Robot Motion Sequence Safety Checking During Teach-In
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In shared workspaces with dangerous moving machines like robots, accidents often occur during installation, configuration, and teach-in phases, requiring specially trained personnel, which is costly and inefficient due to shortages of skilled workers, especially in environments with frequent production process changes.
Innovation Solution
A device that identifies unsafe movement sections in a robot's movement sequence by receiving configuration data of the machine and safety sensors, checks for predetermined safety criteria, and alerts operators or automatically adjusts the movement sequence to prevent accidents, allowing untrained personnel to safely configure and operate the machine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specially trained personnel are used for programming and operating mobile machines, then safety during installation and configuration is improved, but production costs increase and production processes are delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit automatically checks movement sequences for safety criteria without requiring external safety personnel. The system performs self-verification by comparing planned movements against stored safety data, enabling untrained operators to safely program machines while maintaining both safety and productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical dependency on trained safety personnel with an automated electronic checking system. The control unit electronically verifies movement sequences against safety criteria, substituting human expertise with automated computational validation that operates faster and at lower cost
2Reliability
If password protection is implemented for program parts, then prevention of unauthorized changes is improved, but flexibility for frequent production adaptations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides safety verification into separate, modular checks that can be independently applied to different movement sequences. Safety criteria are segmented into discrete checks (speed limits, acceleration limits, protective field violations) that can be selectively applied, allowing flexible adaptation while maintaining security through automated validation
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic adjustment of safety parameters and movement sequence parameters within authorized contexts. Configuration data can be modified to adapt to new production requirements while the control unit continuously validates changes against safety criteria, enabling flexibility without compromising security
3Measurement precision
If manual checking of movement sequences by trained personnel is performed, then detection of unsafe movements is improved, but time consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs continuous automated checking of movement sequences as they are programmed or executed. Instead of discrete manual reviews, the safety validation operates continuously in the background, detecting unsafe movements in real-time without interrupting the programming workflow, thereby maintaining detection accuracy while eliminating time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between the programming operator and the actual machine execution. It automatically mediates by checking movement sequences against safety criteria before execution, providing the same detection accuracy as trained personnel would achieve but without the time consumption and operational complexity of manual review
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A device and a method for programming and/or operating a moving machine, in particular a robot, are described. The device is configured to receive configuration data of the machine and configuration data of at least one safety sensor, as well as a planned motion sequence of the machine comprising a plurality of motion segments. Using the configuration data of the machine and the configuration data of the at least one safety sensor, at least one unsafe motion segment is identified, wherein the unsafe motion segment violates at least one predefined safety criterion.