Robot Programming Assistance for Shared Timeline Job Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robot programming systems lack effective tools for visualizing and optimizing the execution of jobs by multiple robots at a specific verification target time, making it difficult to manage dependencies and execution orders, which can lead to inefficiencies and errors in coordinated robotic operations.
Innovation Solution
A programming assistance device and method that generates a job image and simulation image based on an operation program, allowing users to designate a verification target time and visualize the execution of jobs by multiple robots, including the generation of flowcharts, transitional jobs, and time designation images to optimize execution order and timing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple robots execute jobs simultaneously without visualization tools, then productivity increases through parallel operations, but coordination errors and execution inefficiencies increase due to difficulty in managing dependencies and timing
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time visualization feedback of job execution status, timing, and dependencies through a user interface. This feedback mechanism allows operators to monitor and verify the coordination of multiple robots, enabling timely detection and correction of coordination errors while maintaining high productivity through parallel operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The job image generation unit acts as an intermediary between the operation program and the user. It creates a visual representation (job image) that mediates the complex coordination of multiple robots, making dependencies and timing relationships visible and manageable without requiring direct monitoring of each robot's execution.
2Reliability
If detailed operation programs are created for multiple robots to ensure precise coordination, then reliability of job execution improves, but programming complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a visual copy (job image) of the operation program that represents the execution flow, dependencies, and timing of multiple robots. This visual copy allows operators to verify and understand the programmed coordination without dealing with the complexity of the actual program code, thereby maintaining execution accuracy while reducing programming burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The job image is segmented to display different aspects of job execution separately, such as individual robot operations, job dependencies, and timing information. This segmentation allows operators to focus on specific coordination aspects without being overwhelmed by the complete program complexity, facilitating easier verification and debugging.
3Reliability
If comprehensive monitoring of all robot jobs is implemented, then coordination reliability improves, but information processing load and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential coordination information from the complete operation program and presents it in the job image visualization. By taking out and displaying only the critical dependencies and timing relationships, the system achieves effective monitoring without processing or storing unnecessary detailed information, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining monitoring reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A programming assistance device includes a program storage unit that stores a first program comprising a first set of time series jobs and stores a second program comprising a second set of time series jobs. Each job of the first program defines at least one operation of a first robot, and the first program is configured to be performed along a shared time line. Additionally, each job of the second program defines at least one operation of a second robot, and the second program is configured to be performed along the shared time line. The programming assistance device further includes circuitry that identifies a verification target time in the shared time line based, at least in part, on a user designation, and generates, based on the first program and the second program, a job image indicating at least one of the first set of time series jobs executed by the first robot and at least one job of the second set of time series jobs executed by the second robot at the verification target time designated in the shared time line.