Robotic Pre-Plating of Structural Members With Vision Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for pre-plating structural members in construction, such as trusses, are inefficient and lack precision in aligning and securing plates at joints, leading to suboptimal structural strength and increased construction time.
Innovation Solution
A pre-plating system comprising robots and a press that automatically picks, positions, and secures plates onto structural members using suction, gripping, and magnetic mechanisms, with a universal gripper capable of handling various plate patterns, and a vision system for precise centroid determination and alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If automated robots and vision systems are used for pre-plating, then manufacturing precision and productivity are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The universal gripper is designed to handle multiple plate patterns and orientations through a single device, eliminating the need for multiple specialized grippers. This reduces overall system complexity while maintaining high manufacturing precision through adaptive positioning capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The vision system replaces manual alignment and measurement processes, using optical detection and computational algorithms to determine plate centroids and positions. This substitution of mechanical alignment methods with optical-mechanical systems achieves higher precision while the automated control integrates these functions efficiently.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple specialized grippers are used for different plate patterns, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The universal gripper integrates multiple gripping configurations into a single device, capable of accommodating different plate patterns, sizes, and orientations. This eliminates the need for maintaining and switching between multiple specialized grippers, reducing device complexity while preserving full adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripper employs adjustable and reconfigurable gripping elements that can dynamically adapt to different plate geometries. This dynamic adjustment capability allows a single gripper structure to perform the functions of multiple fixed grippers, simplifying the overall system.
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 the efficiency and precision of pre-plating structural members, improving structural strength and reducing construction time by automating the process of aligning and securing plates at joints, enabling faster assembly of structures like trusses.
Implementation Method 1
picks, positions, and secures plates onto structural members using suction, gripping, and magnetic mechanisms
Implementation Method 2
picks, positions, and secures plates onto structural members using suction, gripping, and magnetic mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
Pre-plating systems and related methods are disclosed. A pre-plating system includes a press, an infeed robot configured to deliver a structural member to the press, and an outfeed robot configured to remove the structural member from the press. The press is configured to secure a plate to the structural member while the structural member is held in position by at least one of the infeed robot or the outfeed robot. A pre-plating system includes a press, a transfer pedestal, a plate picking robot, and a press loading robot. The plate picking robot is configured to pick a plate from a container and position the plate on the transfer pedestal. The press loading robot is configured to transfer the plate to the press. The press is configured to press the plate into a structural member positioned within the press.