Method and apparatus for optimizing performance of robotic cell

• US 10,018,995 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2016
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Zhang, Jiafan
• Primary Examiner(s): Jen, Mingjen
• Application Number:
  US15/173,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20160282855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1671 characterised by simulation, either to verify existing program or to create and verify new program, CAD/CAM oriented, graphic oriented programming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41865 characterised by job scheduling, process planning, material flow
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4188 characterised by CIM planning or realisation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41885 characterised by modeling, simulation of the manufacturing system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31054 Planning, layout of assembly system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32085 Layout of factory, facility, cell, production system planning
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39326 Model compensates positions as function of position to compensate force deformations
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40479 Use graphic display, layout of robot path, obstacles to indicate interference
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method and apparatus for optimizing performance of a robotic cell. The robotic cell comprises at least one workstation and at least one robot. The method may comprise determining a factor and a corresponding workstation sensitive to the performance of the robotic cell by performing a sensitivity analysis on an initial cell layout for the robotic cell; and performing a performance optimization process on the corresponding workstation based on the determined factor to obtain an improved cell layout for the robotic cell. With embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to perform performance optimization of the robotic cell on the sensitive workstation regarding to the sensitive factor, and thus it may efficiently determine an improved cell layout which may achieve performance improvement.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing performance of a robotic cell, wherein the robotic cell comprises at least one workstation and at least one robot, the method comprising:

determining a factor and a corresponding workstation sensitive to the performance of the robotic cell by performing a sensitivity analysis on an initial cell layout for the robotic cell; and

performing a performance optimization process on the corresponding workstation based on the determined factor to obtain an improved cell layout for the robotic cell;

wherein the determining a factor and a corresponding workstation sensitive to the performance of the robotic cell comprises;

performing a sensitivity analysis on the at least one workstation in the robotic cell regarding processing time and travelling time;

ranking influences of the processing time and the travelling time on the at least one work station based on sensitivity analysis results; and

determining one of the processing time and the travelling time and a workstation associated therewith which have the greatest influence on the performance of the robotic cell as the factor and the corresponding workstation sensitive to the performance of the robotic cell;

wherein if the determined factor is processing time, a performance optimization process regarding a robotic cell pattern with scheduling is performed.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the performance optimization process regarding a robotic cell pattern with scheduling comprises at least one of robotic cell pattern optimization and operations sequences optimization.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein if the robotic cell pattern optimization is to be performed, the optimal number of workstations that can be newly added in the robotic cell is further determined by determining a number of workstations which can achieve cost effectiveness from sensitivity analysis results.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein if the determined factor is travelling time, a performance optimization process regarding workstation displacement is performed.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining a factor and a corresponding workstation and the performing a performance optimization process are repeated with an improved cell layout newly obtained as a new initial cell layout until an improved cell layout meeting the performance requirement is obtained.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

performing displacement of the at least one workstation and/or a robotic cell scheduling based on the improved cell layout.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein if the determined factor is travelling time, a performance optimization process regarding workstation displacement is performed.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining a factor and a corresponding workstation and the performing a performance optimization process are repeated with an improved cell layout newly obtained as a new initial cell layout until an improved cell layout meeting the performance requirement is obtained.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

performing displacement of the at least one workstation and/or a robotic cell scheduling based on the improved cell layout.

7. An apparatus for optimizing performance of a robotic cell, wherein the robotic cell comprises at least one workstation and at least one robot, the apparatus comprising:

a factor and workstation determination unit, configured to determine a factor and a corresponding workstation sensitive to the performance of the robotic cell by performing a sensitivity analysis on an initial cell layout for the robotic cell; and

a performance optimization unit configured to perform a performance optimization process on the corresponding workstation based on the determined factor to obtain an improved cell layout for the robotic cell;

wherein the factor and workstation determination unit is further configured to;

perform a sensitivity analysis on the at least one workstation in the robotic cell regarding processing time and travelling time;

rank influences of the processing time and the travelling time on the at least one work station based on sensitivity analysis results; and

determine one of the processing time and the travelling time and a workstation associated therewith which have the greatest influence on the performance of the robotic cell as the factor and the corresponding workstation sensitive to the performance of the robotic cell.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the performance optimization unit is configured to perform, if the determined factor is processing time, a performance optimization process regarding a robotic cell pattern with scheduling.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the performance optimization process regarding a robotic cell pattern with scheduling comprises at least one of robotic cell pattern optimization and operations sequences optimization.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein if the robotic cell pattern optimization is performed, the optimal number of workstations that can be newly added in the robotic cell is further determined by determining a number of workstations which can achieve cost effectiveness from sensitivity analysis results.

11. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the performance optimization unit is configured to perform, if the determined factor is travelling time, a performance optimization process regarding workstation displacement.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the factor and workstation determination unit and the performance optimization unit are configured to operate repeatedly with an improved cell layout newly obtained as a new initial cell layout until an improved cell layout meeting the performance requirement is obtained.

13. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

a displacement unit configured to perform displacement of the at least one workstation based on the improved cell layout; and

a scheduling unit configured to perform a robotic cell scheduling based on the improved cell layout.

17. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the performance optimization unit is configured to perform, if the determined factor is travelling time, a performance optimization process regarding workstation displacement.

18. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the factor and workstation determination unit and the performance optimization unit are configured to operate repeatedly with an improved cell layout newly obtained as a new initial cell layout until an improved cell layout meeting the performance requirement is obtained.

19. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a displacement unit configured to perform displacement of the at least one workstation based on the improved cell layout; and

a scheduling unit configured to perform a robotic cell scheduling based on the improved cell layout.