Robot, controller, and robot system

• US 10,300,605 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2016
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Sato, Daisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Figueroa, Jaime
• Application Number:
  US15/372,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20170165838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 700245, 700258
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/085 Force or torque sensors B25J13/082, B25J13/084 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/088 with position, velocity or acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/161 Hardware, e.g. neural networks, fuzzy logic, interfaces, processor
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1694 characterised by use of sensors other than normal servo-feedback from position, speed or acceleration sensors, perception control, multi-sensor controlled systems, sensor fusion
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34242 For measurement only

Abstract

A robot is controlled by a control unit. The robot includes: a first sensor; a second sensor; a third sensor; a fourth sensor; a first circuit capable of transmitting and receiving signals to and from the first sensor and the second sensor; and a second circuit capable of transmitting and receiving signals to and from the third sensor and the fourth sensor. The control unit and the first circuit are connected through a first serial wire, and the first circuit and the second circuit are connected through a second serial wire.

Claims

1. A robot comprising:

a controller;

a base;

a torso having a first arm, a second arm, and a third arm, the torso being connected to the base;

a first position sensor;

a second position sensor;

a third position sensor;

an inertial sensor;

a force sensor;

a first circuit for transmitting, receiving, and multiplexing signals to and from the first position sensor;

a second circuit for transmitting, receiving, and multiplexing signals to and from the second position sensor and the inertial sensor; and

a third circuit for transmitting, receiving, and multiplexing signals to and from the third position sensor and the force sensor, wherein

the controller and the first circuit are connected through a first serial wire,

the first circuit and the second circuit are connected through a second serial wire,

the second circuit and the third circuit are connected through a third serial wire, and

when the first arm, the second arm, and the third arm are disposed on the same straight line, the first circuit is disposed closer to the base than the second circuit and the third circuit, and the second circuit is disposed closer to the base than the third circuit.

2. The robot according to claim 1, wherein

the force sensor is provided in the same arm as the first circuit.

3. The robot according to claim 1, wherein

the first circuit includes a first identifier addition circuit configured to add an identifier containing sensor type information to a signal output from the first position sensor.

4. The robot according to claim 3, wherein

the identifier contains transmission priority information for the signal output from the first position sensor.

5. The robot according to claim 4, further comprising a transmission circuit configured to determine transmission order of the signal according to the transmission priority.

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

a first drive unit that drives the first arm; and

a first reducer that reduces a speed of the first drive unit, wherein

the first position sensor is provided on an input shaft of the first reducer,

the second position sensor is provided on an output shaft of the first reducer, and

the first position sensor and the second position sensor detect a position of the first arm.

7. The robot according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second drive unit that drives the second arm; and

a second reducer that reduces a speed of the second drive unit, wherein

the first position sensor is provided on an input shaft of the second reducer,

the second position sensor is provided on an output shaft of the second reducer, and

the first position sensor and the second position sensor detect a position of the second arm.

8. The robot according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third drive unit that drives the third arm; and

a third reducer that reduces a speed of the third drive unit, wherein

the second position sensor is provided on an input shaft of the third reducer,

the third position sensor is provided on an output shaft of the third reducer, and

the second position sensor and the third position sensor detect a position of the third arm.

9. The robot according to claim 1, wherein:

the second circuit includes a second identifier addition circuit configured to add a first identifier to a signal output from the second position sensor and add a second identifier to a signal output from the inertial sensor, the first identifier including sensor type information and transmission priority information for the signal output from the second position sensor, and the second identifier including sensor type information and transmission priority information for the signal output from the inertial sensor, and

the second circuit includes a transmission circuit configured to transmit the signal from the second position sensor and the signal from the inertial sensor according to the first identifier and the second identifier.

10. The robot according to claim 6, wherein:

the second circuit includes a second identifier addition circuit configured to add a first identifier to a signal output from the second position sensor and add a second identifier to a signal output from the inertial sensor, the first identifier including sensor type information and transmission priority information for the signal output from the second position sensor, and the second identifier including sensor type information and transmission priority information for the signal output from the inertial sensor, and

the second circuit includes a transmission circuit configured to transmit the signal from the second position sensor and the signal from the inertial sensor according to the first identifier and the second identifier.

11. The robot according to claim 7, wherein:

the second circuit includes a second identifier addition circuit configured to add a first identifier to a signal output from the second position sensor and add a second identifier to a signal output from the inertial sensor, the first identifier including sensor type information and transmission priority information for the signal output from the second position sensor, and the second identifier including sensor type information and transmission priority information for the signal output from the inertial sensor, and

the second circuit includes a transmission circuit configured to transmit the signal from the second position sensor and the signal from the inertial sensor according to the first identifier and the second identifier.

12. The robot according to claim 8, wherein:

the second circuit includes a second identifier addition circuit configured to add a first identifier to a signal output from the second position sensor and add a second identifier to a signal output from the inertial sensor, the first identifier including sensor type information and transmission priority information for the signal output from the second position sensor, and the second identifier including sensor type information and transmission priority information for the signal output from the inertial sensor, and

the second circuit includes a transmission circuit configured to transmit the signal from the second position sensor and the signal from the inertial sensor according to the first identifier and the second identifier.