Work-Assisting Robot Arm for Assembly Line Parts Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
In automobile assembly lines, the efficiency of parts delivery is hindered by the need for workers to repeatedly move between a parts trolley and the work area, leading to decreased line efficiency and inefficiencies in task completion due to synchronization issues between the movement of the parts trolley and the automobile body.
Innovation Solution
A working support robot system that includes a work progress estimation unit and a motion planning unit to accurately deliver necessary parts and tools based on the estimated work progress, ensuring timely and secure delivery at the point of need, thereby improving work efficiency and reducing errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the parts trolley moves in sync with the automobile body, then the parts delivery position is maintained, but the worker must remain in standby state when work progress does not match the trolley movement speed
Solution Approach 1:
The parts trolley is transformed from a rigid synchronous movement system to a dynamic system that can independently adjust its position and delivery timing. The robot arm enables the parts trolley to deliver parts at flexible moments rather than being constrained to strict synchronization, allowing the system to adapt to varying worker speeds and maintain productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot arm prepares and positions parts in advance at the parts trolley, so that parts are ready for delivery before the worker needs them. This preliminary preparation eliminates waiting time and ensures that parts can be delivered immediately when the worker is ready, without requiring the worker to wait for the trolley or vice versa.
2Loss of time
If no parts shelves are provided to reduce walking distance, then the worker can access parts more quickly, but the worker must repeatedly move between the parts trolley and working place
Solution Approach 1:
The robot arm serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the parts trolley and the worker. Instead of the worker physically moving to the parts trolley, the robot arm acts as a mobile parts shelf that brings parts directly to the worker's location, eliminating the need for repeated walking while maintaining easy access to parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by having the robot arm autonomously deliver parts to the worker based on detected work progress. The worker does not need to leave their position to retrieve parts; instead, the system automatically provides parts when needed, making the worker's task simpler and more efficient.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the worker lags or gets ahead in work procedure, then flexibility is maintained, but the parts trolley must remain in standby state
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a camera or sensor to continuously detect the worker's position and work progress, providing real-time feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the robot arm adjusts its part delivery timing dynamically, ensuring that parts are delivered exactly when the worker needs them, whether the worker is ahead or behind schedule, thereby eliminating standby time while maintaining adaptability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The working support robot system of the present invention includes: a robot arm (11); a measuring unit (12) for measuring the worker's position; a work progress estimation unit (13) for estimating the work progress based on data input from the measuring unit (12) while referring to data on work procedure, and for selecting objects necessary for the next task when the work is found to have advanced to the next procedure; and an arm motion planning unit (14) for planning the trajectory of the robot arm (11) to control the robot arm (11) based on the work progress estimated by the work progress estimation unit (13) and selected objects. The working support robot system can deliver objects such as tools and parts to the worker according to the work to be performed by the worker.