Interactive Welding Program Planning for Order and Direction Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing welding robot program generation methods focus on shortest distance routes, which do not necessarily enhance welding operation efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A welding program production system that displays candidate welding lines on a photographed object's image, allowing operators to select and specify welding orders and directions interactively, producing a program based on these inputs to optimize the welding process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the robot moves along the route with the shortest distance calculated from all possible routes, then the travel distance is minimized, but the welding operation efficiency is not necessarily improved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetravel distanceVSAvoidwelding operation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the optimization parameter from purely geometric distance to a composite metric that includes welding efficiency factors. The welding line selection is based not only on the length of the welding path but also on the efficiency of the welding operation itself, allowing the robot to choose routes that optimize overall productivity rather than just travel distance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary evaluation mechanism that assesses multiple candidate welding lines based on various criteria including distance, welding efficiency, and operational parameters. This intermediary layer processes the candidate routes and selects the optimal welding line, mediating between the simple distance metric and the complex efficiency requirement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If automated program generation is used to determine welding routes, then programming time is reduced, but control over welding order and direction is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprogram generation timeVSAvoidcontrol over welding parameters
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides dynamic control capabilities where operators can adjust welding parameters after automated generation. The welding program is not fixed but can be modified interactively, allowing users to change welding order, direction, and other parameters as needed. This dynamic adjustment capability bridges the gap between automated efficiency and manual control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that allow operators to review the automatically generated welding program and provide corrections or modifications. The system responds to operator inputs by adjusting the welding parameters, creating a feedback loop that combines automated generation with human oversight and control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of information

If all candidate welding lines are displayed on the image, then complete information is provided, but operator selection becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewelding line informationVSAvoidselection interface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the display of welding line information by categorizing candidate lines based on their characteristics such as distance, efficiency rating, or geometric properties. Instead of displaying all lines uniformly, they are grouped or highlighted according to relevant criteria, making the information more manageable and easier to select from.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies different display qualities or highlighting to different candidate welding lines based on their evaluation results. Lines that are more optimal or have better characteristics are displayed with enhanced visibility or special markers, allowing operators to quickly identify promising candidates without being overwhelmed by all possible options.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4159352B1Welding program production system and welding program production method
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 DAIHEN CORP
  • EP4159352B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4159352B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4159352B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a welding program production system that can increase efficiency of a welding operation by a welding robot. The welding program production system includes a display control unit that causes a plurality of candidate welding lines detected on the basis of an image of a photographed object to be welded to be displayed in superimposed relation on the image, an input receiving unit that receives an input to select the welding lines from among the plurality of candidate welding lines and an input to specify a welding order and a welding direction for each of the selected welding lines, and a program production unit that produces a welding program on the basis of the specified welding order and welding direction.