Robotic Communicative Lighting for Planned Arm Movement Awareness
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic systems lack effective communication methods to convey information to human workers in sortation environments, particularly when dealing with unexpected or problematic items, and struggle to translate visual cues used in human-operated systems to automated systems, posing safety risks and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A robotic system equipped with an articulated arm and an array of RGB LEDs for illumination, used to convey planned movements, object placement information, and system states, facilitating communication between robots and human workers through color-coded lighting on shelves, end effectors, and light poles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If lighting is used to indicate target locations in automated robotic systems, then visual communication with human workers is improved, but the system complexity increases compared to direct database communication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces lighting as an intermediary communication medium between the robotic system and human workers. The lights serve as a mediator that translates robotic system states and intended actions into visually comprehensible signals for human operators, bridging the information gap without requiring complex direct communication interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical or electronic communication systems with an optical communication system using LEDs. This substitution provides a more intuitive visual interface for human workers to understand robotic status and intentions, improving information transmission while maintaining system manageability.
2Reliability
If the robotic system provides detailed information about planned movements, then human worker safety is improved, but the response time may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by illuminating lights at target locations before the robotic arm actually moves to those locations. This advance visual indication allows human workers to anticipate robotic movements and adjust their actions accordingly, improving safety without significantly delaying the robotic operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system efficiently communicates essential safety information through intuitive lighting patterns, allowing the robotic system to maintain high speed operation while still providing adequate warning to human workers. The visual cues are designed to be processed rapidly by human operators, minimizing the time penalty for safety communication.
3Loss of information
If multiple lights are used to convey different system states, then communication clarity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs color changes in LED lights to convey different system states and information types. By using distinct colors for different meanings (e.g., green for safe positions, yellow for caution, red for danger), the system achieves high communication clarity with a relatively simple implementation, avoiding the need for complex multi-component signaling systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system is designed with multi-functionality, where the same physical LED infrastructure serves multiple communication purposes. The lights can indicate target locations, current positions, system states, and safety warnings, reducing the need for separate signaling systems and thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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
Enhances safety and efficiency by providing human workers with clear, accessible information about robotic movements and system states, enabling better collaboration and reducing the risk of injury in sortation environments.
Implementation Method 1
A robotic system equipped with an articulated arm and an array of RGB LEDs for illumination
Data Source
AI summary
A robotic system is disclosed that includes an articulated arm with an end effector. The robotic system is for use in a robotic environment requiring interaction with persons in the robotic environment, and includes a plurality of lights that are illuminated responsive to known near-future movements of the articulated arm to convey the known near-future movements of the articulated arm to the persons in the robot environment.