Workbench Robot Weighing Control for Precise Material Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robots struggle to accurately weigh powdery, particulate, or viscous materials for chemical experiments and biological sample handling due to difficulties in estimating and controlling the collection amount with high precision, making them unsuitable for applications requiring milligram-level accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A robot system with a workbench robot and controller that automates the process of scooping and transferring materials using a spatula, measures the weight using a scale, and adjusts operations to achieve precise weight accuracy by repeating scooping and transferring until the target weight is reached.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a robot uses a collection unit to scoop and transfer material, then automation is achieved, but the accuracy of the collected amount cannot be controlled with high precision
Solution Approach 1:
The robot system incorporates a scale that provides real-time feedback on the weight of material in the collection unit. The controller continuously monitors this weight information and adjusts the scooping operation accordingly, enabling closed-loop control to achieve high precision in the collected amount while maintaining automation.
2Manufacturing precision
If the robot drops excess material from the collection unit to approach target weight, then some accuracy is improved, but the actual collection amount cannot be estimated with high accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical estimation method (visual judgment or rough measurement) with an electronic weighing system. The scale provides precise digital weight data that is transmitted to the controller, enabling accurate estimation and control of the collection amount without relying on mechanical dropping operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The collection unit is designed to allow the material to be directly weighed while still containing it, without requiring the material to be transferred to another container for measurement. This self-weighing capability enables the system to obtain accurate weight information during the scooping process itself.
3Productivity
If the robot performs scooping and transferring operations, then material transfer is automated, but the weight accuracy is insufficient for chemical experiments requiring milligram-level precision
Solution Approach 1:
The controller receives real-time weight feedback from the scale during the scooping operation and dynamically adjusts the robot's scooping actions. This closed-loop control enables the system to achieve milligram-level precision while maintaining automated operation, making it suitable for chemical experiments.
Data Source
AI summary
A robot system includes a workbench robot that is fixed to a workbench and includes a mechanism for gripping an object on the workbench, and a centralized controller that controls an operation of the workbench robot, in which the centralized controller executes a weighing process of causing the workbench robot to grip a spatula, perform an operation of scooping and transferring a powdery material, a particle, or a viscous material as a weighing target, which is put in an original container, to a transfer destination container by using the spatula, measure a weight of the material in the transfer destination container by using a scale, and acquire a measurement result.