Robot-UAV Coordination for Dead-Angle Work Object Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robot systems struggle to monitor and operate on objects that are located at dead angles of surveillance cameras, such as ships, airplanes, and large buildings, and require precise positional information for multiple work objects.
Innovation Solution
A robot system utilizing an unmanned aerial vehicle to image the work of an industrial articulated robotic arm, allowing an operator to control the robot's operation from a display unit, and a moving device to maneuver the robot in multiple directions, enabling effective operation on objects with many work areas that are out of camera range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a single surveillance camera is used to monitor the robot, then the device complexity is reduced, but the coverage area is limited and cannot capture work objects at dead angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an aerial dimension by deploying a drone to capture images from above, complementing the ground-based surveillance cameras. This vertical dimension allows monitoring of work objects at dead angles that ground cameras cannot capture, expanding the overall monitoring coverage area without requiring additional ground camera installations.
Solution Approach 2:
The drone acts as an intermediary monitoring device between the ground surveillance cameras and the work objects. It can access areas that are difficult or impossible for ground cameras to reach, such as above the robot or in dead angle regions, and transmit this information back to the control system.
2Manufacturing precision
If the robot is moved to near each work object to perform operations, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the loss of time increases due to frequent repositioning
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by using the drone to capture images and identify work objects before the robot arrives at each location. The control system can pre-plan the robot's movement path based on this advance information, reducing unnecessary repositioning time and optimizing the sequence of operations at different work objects.
Solution Approach 2:
The drone provides real-time visual feedback about the work objects and their positions to the control system. This feedback allows the system to dynamically adjust the robot's movement and operations, ensuring the robot reaches each work object efficiently with minimal unnecessary repositioning while maintaining high precision in operations.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple surveillance cameras are installed to cover all areas, then the monitoring coverage is improved, but the device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drone serves multiple functions: it acts as a surveillance camera for monitoring work objects, a positioning system for identifying object locations, and a communication relay. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated systems, thereby reducing overall device complexity while achieving comprehensive monitoring coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of installing multiple fixed surveillance cameras at different locations, the system uses a dynamic, mobile drone that can be positioned anywhere needed. This dynamic approach provides flexible coverage without the complexity of installing and coordinating multiple fixed camera systems, as the drone can be deployed to specific locations only when needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
The robot system of the present disclosure includes a robot (10) having a robot body (1) and a robot controller (3) configured to control operation of the robot body (1), and an unmanned aerial vehicle (4) capable of autonomous flight. The unmanned aerial vehicle (4) acquires at least one of image pick-up data of a work of the robot body (1) and positional information of a work object of the robot body (1), and transmits at least one of the image pick-up data and the positional information to the robot controller (3). The robot controller (3) receives at least one of the image pick-up data and the positional information of the work object, and controls the operation of the robot body (1) by using at least one of the image pick-up data and the positional information of the work object.