Robot Weight Measurement via Support Point Levering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing weight measurement systems for robots are limited by their weight capacity, unable to measure weights exceeding the robot's capacity without additional equipment or methods.
Innovation Solution
A weight measurement system and method that uses a robot to apply force to a working point of an article, lifting one support point while grounding another, allowing calculation of the article's weight based on motor load, positional relationships, and center of gravity, enabling measurement beyond the robot's weight capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a robot with higher weight capacity is used to measure heavier articles, then the measurable weight range increases, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The article is divided into multiple segments by identifying separate support points (first support point and second support point). The robot interacts with only one support point at a time, measuring the weight contribution of each segment separately. This segmentation allows the robot to measure the total weight of heavy articles without requiring the robot to support the entire weight simultaneously, thus enabling measurement beyond the robot's weight capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary measurement approach where the robot measures the force required to lift or press one support point while another support point remains grounded. This intermediary method (measuring through support points rather than directly supporting the entire article) enables weight measurement of articles heavier than the robot's capacity would normally allow.
2Measurement precision
If another robot with high weight capacity is used to measure articles exceeding the current robot's capacity, then the measurable weight is increased, but the device complexity and operational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal measurement method that can be applied by any robot regardless of its specific weight capacity. By measuring through support points and using proportional calculations based on the robot's actual capacity, the system becomes adaptable to different robot types and weight classes. The same measurement procedure works whether using a light-duty or heavy-duty robot, making the system universally applicable across different robot platforms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate measurement of weights greater than the robot's capacity by calculating force and positional relationships, allowing for proportional calculations and alarm signaling for threshold exceedance or reduction.
Implementation Method 1
the robot is configured to apply a force to a working point connected to the article so that at least one of the support points or a part of the support surface of the article is lifted
Implementation Method 2
calculate the weight of the article based on the magnitude of the force and a positional relationship among the working point, the remaining support point or the remaining part of the support surface, and a center of gravity of the article
Data Source
AI summary
A weight measurement system and a weight measurement method using a robot, by which a weight greater than a weight capacity of the robot can be measured. The system has a robot, a robot controller for controlling the motion of the robot, and an arithmetic processing unit for calculating the weight of an article to be measured. The robot is configured to apply a force to a working point connected to a tank so that at least one of support points or a part of a support surface of the tank is lifted, and simultaneously, the remaining support point or the remaining part of the support surface of the tank is grounded. The weight of the tank containing processing fluid can be measured based on a relationship between the force applied to the working point by the robot and a lever ratio.