Robot Operation Scheduling for Rapid Multi-Robot Reconfiguration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Coordinating the operation of multiple autonomous devices to perform physical tasks in physical space is challenging due to the need for manual programming and trial-and-error testing, especially when interacting at physical points, requiring significant human intervention and reconfiguration for different tasks.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that schedules and provides instructions to sets of robots to perform sequences of operations, allowing for automated coordination and rapid reconfiguration of robots to accomplish various physical processes without human intervention, by determining operation sequences and generating schedules based on system and object data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual programming is used to configure robots for physical tasks, then the robots can perform specific tasks with high precision, but the reconfiguration time and human intervention requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-planning entire operation sequences before execution. The planning module generates complete sequences of operations that multiple robots will perform, allowing the system to prepare coordination strategies in advance rather than making real-time decisions during task execution. This reduces reconfiguration time when tasks change.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the overall task into discrete operation sequences that can be independently planned and executed. Each sequence represents a modular unit of work that can be reconfigured without affecting other sequences, enabling efficient task switching and reducing the time penalty associated with reprogramming.
2Reliability
If trial-and-error testing is used to coordinate robot operations, then the system can find working solutions, but the development time and human effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the planning module receives information about robot capabilities, task requirements, and environmental constraints, then generates operation sequences that are optimized from the start. The system monitors execution and can adjust planning parameters, avoiding the need for extensive trial-and-error testing while maintaining high coordination reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If skilled programmers manually configure each robot, then complex coordinated tasks can be achieved, but the operational complexity and skill requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The planning module serves as an intermediary between the task specification and the individual robot controllers. Instead of requiring programmers to directly program each robot, the planning module automatically generates coordinated operation sequences that account for all robot interactions, physical constraints, and task requirements. This intermediary layer abstracts the complexity away from the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically generating and optimizing operation sequences without human intervention. The planning module independently analyzes robot capabilities, task requirements, and environmental constraints to produce coordinated task execution plans, eliminating the need for skilled programmers to manually configure each robot while maintaining high adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods to accomplish a physical process are disclosed. The systems and methods can receive object data for an object that is a subject of the physical process; determine operation sequences that each accomplish a portion of the physical process, each operation sequence providing an ordering of a set of physical operations associated with one or more points of the object; generate an operation schedule specifying timing of performance of each operation sequence and a set of one or more sets of robots to perform each operation sequence; generate physical process data including the operation schedule and the one or more operation sequences; and communicate the physical process data to the one or more sets of robots to perform the one or more operation sequences according to the operation schedule.