Vision-Guided Component Joining with Adaptive Fixturing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The high costs and limited robustness of component-specific devices in vehicle body manufacturing lead to increased production space requirements and component assembly tolerances, limiting the manufacturing process's efficiency and flexibility.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method that uses non-component-specific or geometry-specific devices for handling and joining vehicle components, utilizing imaging sensors to detect component geometry and position, allowing for alignment independent of a fixed coordinate system, and employing standard actuators and grippers to facilitate the connection of components via detachable fixing elements, such as spherical or spherical-like male and female fixing elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If component-specific devices are used for handling and joining vehicle body components, then the joining process can be fully automatic, but the acquisition costs and production space requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of joining processVSAvoidacquisition costs and production space

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs universal grippers and handling devices that can accommodate multiple different vehicle body components through adaptive positioning, rather than requiring dedicated component-specific devices. The system uses programmable robots with vision systems and flexible fixturing that can be reconfigured for different parts, achieving multi-functionality that reduces both acquisition costs and production space requirements while maintaining full automation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If component-specific holding devices with positioning pins are used, then precise positioning of components is achieved, but the overall tolerance accumulates when connecting multiple components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning precision of individual componentVSAvoidoverall tolerance of component composite

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the positioning task into hierarchical levels: first positioning the first component with high precision, then using this first component as a reference datum for positioning subsequent components. This segmentation of the positioning reference system prevents tolerance accumulation because each component is positioned relative to the already-positioned component rather than to a common fixed reference, thereby maintaining overall assembly precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection and positioning of the first component using vision systems and sensors before subsequent components are brought into position. This preliminary action establishes the first component as the reference datum, allowing adaptive positioning of following components and preventing tolerance accumulation in the final assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If component-specific devices are used for each component geometry, then handling and joining can be performed, but the flexibility to handle different component types is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling and joining capabilityVSAvoidflexibility to handle different components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic and adaptive positioning systems that can adjust to different component geometries through programmable motion control and vision-guided positioning. The fixturing and handling devices are designed with adjustable degrees of freedom and adaptive gripping forces, allowing the same hardware to accommodate varying component shapes and sizes while maintaining ease of manufacture and joining

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2619072B1Process to join parts

Publication Date: 2017.04.05 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for connecting components, comprising the following steps: providing a first component; fixing the first component in space, wherein the exact position of the first component in space does not have to be known or is unknown; determining the exact position of the first component in space by means of a position detecting device, which generates position information corresponding to the position of the first component; attaching or producing at least one first fixing element on the first component by means of an electronically controlled device, which attaches or produces the at least one first fixing element in a specified location relative to the first component using the determined position information; and fixing a second component on the first component, wherein a second fixing element provided on the second component forms a detachable connection with the first fixing element.