Robotic safety using wearables

• US 10,099,374 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2016
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Inventors: Boesen, Peter Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Mott, Adam R
• Application Number:
  US15/361,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20170151668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/06 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/061 with audible signals audio controls B25J13/003
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1674 characterised by safety, monitoring, diagnostic
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1676 Avoiding collision or forbidden zones
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/147 using electro-magnetic technology, e.g. tags or radar
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/406 characterised by monitoring or safety G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4061 Avoiding collision or forbidden zones
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/35446 Earprotection, earphone
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40202 Human robot coexistence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40203 Detect position of operator, create non material barrier to protect operator
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/42272 Total movement is divided in several zones with different protection parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50177 Protection for operator during operation, machining

Abstract

A system for increasing safety during robot-human collaborations in a manufacturing environment is provided. The method includes at least one wearable device for use by a human worker and an industrial robot in operative communication with the at least one wearable device. The industrial robot is equipped to detect location of the human worker using the at least one wearable device. The at least one wearable device may include an earpiece. The at least one wearable device may include a set of earpieces including a left wearable earpiece and a right wearable earpiece.

Claims

1. A system for increasing safety during robot-human collaborations in a manufacturing environment, the system comprising:

at least one wireless earpiece for use by a human worker; and

an industrial robot in operative communication with the at least one wireless earpiece;

wherein the industrial robot is equipped to detect a location of the human worker using data from the at least one wireless earpiece;

wherein the industrial robot is configured to update the location of the human worker relative to the industrial robot;

wherein the wireless earpiece comprises a wearable housing, a processor disposed within the wearable housing, and a speaker operatively connected to the wearable housing and the processor;

wherein the wireless earpiece is configured to produce a sound at the speaker when the location between the wireless earpiece and the industrial robot is less than a threshold; and

wherein the sound is shaped to represent a spatial location of the industrial robot relative to the wireless earpiece.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one wireless earpiece comprises a set of wireless earpieces including a left wireless earpiece and a right wireless earpiece.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein each wireless earpiece further comprises:

a transceiver disposed within the wearable housing and operatively connected to the processor and

at least one sensor operatively connected to the processor.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the at least one sensor further comprises an inertial sensor.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the processor is configured to track changes in movement associated with the human worker using inertial sensor data from the inertial sensor and communicate position or changes in movement of the human worker to the industrial robot using the transceiver.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the industrial robot is configured to avoid contact with the human worker by stopping.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the industrial robot is configured to avoid contact with the human worker by changing direction of motion.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the industrial robot is configured to reduce force of contact with the human worker.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one wireless earpiece comprises at least one sensor for detecting a position of the industrial robot.

10. A method for increasing safety during robot-human collaborations in a manufacturing environment, the method comprising:

receiving data associated with a position of a human worker wearing a wireless earpiece;

determining, using the data, a relative position between the wireless earpiece and an industrial robot;

communicating information to alter an operation of the industrial robot when the relative position between the wireless earpiece and the industrial robot is less than a threshold; and

producing a sound at the wireless earpiece when the relative position between the wireless earpiece and the industrial robot is less than the threshold, wherein the sound is shaped to represent a spatial location of the industrial robot relative to the wireless earpiece.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the altering operation of the industrial robot comprises stopping the industrial robot.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the altering operation of the industrial robot comprises changing direction of motion of the industrial robot.

13. A system for increasing safety during robot-human collaborations in a manufacturing environment, the system comprising:

at least one wireless earpiece for use by a human worker; and

an industrial robot in operative communication with the at least one wireless earpiece;

wherein the wireless earpiece comprises a wearable housing, a processor disposed within the wearable housing, at least one sensor operatively connected to the processor, and a speaker operatively connected to the wearable housing and the processor;

wherein the at least one wireless earpiece is configured to detect a location of the industrial robot using data sensed by the at least one sensor;

wherein the wireless earpiece is configured to produce a sound when the location between the wireless earpiece and the industrial robot is less than a threshold; and

wherein the sound is shaped to represent a spatial location of the industrial robot relative to the wireless earpiece.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect the location of the industrial robot by emitting a field and detecting when the industrial robot enters the field.