Robotic safety using wearables

• US 20170151668A1
• Filed: 11/28/2016
• Published: 06/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Original Assignee: Bragi GmbH
• Inventors: Boesen, Peter Vincent
• Granted Patent: US 10,099,374 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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 wearable device for use by a human worker;

an industrial robot in operative communication with the at least one wearable device;

wherein the industrial robot is equipped to detect location of the human worker using the at least one wearable device.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one wearable device comprises an earpiece.

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

4. The system of claim 1 wherein each of the at least one wearable device comprising:

a wearable housing;

a processor disposed within the wearable housing;

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

one or more sensors operatively connected to the processor.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the one or more sensors includes at least one inertial sensor.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the processor is configured to track changes in movement of the human worker using the at least one inertial sensor and communicate position or changes in movement of the human worker to the industrial robot using the transceiver.

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

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

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

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the industrial robot comprises a robotic arm.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one wearable device comprises at least one sensor for detecting position of the industrial robot.

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

providing a wearable device;

providing an industrial robot;

determining relative position between the wearable device and the industrial robot; and

altering operation of the industrial robot when the relative position between the wearable device and the industrial robot is less than a threshold.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the altering operation of the industrial robot comprises stopping the industrial robot.

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

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising producing an audible alert at the wearable device when the relative position between the wearable device and the industrial robot is less than the threshold.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising producing a sound at the wearable device wherein the sound is shaped to represent a spatial location of the industrial robot relative to the wearable device.

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

at least one wearable device for use by a human worker;

an industrial robot in operative communication with the at least one wearable device;

wherein the at least one wearable device is configured to detect location of the industrial robot.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the at least one wearable device comprises an earpiece.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the earpiece comprises an earpiece housing, a processor disposed within the earpiece housing, and at least one sensor operatively connected to the processor.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect location of the industrial robot by emitting a field and detecting when the industrial robot enters the field;

and wherein the earpiece further includes a speaker and wherein the processor is configured to determine where within the field the industrial robot is located and to produce a sound at the speaker to alert the human worker of the position of the industrial robot.