Robot System Automating Character Input from Paper Documents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robot systems are unable to perform the series of work operations involved in recognizing and inputting character strings from paper documents, limiting their functionality in automating data entry tasks.
Innovation Solution
A robot system equipped with a manipulation tool unit, a robot arm, an imaging device, and a controller that can manipulate a character input device to input character information from paper documents by determining character strings and moving the manipulation tool in the correct arrangement order, allowing the robot to perform data entry operations independently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a robot system is used to perform data entry operations by manipulating a character input device, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is divided into multiple functional sections: imaging device control section, character string determiner section, manipulation part position determiner section, and robot control section. Each section handles a specific aspect of the data entry process, allowing the complex robot system to be managed through modular, specialized components that work together to achieve automated character input.
Solution Approach 2:
The manipulation tool unit serves as an intermediary between the robot arm and the character input device. This specialized tool enables the robot to interact with the input device without requiring direct integration, simplifying the overall system configuration while maintaining automated data entry capability.
2Loss of time
If the robot system is introduced to perform work operations, then loss of time is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The robot system performs data entry operations autonomously by independently executing the sequence of imaging, character recognition, position determination, and keyboard manipulation. The system serves itself by automatically coordinating all components without requiring continuous human intervention, thereby reducing data entry time while maintaining operational simplicity through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller uses feedback from the character string determiner section to guide the manipulation part position determiner section, which in turn guides the robot control section. This feedback loop ensures that the robot accurately inputs characters in the correct sequence and position, reducing errors and rework time while streamlining the overall operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the robot manipulates the character input device, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The robot arm provides dynamic positioning capability, allowing the manipulation tool to reach any key on the character input device regardless of its layout or position. The system adapts to different input devices by dynamically adjusting the robot arm's movement path and the manipulation tool's position, maintaining high accuracy across various device configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The manipulation part position determiner section calculates precise positioning parameters based on the specific layout of the character input device. By changing the positional parameters according to the device's configuration rather than requiring physical reconfiguration, the system achieves high manipulation accuracy while maintaining adaptability to different input devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A robot system including a plurality of manipulation parts used to input a command of the specified character information, configured to send the input command of the specified character information to an information processing device, including a manipulation tool unit capable of manipulating the plurality of manipulation parts of the character input device; a robot arm unit capable of holding and moving the manipulation tool unit; an imaging device; a controller including: an imaging device control section to take an image of the paper document; a character string determiner section to determine an input target of the paper document; a manipulation part position determiner section corresponding to the character string; and a robot control section controlling the arm unit so the manipulation tool unit held by the arm unit moves while manipulating the manipulation part determined by the character string determiner section in an arrangement order of the character string.