Robotic Module Inventory for Flexible Reconfiguration and Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current manufacturing systems with robots or manipulators are inflexible, costly, and pose environmental challenges due to limited adaptability and high maintenance requirements, leading to reduced lifetime and increased downtime.
Innovation Solution
A method for supporting the design and operation of robotic systems through a computer-based Inventory that manages Hardware Modules, allowing for flexible configuration, maintenance scheduling, and optimal resource allocation by tracking physical characteristics, usage history, and status data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If robots or manipulators are assigned to specific tasks with fixed configurations, then manufacturing precision and reliability are improved, but adaptability and flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system is divided into modular hardware modules (end effectors, grippers, sensors, actuators) that can be independently selected, replaced, and reconfigured. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliable core components while adapting peripheral modules to different tasks, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal robotic platform with standardized interfaces and a library of interchangeable hardware modules. This universal design enables the same robotic arm to perform multiple different tasks by simply changing the end effector or gripper module, thereby achieving both reliability through proven core components and adaptability through module interchangeability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If robots are frequently reconfigured for different tasks, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the robotic system into standardized modular components with uniform interfaces, the patent simplifies the complexity of reconfiguration. Each module is independently designed and tested, reducing the overall system complexity while enabling flexible task switching through module interchangeability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes standardized interface parameters and communication protocols that remain constant across different modules. This parameter standardization allows modules to be swapped without changing the fundamental system architecture or control logic, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining manageable system complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional robotic systems are used without modular inventories, then initial costs are reduced, but lifetime extension and resource optimization are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes a preliminary modular inventory system that pre-configures compatible hardware modules with standardized interfaces. This preliminary preparation enables quick reconfiguration and extension of robot lifetime without requiring complex custom integrations, thereby extending operational duration while maintaining cost-effectiveness through reuse of pre-vetted modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular inventory system facilitates discarding worn or obsolete modules and recovering functional ones for reuse in different configurations. This approach extends the overall system lifetime by循环利用 components, reducing the need for complete system replacement while maintaining cost efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for supporting designing and operation of a robotic system includes operating a computer-based Inventory configured to operate in a robotic system having Hardware Modules to perform a task, the Inventory including Hardware Module Descriptions including a unique identifier, a description of physical characteristics, a current status and historical data the Hardware Module. The method including the steps ofcollecting status data of the Hardware Module;collecting operating data representing usage of the Hardware Module and updating the historical data accordingly;and at least one of the steps ofscheduling maintenance actions to be performed on the Hardware Module;deriving or modifying, based on the operating data, historical data that is associated with a type of the Hardware Module.