Unified Execution Engine for Modular Production System Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing production systems face challenges in quickly reprogramming to adapt to rapidly changing market demands in small batch production, lacking efficient automatic control schemes for robots and sensors.
Innovation Solution
A system and method involving a production system skill library and unified execution engine, with skill blocks and function blocks that simplify programming by allowing users to define production procedures through skill function blocks, enabling seamless interaction with device agents for efficient operation control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional reprogramming methods are used for production systems, then the system can adapt to changing market demands, but the reprogramming time and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the production system control into modular skill blocks (e.g., picking, placing, moving) that can be independently selected and combined. This segmentation allows rapid reconfiguration by simply assembling different skill blocks rather than reprogramming the entire system, thus reducing reprogramming time while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a skill library as an intermediary layer between the high-level production procedure and the low-level device control. This skill library contains pre-programmed skill blocks that act as mediators, translating user-friendly skill definitions into detailed device control instructions, thereby simplifying the reprogramming process.
2Ease of operation
If detailed control programming is implemented for each device, then precise operation control is achieved, but the programming complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates standardized skill block templates that can be copied and reused across different devices and production scenarios. Instead of programming each device control from scratch, users can copy existing skill blocks and modify parameters, significantly reducing programming complexity while maintaining precise control.
Solution Approach 2:
The skill blocks are designed to be universal and multi-functional, capable of working with multiple types of devices (robots, end effectors, sensors) through a unified interface. This universality allows the same skill block to control different devices, reducing the need for device-specific programming and simplifying the overall control structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If comprehensive skill implementation is provided for all production tasks, then system versatility is improved, but the system structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the comprehensive skill set into discrete, independent skill blocks organized in a library. This segmentation allows the system to provide extensive skill coverage without creating a monolithic complex structure - each skill block remains a simple, self-contained unit that can be independently managed and executed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where skill blocks can contain sub-skill blocks or call other skill blocks. This nesting allows complex production tasks to be built from simpler composite skill blocks, which in turn are built from atomic skill blocks, creating a hierarchical structure that manages complexity while providing comprehensive functionality.
Data Source
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AI summary
Examples of the present disclosure provide a system, method and computer readable storage medium for production system automatic control. The system includes: a production system skill library, in which a plurality of skill blocks describing and encapsulating the realization part of the skills involved in the production process in a software method are set; a unified execution engine which is provided with a plurality of skill function blocks describing and encapsulating the interface part of the skills involved in the production process in a software method; 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. The technical scheme in the embodiment of the invention can realize simple and convenient automatic control programming of the production system.