Work Schedule Margin Control for Interference Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In workplaces where multiple work subjects, such as robots and workers, operate based on optimized schedules, interference can lead to reduced productivity due to insufficient time for robots to perform avoidance behaviors, resulting in potential delays and decreased production efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A work management system comprising a movement monitoring unit and a schedule management unit that calculates margin times for work subjects and instructs them to take avoidance actions based on interference conditions, ensuring that work schedules are not delayed and productivity is maintained by optimizing the timing of avoidance behaviors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the robot performs avoidance behavior to avoid interference with the worker, then the interference between robot and worker is avoided, but the robot may not have enough time to complete the avoidance behavior within the work schedule, causing delays in the production line
Solution Approach 1:
The schedule management unit calculates margin time in advance for each work task and determines beforehand which work subject has sufficient time buffer to perform avoidance behavior. This preliminary assessment allows the system to proactively assign avoidance responsibilities to appropriate subjects without causing schedule delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically determines which work subject should perform avoidance behavior based on real-time margin time calculations. The assignment of avoidance responsibility is not fixed but adapts according to the current schedule status and time buffers available to each work subject.
2Reliability
If the robot performs avoidance behavior frequently to ensure safety, then interference is avoided, but the work schedule is disrupted and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses margin time as a key parameter to determine whether avoidance behavior should be performed. By changing the decision criterion from fixed rules to dynamic time buffer assessment, the system optimizes the balance between safety and schedule adherence.
Data Source
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AI summary
In a workplace where a work is performed based on a previously-optimized work schedule, a decrease in productivity can be prevented while interference between a plurality of work subjects is avoided. A schedule management unit (10) is configured to calculate a first margin time from an end time of a first work to a start time of a second work, the first work being allocated to a time period including a current time in the work schedule of a first work subject (30X), the second work being scheduled next to the first work in the work schedule. When an interference condition is satisfied and the first margin time is longer than a specific reference time, the schedule management unit (10) instructs the first work subject (30X) to take action of avoiding the second work subject (30Y).