Robotic Arm Brake-Locked Abnormality Detection Before Motion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing arm control technologies require the arm to operate in practice to detect abnormalities, which poses safety risks as abnormal operations can occur before detection, especially when the arm is used in medical or industrial settings where safety is paramount.

Innovation Solution

An arm control method and device that determine abnormalities using a processor while the arm is fixed by a brake mechanism, allowing for pre-activation detection of sensor and motor malfunctions without allowing abnormal operations to occur.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the arm is caused to operate to detect abnormalities, then abnormality detection capability is improved, but safety deteriorates because abnormal operations may occur before detection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabnormality detection capabilityVSAvoidsystem safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing abnormality detection before the arm operates. The brake mechanism is activated to fix the arm in place, and sensors measure actual values (such as motor current, voltage, or position) while the arm is stationary. These measurements are compared against reference values to detect abnormalities before any operational movement occurs, thus preventing potential unsafe operations while maintaining detection capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the arm is fixed by brake mechanism to enable safe detection, then safety is improved, but abnormality detection capability deteriorates because the arm cannot operate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem safetyVSAvoidabnormality detection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical operation-based detection with electrical/electronic measurement-based detection. Instead of requiring the arm to mechanically operate and use sensors to detect abnormalities during movement, the system uses sensors to measure electrical parameters (motor current, voltage, position signals) while the arm is mechanically fixed by the brake. This substitution allows detection to occur in a stationary state, maintaining safety while preserving detection capability through non-mechanical measurement methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11000338B2Arm control method and arm control device
Publication Date: 2021.05.11 SONY GROUP CORP
  • US11000338B2 patent drawing
  • US11000338B2 patent drawing
  • US11000338B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An arm control method including determining, using a processor, whether or not there is an abnormality in an arm that operates by being driven by an actuator in a state in which the arm is fixed by a brake mechanism, to make it possible to determine whether or not there is an abnormality in an arm in a state in which the arm is fixed by a brake mechanism. Therefore, it is possible to more safely determine whether or not there is an abnormality in the arm. In addition, it is possible to more reliably prevent the arm from performing an abnormal operation.