Portable Robot Teaching Interface for Accurate Mobile Robot Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing robot systems struggle to accurately and intuitively select and operate autonomous mobile robots due to changing positional relationships between portable teaching devices and mobile robots, leading to potential misselection during operation.

Innovation Solution

A robot system comprising a portable teaching device with a display section, first and second detecting sections, and a display control section that displays the positions of both the portable teaching device and mobile robots, using wireless communication and marker detection to ensure accurate positioning and reduce user error.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If autonomous mobile robots are used to improve versatility and adaptability, then the system can handle dynamic work environments, but the positional relationship between teaching device and robots constantly changes making accurate selection difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle dynamic work environmentsVSAvoidaccuracy in selecting target robot

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements real-time feedback by detecting the teaching device's position and the positions of all mobile robots, then displaying this information on the screen. This feedback loop allows the operator to see the current spatial relationships and make accurate selections despite the dynamic environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

A display screen acts as an intermediary between the teaching device and the mobile robots. It visualizes the positional relationships and serves as a reference for selection, mediating the interaction between the operator and the dynamic robot system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If real-time position display is implemented to improve selection accuracy, then operator accuracy increases, but system complexity and detection requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition detection accuracyVSAvoiddetection and display system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The teaching device serves multiple functions: it controls the mobile robots and simultaneously detects its own position and the robots' positions. The display screen also serves dual purposes by showing both robot status information and positional relationship information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The position detection functionality is integrated into the existing teaching device rather than being implemented as a separate system. The detection results are merged with the control interface on a single display screen, combining multiple functions into unified components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11577402B2Robot system and portable teaching device

Publication Date: 2023.02.14 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A robot system includes a mobile robot configured to move, a portable teaching device including a display section configured to display information, the portable teaching device teaching the mobile robot, a first detecting section configured to detect a present position of the portable teaching device, a second detecting section configured to detect a present position of the mobile robot, and a display control section configured to cause, based on a detection result of the first detecting section and a detection result of the second detecting section, the display section to display the present position of the portable teaching device and the present position of the mobile robot.