Robot Motor ID Verification for Unauthorized Replacement Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing robot systems struggle to easily detect unauthorized motor replacements, leading to potential malfunctions and operational issues.

Innovation Solution

A robot system that includes a first storage unit for each motor to store its identification information and a separate second storage unit to store the same information, with a control unit comparing these to determine if the motor has been authorizedly replaced.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If serial number comparison is used to detect motor replacement, then motor replacement can be detected, but unauthorized motor replacement cannot be easily distinguished from authorized replacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotor replacement detection accuracyVSAvoidunauthorized motor replacement detection ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a copy of the motor's identification information by storing it in the encoder (first storage unit) and also storing the same identification information in the robot controller's storage unit (second storage unit). This copying mechanism allows the system to compare the motor's actual identification information with the pre-stored copy to detect unauthorized replacements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the robot controller continuously monitors the identification information of motors by comparing data from the encoder with data stored in its own storage unit. When a mismatch is detected, the controller provides feedback by generating an error message, enabling real-time detection of unauthorized motor replacements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If motor replacement is allowed for failure recovery, then system availability improves, but unauthorized replacement risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem availabilityVSAvoidmotor authorization control

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-storing the identification information of authorized motors in the robot controller's storage unit before any replacement occurs. This allows the system to automatically verify whether a replaced motor is authorized without requiring manual intervention or external verification, thus maintaining both availability and authorization control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service by automatically comparing the identification information of replaced motors with pre-stored authorized motor information. The robot controller itself performs the verification without requiring external authorization systems, enabling quick replacement of authorized motors while blocking unauthorized ones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12216451B2Robot system

Publication Date: 2025.02.04 KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KK

AI summary

A robot system includes a robot that includes a motor, a first storage unit that is provided to correspond to the motor and stores identification information of the motor, a second storage unit that is provided separately from the first storage unit and stores the identification information of the motor, and a control unit that detects whether or not the motor attached to the robot is a motor to which the identification information has been assigned in advance, by comparing the identification information of the motor stored in the first storage unit and the identification information of the motor stored in the second storage unit.