Multi-Axis Robot Control via Coordinate Conversion Programs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing control systems for multi-axis robots lack the ability to efficiently enable operation programming across various user interfaces, limiting their versatility and adaptability to different robot types and interfaces.

Innovation Solution

A control system comprising multiple controllers, where a first controller generates operation commands and communicates with a second controller to convert and execute these commands using coordinate conversion programs, allowing operation programming of multi-axis robots regardless of the user interface type, through a system of motion storage, communication, and control processing modules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a control system uses a fixed user interface for robot programming, then the control system is simpler to implement, but it cannot accommodate various robot types with different programming interfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with various robot types and user interfacesVSAvoidcomplexity of control system architecture
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a coordinate conversion program as an intermediary layer between the user interface and the robot control system. This program translates operation commands from different user interfaces into a standardized format that the robot controller can execute, enabling compatibility with various robot types without requiring changes to the core control architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The control system employs a universal coordinate conversion program that can handle multiple coordinate systems and user interface types. This single program structure serves multiple functions by adapting to different robot types and programming interfaces, thereby achieving versatility without proportionally increasing system complexity.

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

2Productivity

If coordinate conversion programs are pre-installed in the controller, then operation programming becomes more efficient, but the controller requires larger storage capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveefficiency of operation programmingVSAvoidstorage capacity of controller
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The coordinate conversion programs are prepared and stored in advance in the controller's storage unit. This preliminary action allows the controller to quickly retrieve and execute appropriate conversion programs during operation programming, significantly improving programming efficiency without requiring real-time computation or external processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3376322B1Control system, controller, and control method
Publication Date: 2022.08.17 YASKAWA DENKI KK
  • EP3376322B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3376322B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3376322B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The control system 1 includes a first controller 100, and a second controller 200. The second controller 200 includes a program storage module 210 that stores two or more coordinate conversion programs, and a control processing module 240 that acquires program designation information for designating one of two or more coordinate conversion programs from the first controller 100, to acquire a first operation command in the coordinate system for the first controller 100 from the first controller 100, to convert the first operation command to an operation target value of two or more joint axes J1 to J6 of a multi-axis robot 10 using the coordinate conversion programs according to the program designation information, and to output driving power according to the operation target value to the joint axes J1 to J6.