Robotic Arm Sensor Alignment for Faster Object Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robotic systems face challenges in efficiently and accurately aligning a component associated with a robotic arm to an object in its environment, particularly due to the need for precise manual alignment which can be time-consuming and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
The system includes a robotic arm configured to move in multiple degrees of freedom, equipped with a control system that uses sensor data to identify objects, determine the proximity of a component to the object, and automatically control the robotic arm to move the component into alignment with the object.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual alignment is used to align the robotic arm component to the object, then the alignment can be performed with simple equipment, but the alignment time increases and error likelihood increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm automatically identifies objects and aligns components using its own sensors and control system, eliminating the need for external manual alignment operations. The system performs self-alignment by detecting object positions and autonomously adjusting component positions, thereby reducing both alignment time and error rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical alignment operations with an automated sensing and control system. Sensors detect object positions and the control system automatically adjusts the robotic arm's component positions, substituting human-operated mechanical alignment with an automated electromechanical system that improves both speed and accuracy.
2Productivity
If automated alignment is implemented using sensor data and control systems, then alignment speed and precision improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic arm's control system performs multiple functions including object identification, distance measurement, alignment calculation, and actuation control all through a single integrated system. This multi-functionality improves alignment efficiency while minimizing the addition of separate specialized components, thereby controlling system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system acts as an intermediary between the sensors that detect object positions and the robotic arm actuators that perform alignment. This intermediary layer processes sensor data and generates appropriate control signals, enabling automated alignment without requiring direct complex connections between all system components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the robotic arm operates in unstructured environments with varying objects, then adaptability improves, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring object parameters increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts detection and measurement parameters based on the specific object being encountered. By changing parameters such as sensor sensitivity, measurement thresholds, and alignment criteria according to object characteristics, the system maintains high adaptability while managing the complexity of detecting diverse object parameters in unstructured environments.
Data Source
AI summary
An example robotic system includes a robotic arm configured to move in multiple degrees of freedom and a control system including one or more processing devices. The one or more processing devices are programmed to perform operations including: identifying an object in the environment accessible to the robotic arm based on sensor data indicative of the environment; determining that a component associated with the robotic arm is within a predefined distance of the object; and controlling the robotic arm to move the component toward or into alignment with the object in response to the component being within the predefined distance of the object.