Robotic Workcell Recipe Deployment for Fast Task Reconfiguration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional approaches to configuring and invoking collaborative industrial robots are inefficient due to manual reconfiguration and file transfers required for generating different parts, limiting their flexibility and productivity.
Innovation Solution
A mesh network portal provides a graphical user interface for managing robotic workcells, allowing selection and invocation of recipes that include configuration files, program files, and instructional media, enabling robots to perform multiple tasks by transmitting necessary commands and guidance elements, facilitating reconfiguration and redeployment of robots across industrial processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual reconfiguration and file transfers are used for generating different parts, then robots can perform multiple tasks, but the process becomes inefficient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-configures robotic tasks as complete recipes containing all necessary configuration files, program files, and instructional media. When a task change is requested, the pre-prepared recipe is instantly deployed without manual reconfiguration steps, eliminating the inefficiency of traditional file-by-file transfers while maintaining task flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates digital copies of complete task configurations in the form of recipes that can be rapidly replicated and deployed across different robotic workcells. Instead of manually transferring individual files, the entire task configuration is copied as a unified recipe package, dramatically reducing reconfiguration time while enabling versatile task switching.
2Reliability
If dedicated robots are used for specific tasks, then task execution is reliable and efficient, but resource utilization is low when robots are not permanently assigned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universal robotic workcells that can perform multiple tasks by deploying different recipes. Each robot is equipped with the capability to execute various tasks through recipe-based configuration, eliminating the need for dedicated single-function robots. This multi-functionality maintains task execution reliability through standardized recipe deployment while dramatically improving resource utilization by allowing robots to be dynamically reassigned based on production needs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If comprehensive configuration files and program files are transferred for each task, then complete task functionality is achieved, but the complexity of management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges all configuration files, program files, and instructional media into a single unified recipe structure. This consolidation maintains complete task functionality by including all necessary components in one package, while simultaneously reducing management complexity by treating the entire configuration set as a single deployable unit rather than multiple separate files that must be individually managed and transferred.
Data Source
AI summary
A mesh network portal provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for invocation and management of a plurality of robotic workcells, such that each workcell includes a robot and associated peripherals for performing a job. The job fulfills a robotic task such as generating a part or other sequence of robotic instructions for a discrete, quantifiable work product. The portal is in network communication with a respective hub at a plurality of workcells, and maintains a set of recipes corresponding to the jobs selectable for each of the plurality of robots in the workcells. The GUI allows selection of a workcell, identifies the recipes available for the workcell based on the robot and peripherals in the workcell. Selection of the recipe commences execution of the recipe by the workcell. including robotic guidance elements for fulfilling a robotic task.