Skill-Block Production Control for Rapid Manufacturing Reprogramming
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Solution Overview
Problem
The shift from mass production to small batch production in manufacturing requires rapid reprogramming of production systems, including robots and sensors, to adapt to changing market demands, but existing automatic control methods are not sufficiently efficient or convenient.
Innovation Solution
A system for production system automatic control that includes a production system skill library and a unified execution engine, with skill blocks and device agents, allowing for simple and convenient programming by encapsulating skills and interfacing with devices, enabling rapid reconfiguration and adaptation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional reprogramming methods are used for production systems, then programming flexibility can be achieved, but programming time and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the production system into independent skill blocks, each representing a discrete functional unit (e.g., picking, placing, moving). These skill blocks can be individually selected and configured, allowing rapid reprogramming by simply changing which blocks are activated and in what sequence, rather than rewriting entire control programs. This segmentation enables flexible adaptation while minimizing reprogramming time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a skill block library as an intermediary layer between the high-level production requirements and the low-level device control. This library contains pre-configured skill blocks that act as building blocks, allowing users to programm by selecting and configuring these intermediate elements rather than directly programming device control code, thus significantly reducing programming time while maintaining flexibility.
2Manufacturing precision
If detailed programming control is implemented, then system control precision is improved, but programming difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates standardized templates or copies of common production skills in the form of skill blocks. Instead of programming each skill from scratch, users can select pre-defined skill block templates and configure them with specific parameters. This copying approach maintains precise control over device operations while dramatically simplifying the programming process, as users only need to configure parameters rather than write detailed control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The skill blocks are designed to be universal and multi-functional, capable of being applied to various devices and production scenarios through parameter configuration. A single skill block template can serve multiple purposes by adjusting its parameters, reducing the need for complex, scenario-specific programming while maintaining precise control over device behavior.
3Adaptability or versatility
If production systems are reconfigured for small batch production, then market adaptability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the production system into modular skill blocks that can be independently configured and activated. This segmentation allows the system to be reconfigured for different production batches by simply selecting different combinations of skill blocks, rather than reconfiguring the entire system. The modular structure reduces configuration complexity while maintaining high market adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-configures common production skills into ready-to-use skill blocks before actual production begins. These pre-configured blocks can be quickly selected and activated for different production scenarios, eliminating the need for complex on-the-fly configuration. This preliminary preparation reduces system configuration complexity while enabling rapid adaptation to different market demands.
Data Source
AI summary
An example system includes: a production system skill library, with a plurality of skill blocks describing and encapsulating the realization part of the skills involved in the production process; a unified execution engine with a plurality of skill function blocks describing and encapsulating the interface part of the skills involved in the production process; to receive a production procedure programmed by a user based on the skill function blocks, and successively start each skill function block in the production procedure to call at least one corresponding skill block; and device agents for controlling devices in the production system. Each device agent is used to provide a unified interface to control the corresponding device to perform operations according to the operation instructions from the unified execution engine or the skill block.