Work Robot Position Correction by Region-Specific Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing work robots face challenges in ensuring sufficient accuracy due to uncorrectable errors and require excessive accuracy for all tasks, leading to inefficiencies when different work target objects demand varying levels of precision.

Innovation Solution

A work robot system that employs matrix correction parameters to adjust target positions based on specific work regions, using a control device to select and apply correction parameters tailored to each region's accuracy needs, ensuring precise positioning and reducing unnecessary accuracy in regions requiring lower precision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the robot is manufactured to guarantee high work accuracy for all work target objects, then work accuracy is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase due to excessive accuracy requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework accuracyVSAvoidrobot configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by dividing the work space into multiple regions and assigning different correction parameters to each region. Each region has its own correction parameter set that provides the necessary accuracy level for that specific area, rather than uniformly high accuracy across the entire workspace. This allows the robot to achieve sufficient accuracy locally without the excessive complexity and cost of uniform high-precision configuration throughout.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If correction parameters are optimized for highest accuracy, then work accuracy is improved, but productivity decreases due to excessive adjustment time and complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework accuracyVSAvoidwork efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the correction process by dividing the workspace into multiple regions, each with its own correction parameter set. This segmentation allows the control device to quickly select and apply the appropriate correction parameters based on the current work region, avoiding the time-consuming process of optimizing and adjusting parameters for the entire workspace. The segmentation enables efficient parameter selection without sacrificing accuracy in any specific region.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple correction parameter sets are stored for different work regions, then work accuracy is improved, but information storage requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework accuracyVSAvoiddata storage volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by storing correction parameters only for specific work regions where accuracy correction is needed, rather than maintaining comprehensive correction data for the entire workspace. The control device selects and applies correction parameters only when operating in regions that require accuracy compensation. This partial approach reduces the total quantity of correction parameter data that must be stored while maintaining accuracy where it matters most.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3542973B1Work robot and work position correction method
Publication Date: 2021.09.22 FUJI CORP
  • EP3542973B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3542973B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3542973B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An articulated robot includes an arm, an actuator, a storage device, and a control device. The storage device stores the correction parameter for correction accuracy required for each of the multiple work regions, which are segmented as the regions in which work on the work target object is performed in the movable region of the robot arm. When the work is instructed with designation of the target position, the control device acquires, from the storage device, a correction parameter corresponding to a work region to which the designated target position belongs, among the multiple work regions. Then, the control device controls the actuator by correcting the target position using the acquired correction parameter.