Robot Cell Effectiveness Calculation Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for determining overall equipment effectiveness of a robot cell require manual data entry and are not fully automated, limiting efficiency and ease of implementation.

Innovation Solution

A method and arrangement that utilize an effectiveness determination device to automatically collect and process signals from a robot controller to calculate overall equipment effectiveness based on ideal and actual robot operations data, including signals generated during production cycles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual data entry is used to determine overall equipment effectiveness, then implementation is simple, but efficiency and automation are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverall equipment effectiveness calculation efficiencyVSAvoiddata collection automation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The robot controller automatically collects and provides operation data without human intervention. The system uses itself (the robot controller) to gather the data it needs for effectiveness calculation, eliminating manual data entry while maintaining implementation simplicity through existing infrastructure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The robot controller performs multiple functions: it controls robot operations and simultaneously collects operation data for effectiveness analysis. This multi-functionality allows automated data collection without adding separate dedicated data collection hardware

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If automated data collection is implemented, then efficiency improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata collection efficiencyVSAvoideffectiveness determination system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The robot controller serves dual purposes: controlling robot operations and collecting operation data. This eliminates the need for separate data collection devices, maintaining system simplicity while achieving automation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The existing robot controller automatically provides the data needed for effectiveness calculation without requiring additional specialized hardware or complex data collection infrastructure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2898452B1Overall equipment effectiveness of a robot cell
Publication Date: 2020.04.01 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • EP2898452B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2898452B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2898452B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention concerns a method, arrangement and computer program product for determining overall equipment effectiveness of a robot cell (16) comprising at least one industrial robot (10) involved in producing products. The arrangement comprises an effectiveness determination device, which in turn comprises an overall equipment effectiveness determining unit that obtains ideal robot operations data of the robot cell, obtains actual robot operations data of the robot cell, and determines the overall equipment effectiveness based on the ideal robot operations data and the actual robot operations data.