Collaborative Robot Proximity Control for Qualified Worker Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Collaborative robots face productivity issues when operating in environments with unknown or varying numbers of people, as they often need to limit their driving to avoid collisions, leading to reduced efficiency and productivity.
Innovation Solution
A robot system that includes a specifying section to identify individuals within a predetermined range and a control section to decelerate or stop the robot's operation, with the ability to adjust the distance based on the specified person's proficiency or qualification, allowing authorized personnel to work closer to the robot while maintaining safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the robot limits its driving when an unidentified person is detected, then safety is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to frequent deceleration and stopping
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different control strategies to different types of detected persons. Identified persons (registered in advance) allow the robot to maintain normal operation, while unidentified persons trigger safety protocols. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying safety measures only where necessary rather than universally
Solution Approach 2:
The control section dynamically adjusts the robot's operation based on real-time detection results. When an unidentified person is detected, the robot decelerates or stops; when only identified persons are present, the robot maintains normal speed. This dynamic response optimizes both safety and productivity by avoiding unnecessary deceleration
2Productivity
If the robot operates at high speed in environments with many people, then productivity is improved, but collision risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of persons in the workspace before the robot operates at high speed. Persons are registered in advance as identified individuals. This preliminary action allows the robot to maintain high speed when only identified persons are present, reducing collision risk through advance preparation rather than reactive slowing
Solution Approach 2:
The specifying section continuously provides feedback about the presence and identity of persons in the workspace. The control section uses this feedback to adjust operation speed in real-time, maintaining high speed when safe and reducing speed when unidentified persons are detected, thus managing collision risk dynamically
Data Source
AI summary
A robot system includes a robot configured to operate in cooperation with a person, a specifying section configured to specify a person present in a region at a predetermined distance from the robot, and a control section configured to decelerate or stop the operation of the robot when the presence of the person in the region is specified by the specifying section. The control section changes the distance based on a result of specifying the person by the specifying section.