Vision-Guided Marking Rod for Robot Trajectory Teaching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing industrial robotic systems lack flexibility and efficiency in performing processing operations, particularly when obstacles are present, as they require a straight path for cable extension to detect points, limiting their ability to navigate complex workspaces intuitively and efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A processing apparatus comprising a multi-axis manipulator robot with a rod-shaped marking device that uses a vision system to detect and recognize optically visible pointer elements, allowing operators to manually indicate process trajectories and points, enabling the robot to learn and execute tasks intuitively and efficiently, even around obstacles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an electro-mechanical device with a cable is used to detect points, then the robot can calculate position based on cable unwinding length and orientation angle, but obstacles cannot be placed between the coil and the point to be detected since the cable must extend according to a straight path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electro-mechanical cable-based detection system with an optical vision system. The robot uses cameras and image processing to detect markers and calculate positions, eliminating the physical cable that required straight-line extension. This substitution allows the robot to detect points around obstacles without mechanical interference, while maintaining precise position calculation through optical triangulation and marker recognition algorithms.
2Ease of operation
If a cable-based detection system is used, then position can be calculated from cable unwinding length and orientation, but the system lacks flexibility to navigate around obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The optical vision system replaces the mechanical cable constraint, allowing the robot to navigate freely around obstacles. The vision system detects markers on workpieces and calculates positions using image processing, enabling the robot to access difficult-to-reach areas without the cable's straight-line requirement limiting its movement paths.
3Ease of operation
If manual pointing with a rod-shaped device is used, then operators can intuitively indicate process trajectories, but the system requires automatic recognition capability to be useful
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visually detectable markers attached to or integrated with the rod-shaped marking device. These markers create a simplified optical copy or representation of the physical pointer position, which the vision system can easily recognize and convert into robot coordinates. This copying approach simplifies the vision system's task compared to trying to interpret the raw appearance of a bare rod, reducing computational complexity while maintaining ease of manual operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus allows for flexible and efficient execution of processing operations, including welding and other tasks, by enabling intuitive point and trajectory definition, automatic recognition, and navigation around obstacles, enhancing operator simplicity and system flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
at least one pointer element optically detectable by the industrial robotic unit by means of a vision system
Data Source
AI summary
A processing apparatus includes an industrial robotic unit and a marking device provided for generating process trajectories automatically recognizable by the robotic unit. The marking device is shaped like a rod and comprises at least one pointer element optically detectable by the robot by means of a vision system.