Apparatus and method for monitoring a payload handling robot assembly
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring a payload-handling robot assembly with at least one robot, the method comprising:
- determining the identity of a configuration of a robot-handled payload handled by the at least one robot based on a current position of the at least one robot relative to a specified change position of the at least one robot, the determining step performed by a control system of the robot assembly;
wherein a payload change is determined by a deviation between a current position of a payload attachment and a change position of the payload attachment, and on the basis of an actuation to open or to close the payload attachment of the robot assembly to grip a new payload;
moving the payload with the at least one robot;
monitoring operation of the at least one robot based on the identified configuration of the robot-handled payload; and
identifying a configuration of a payload as the configuration of a robot-handled payload when a deviation between the current position of the at least one robot and a change position associated with the configuration of a payload drops below a specified limit value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for monitoring a payload-handling robot assembly having at least one robot includes identifying a robot-handled payload arrangement on the basis of a current position of the robot assembly relative to a specified change position of the robot assembly. In another aspect, a robot assembly includes at least one robot, a monitoring apparatus configured to determine a current position of the robot assembly and to identify a robot-handled payload arrangement on the basis of the current position of the robot assembly relative to a specified change position of the robot assembly, and a payload receptacle for receiving a plurality of different payloads. The robot is configured for handling the plurality of payloads in an alternating manner.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring a payload-handling robot assembly with at least one robot, the method comprising:
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determining the identity of a configuration of a robot-handled payload handled by the at least one robot based on a current position of the at least one robot relative to a specified change position of the at least one robot, the determining step performed by a control system of the robot assembly; wherein a payload change is determined by a deviation between a current position of a payload attachment and a change position of the payload attachment, and on the basis of an actuation to open or to close the payload attachment of the robot assembly to grip a new payload; moving the payload with the at least one robot; monitoring operation of the at least one robot based on the identified configuration of the robot-handled payload; and identifying a configuration of a payload as the configuration of a robot-handled payload when a deviation between the current position of the at least one robot and a change position associated with the configuration of a payload drops below a specified limit value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for monitoring a payload-handling robot assembly that includes at least one robot, the apparatus comprising monitoring means configured to determine a current position of the at least one robot and to determine the identity of a configuration of a robot-handled payload handled by the at least one robot based on the current position of the at least one robot relative to a specified change position of the at least one robot, wherein a payload change is determined by a deviation between a current position of a payload attachment and a change position of the payload attachment, and on the basis of an actuation to open or to close the payload attachment of the robot assembly to grip a new payload, wherein operation of the at least one robot is monitored based on the identified configuration of the robot-handled payload, wherein a configuration of a payload is identified as the configuration of a robot-handled payload when a deviation between the current position of the at least one robot and a change position associated with the configuration of a payload drops below a specified limit value.
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10. A robot assembly, comprising:
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at least one robot; and a monitoring apparatus configured to; determine a current position of the robot; determine the identity of a configuration of a robot-handled payload handled by the at least one robot based on the current position of the at least one robot relative to a specified change position of the at least one robot, wherein a payload change is determined by a deviation between a current position of a payload attachment and a change position of the payload attachment, and on the basis of an actuation to open or to close the payload attachment of the robot assembly to grip a new payload; monitor operation of the at least one robot based on the identified configuration of the robot-handled payload; and identify a configuration of a payload as the configuration of a robot-handled payload when a deviation between the current position of the at least one robot and a change position associated with the configuration of a payload drops below a specified limit value. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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11. A computer program product for monitoring a payload-handling robot assembly including at least one robot, the computer program product having programming code stored on a non-transitory machine readable data medium, the programming code configured to, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:
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determine the identity of a configuration of a robot-handled payload handled by the at least one robot based on a current position of the at least one robot relative to a specified change position of the at least one robot, wherein a payload change is determined by a deviation between a current position of a payload attachment and a change position of the payload attachment, and on the basis of an actuation to open or to close the payload attachment of the robot assembly to grip a new payload; wherein operation of the at least one robot is monitored based on the identified configuration of the robot-handled payload; and identify a configuration of a payload as the configuration of a robot-handled payload when a deviation between the current position of the at least one robot and a change position associated with the configuration of a payload drops below a specified limit value.
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Specification