Portable Robot Controller Integrating Orientation and Touch

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional portable robot control systems, such as those using smartphones or tablets, are not intuitive for realizing linear robot movements, as they require users to change settings on a teach pendant, diverting attention from the robot and making the teaching process less convenient.

Innovation Solution

A portable apparatus equipped with an orientation sensor, a human-machine interface (HMI) device for detecting two-dimensional manual motion, and a processing unit that integrates orientation and motion signals to control robot movements in three-dimensional space, allowing for more intuitive linear robot movement by mapping two-dimensional touch panel movements with orientation changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional teach pendant or smartphone orientation mapping is used to control robot movement, then the robot can be controlled portably, but the control is not intuitive for realizing linear robot movements and requires changing settings on the teach pendant

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintuitiveness of robot movement controlVSAvoidtime spent changing teaching settings
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent maps two-dimensional touch panel movements combined with device orientation (from orientation sensors) to three-dimensional robot movements. This dimensional transformation allows intuitive control of linear robot movements by combining 2D touch input with 3D orientation data, eliminating the need to change teaching settings and making the control more natural and direct

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If users change teaching settings on the teach pendant to control robot movements, then the robot can be taught different paths, but the operator's attention is diverted from the robot making teaching less convenient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to teach different robot pathsVSAvoidconvenience of teaching operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically adapts to the operator's intended movement direction by detecting the orientation of the portable device itself. The device's orientation sensors automatically provide the directional information needed for robot movement, eliminating the need for manual setting changes and allowing the operator to maintain continuous visual attention on the robot while teaching

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

This integration enables more intuitive control of robot movements in three-dimensional space, enhancing the convenience and efficiency of teaching robot paths by allowing operators to define paths using natural gestures and reducing the need to constantly adjust settings.

Implementation Method 1

an orientation sensor, being adapted for measuring orientation of said portable apparatus

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

an HMI device, being adapted for detecting two-dimensional manual motion relative to said HMI device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTouch sensing:

Data Source

PatentEP3126936B1Portable apparatus for controlling robot and method thereof
Publication Date: 2019.09.04 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • EP3126936B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3126936B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

It provides a portable apparatus for controlling a robot and a method therefor. The portable apparatus includes: an orientation sensor, being adapted for measuring orientation of said portable apparatus; an HMI device, being adapted for detecting two-dimensional manual motion relative to said HMI device; and a processing unit, being adapted for receiving a first signal representing said measured orientation of said portable apparatus and a second signal representing said detected two-dimensional manual motion relative to said HMI device and controlling a part of said robot to move in a direction in consideration of said measured orientation of said portable apparatus and said detected two-dimensional manual motion relative to said HMI device. By having the portable apparatus and the method therefor as explained herein, the two-dimensional manual movement on touch panel is integrated with orientation of the portable apparatus and an integration of these is mapped by the robot, which makes it possible to define a path in three dimensional space for jogging/teaching robot's movements in three dimension. This renders more intuitive than realization of linear robot movement by the portable orientation.