Robot Pendant Touch Panel Force Feedback for Inching Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robot operating apparatuses with touch panels face challenges in precision and efficiency during inching operations, as operators struggle to maintain accuracy without looking at the screen, leading to increased teaching time and reduced workability.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a touch panel with an operation-input mode detecting unit, an action setting unit, and an action command generating unit that associates the operation-input mode with a predetermined margin to set the action direction and number of actions for the robot's inching operation, allowing the operator to perform the task without constant screen reference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a touch panel is used for robot operation, then the apparatus becomes more compact and cost is reduced, but it becomes difficult to ascertain positions through guesswork and requires constant screen reference
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides force feedback through the force feedback mechanism that simulates the resistance and position sense of mechanical switches, allowing operators to ascertain positions through tactile sensation without visual reference to the screen
2Device complexity
If touch panel operation is used for inching operations, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and operation accuracy deteriorate due to finger shaking and inability to ascertain positions
Solution Approach 1:
The force feedback mechanism acts as an intermediary between the touch panel and the operator, providing tactile cues that enable precise position sensing and control without requiring direct visual feedback, thereby maintaining measurement precision while using a simplified touch panel interface
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces traditional mechanical switches with a touch panel interface while maintaining the functional equivalence through force feedback, achieving both reduced device complexity and preserved measurement precision
3Measurement precision
If operators must look at the touch panel screen during inching operations, then operation accuracy can be maintained, but teaching time increases and work efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The force feedback mechanism provides real-time tactile feedback that enables operators to maintain operation accuracy without visual reference to the screen, allowing continuous viewing of the robot and significantly reducing teaching time
Data Source
AI summary
A pendant is provided as a robot operating apparatus. The pendant includes an operation-input mode detecting unit that detects an operation-input mode of a touch operation inputted to a touch panel. In addition, in the pendant, an action setting unit sets an action direction and a number of actions of an inching action by a robot, based on an action mode associated with the operation-input mode with a predetermined amount of margin. Furthermore, an action command generating unit generates an action command to operate the robot such that the inching operation is performed in the action direction and by the number of actions set by the action setting unit.