Robotic Validation System Automating Design-to-Analysis Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CAD and analysis software packages for robot design are inefficient, requiring significant time and effort to modify hardware designs and validate them, often lacking essential robotics-specific features and data, such as control torques and sensor data, which hampers the development process.
Innovation Solution
A robotic validation system that automatically converts robot designs into a generic format, generates a control system, and updates design parameters using an analysis tool, integrating kinematic, dynamic, and terrain simulations, with features like self-collision avoidance and deformation control, utilizing XML format and network communications for efficient validation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If robot design is modified using CAD software and then converted and validated on separate analysis software, then hardware design capability is achieved, but time consumption increases from minutes to days
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges CAD design software with robotic analysis software into a single integrated system. The validation system includes a design tool with a design software interpreter that converts robot designs into a generic robotic description format, and an analysis tool with an analysis software interpreter that processes this format. This integration eliminates the need to export and import files between separate applications, reducing validation time from days to minutes while maintaining both design modification and analysis capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal validation system that can handle multiple robot design software packages (SolidWorks, UG NX, Pro/Engineer) and multiple analysis packages (Workspace5, Darvim 2K, ADAMS) through a common generic robotic description format. This multi-functional approach allows the system to perform both design modification and validation tasks within a single application, eliminating the need to switch between specialized tools and significantly reducing time consumption.
2Adaptability or versatility
If specialized robotic analysis features are added to make software complete for robotics, then robotics-specific capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a generic robotic description format as an intermediary layer between the design software interpreter and the analysis software interpreter. This standardized format acts as a mediator that translates various CAD software formats into a common representation that the analysis tool can process. This intermediary approach allows the system to provide specialized robotic analysis capabilities without directly complicating the user interface, as the complexity is managed through automated format conversions and standardized data structures.
3Manufacturing precision
If manual conversion and validation processes are used between design and analysis software, then data accuracy can be maintained, but productivity decreases due to time-consuming operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated conversion and validation processes where the validation system performs data transformations and accuracy checks without requiring manual intervention. The design software interpreter automatically converts robot designs into the generic robotic description format, and the analysis software interpreter automatically processes this format to generate validation results. This self-service automation maintains data accuracy through systematic conversion protocols while dramatically increasing productivity by eliminating manual data transfer operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates automated feedback mechanisms where the analysis tool generates validation results that are fed back to the design tool through the generic robotic description format. This feedback loop allows designers to quickly review validation outcomes and make iterative improvements without manual re-exporting or re-importing of data. The automated feedback process maintains data accuracy by using the same standardized format throughout the loop while enabling rapid design iteration cycles.
Data Source
AI summary
The specification and drawings present a new method, system and software product for and apparatus for generating a robotic validation system for a robot design. The robotic validation system for the robot design of a robotic system is automatically generated by converting a robot design into a generic robotic description using a predetermined format, then generating a control system from the generic robotic description and finally updating robot design parameters of the robotic system with an analysis tool using both the generic robot description and the control system.