Wireless Robot Targeting for Safe Multi-Robot Workcells
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Solution Overview
Problem
In small-scale production modes, the integration of dual-arm robots to replace human workers is hindered by high development and maintenance costs, and the complexity of tasks requiring human judgment and precision, leading to inefficiencies and safety issues when robots are not accurately targeted for specific operations.
Innovation Solution
A robot control system that includes a worker terminal capable of wirelessly sending operation commands to specific robots through identification and communication, ensuring only the intended robot receives instructions, using identification colors, RFID tags, and human-sensing sensors to prevent malfunctions and enhance safety and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dual-arm robots are used to replace human workers in small-scale production, then productivity and precision are improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the production workspace into multiple zones, each equipped with a simple robot performing a specific task. This segmentation allows the use of multiple low-complexity robots instead of one or two high-complexity dual-arm robots, resolving the contradiction between productivity and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Each robot in the system is designed to perform a specific function within its designated workspace zone. The collective multi-functionality of these specialized robots replaces the need for individual dual-arm robots to perform multiple complex tasks, reducing device complexity while maintaining productivity.
2Productivity
If multiple robots are closely configured in a limited work space, then productivity is improved, but the risk of command misdirection and malfunctions increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each robot is assigned a specific workspace zone with localized identification features (such as RFID tags or visual markers). The worker terminal identifies and communicates with the intended robot through these local identifiers, ensuring that commands are directed to the correct robot even when multiple robots are closely configured, thus maintaining reliability while improving productivity.
3Ease of operation
If wireless communication is used to send commands from worker terminal to robots, then ease of operation is improved, but the risk of command reception by wrong robots increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the worker terminal identifies the target robot using local identification features, sends the command via wireless communication, and receives confirmation from the targeted robot. This feedback loop ensures that commands are reliably directed to the intended robot, preventing misdirection while maintaining the ease of wireless operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A robot control system comprising a plurality of robots and a worker terminal that is capable of sending operation commands to a plurality of robots, by using wireless communications. The worker terminal has: an identification part that identifies a target robot to be used for work, from among a plurality of robots; a reception part that receives operation instructions for the robot from a worker; and a wireless communications part that sends operation commands to only the robot identified as the target robot by the identification part, when an operation instruction is received by the reception part.