Robot Teaching Interface for Image-Based Position Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing robot systems face challenges in accurately teaching predetermined positions and attitudes to robots, leading to inefficiencies and increased user burden due to complex program creation and shared computation between control and image processing apparatuses.

Innovation Solution

A teaching apparatus and robot system that utilizes a graphical user interface to simplify the teaching process by allowing users to operate screens for moving objects into imaging ranges and aligning them at target positions and attitudes, with computation sections calculating relative positions and attitudes based on captured images, reducing the need for manual program creation and shared computation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the control apparatus performs computation regarding image processes, then the robot can be controlled, but the robot cannot be efficiently controlled compared with a case where the control apparatus performs only control of the robot

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverobot control efficiencyVSAvoidcomputation distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the computation tasks into two segments: the image processing apparatus performs image-related computations (detecting work object position, attitude, and offset), while the control apparatus performs robot control computations. This segmentation allows each apparatus to specialize in its respective function, improving overall system efficiency and robot control performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If a program for performing computation regarding image processes is incorporated into a program which defines an operation of the robot, then the robot operation can be controlled, but a large load is put on a user associated with creation of the program

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprogram creation easeVSAvoidprogram creation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the image process computation program from the robot operation program. The image processing apparatus runs independently with its own computation program for detecting work object parameters, while the control apparatus runs the robot operation program. This separation eliminates the burden of creating and managing a complex integrated program, significantly reducing user workload and program creation time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If the control apparatus and the image processing apparatus share computation regarding image processes, then the robot can be controlled, but not the image processing apparatus but the control apparatus performs the computation regarding image processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverobot control efficiencyVSAvoidcomputation responsibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary communication interface between the image processing apparatus and the control apparatus. The image processing apparatus computes image-related parameters (work object position, attitude, offset) and transmits them to the control apparatus, which then uses these parameters for robot control. This intermediary approach allows both apparatuses to share computation responsibilities appropriately while maintaining clear functional boundaries and improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2963513B1Teaching apparatus and robot system
Publication Date: 2022.08.24 SEIKO EPSON CORP
  • EP2963513B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2963513B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2963513B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A teaching apparatus for a robot which moves a work object so that the work object is aligned at a predetermined position and attitude, includes a display section that displays a screen for setting the predetermined position and attitude, an operation section that allows the screen to be operated, and a computation section that computes the predetermined position and attitude, in which the screen includes a first screen for operating the robot so as to move the work obj ect into an imaging range of an imaging device, and a second screen for moving the work object so that the work object is aligned at a target position and attitude, and in which the computation section computes the predetermined position and attitude by using a captured image obtained by the imaging device imaging the work object, and the target position and attitude.