot control device 6 The numerical control device 5 is provided with: a robot command generating unit 55 which generates a robot command for each robot command block; a robot program launch command unit 56; and a data transmitting and receiving unit 59 which transmits to the robot control device 6, in advance as a batch, a plurality of robot commands generated on the basis of a plurality of robot command blocks, as a robot command group, and then transmits a program launch command to the robot control device 6. The robot control device 6 is provided with: a robot program generating unit 61 which generates a robot program on the basis of the robot commands; and an operation control unit 65 which, after a robot program based on the robot command group has been generated, operates the robot program upon receipt of the program launch command.