Robot Simulator Action Grouping for Manageable Visual Programming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robot simulators have complex and inefficient user interfaces, making it difficult to review and manage numerous robot action units, which hinders the effective preparation and planning of robotic automation construction processes.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based computer-implemented system and method that allows users to group multiple action items on a visual programming panel to form action macros or groups, simplifying the interface and enabling efficient operation by displaying basic actions in a timeline editor and generating programs for robotic end effectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional robot simulators use detailed individual action units to ensure complete control and precision, then the robot can perform complex construction tasks accurately, but the user interface becomes too complicated to learn and use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual action units into grouped action collections that can be managed as single entities. Users can select and group multiple action units together, creating consolidated action sets that maintain full functionality while reducing interface complexity. This allows precise robot control through grouped actions rather than requiring manual management of hundreds of individual action units.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the robot simulator includes hundreds of thousands of basic robot action units to complete construction tasks, then the system can handle complex construction processes, but it becomes impossible to review all action units within one interface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the overwhelming number of action units into manageable groups or collections. By organizing action units into hierarchical groups, users can review and manage actions at different levels of abstraction. This segmentation allows the system to handle complex construction processes while keeping the interface manageable through structured organization of action units into logical collections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where action units are grouped into action collections, which can themselves be grouped into larger collections. This nested organization allows users to review actions at multiple levels of detail, from individual action units up to comprehensive action collections, making it possible to manage hundreds of thousands of actions within a single interface view through hierarchical nesting.
3Loss of information
If conventional interfaces display all individual action units, then users can see every detail of robot operations, but the interface requires hundreds of thousands of elements making it inefficient to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple action units into grouped collections that can be reviewed and managed as unified entities. This merging allows users to maintain visibility of action details through the grouping structure while dramatically improving operational efficiency. Users can perform operations on grouped actions rather than individually managing hundreds of thousands of separate elements, thus preserving information visibility while enhancing productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method. The method includes steps of causing a visual programming panel including a timeline editor and a variety of action blocks configured to enable a variety of basic actions correspondingly for a target robot to perform to be displayed in a visualization interface provided by a robot simulator shown on a web browser; at the visual programming panel, operating by a user to group at least two action blocks representing at least two basic actions selected from the variety of basic actions to form an action collection; and generating a program capable of commanding an end effector equipped on the target robot in a work cell to perform according to the action collection in the robot simulator.