System for evaluating the capability of a work-performing robot to reproduce a programmed series of motions
First Claim
1. A system for evaluating the performance capability of a relatively massive, work-performing, multi-link, multi-degree of freedom robot with respect to a series of programmable motions, said robot having different velocity limitations for each of said links, comprising:
- a relatively lightweight hand manipulatable robot simulator having multiple links connected to permit relative motion therebetween to define plural degrees of freedom, said simulator links and degrees of freedom simulating those of said work-performing robot,velocity transducing means associated with said simulator links to provide actual velocity signals correlated to the actual velocity of said simulator links when said simulator is hand manipulated through a series of programmable motions,means for establishing velocity limitation reference signals correlated to velocity limitations of said work-performing robot links,alarm condition sensing means responsive to said actual velocity signals and said velocity limitation reference signals for providing different alarm signals when alarm conditions exist for different links due to the velocity of said simulator links exceeding said velocity limitations of said work-performing robot links, andalarm indicating means responsive to said alarm signals for providing a humanly perceptible alarm indication substantially concurrently with the occurrence of an alarm condition.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for evaluating whether a work-performing robot can perform a series of programmed motions is disclosed which includes means for continuously comparing the velocity of the various links of a robot simulator, which is manually moved through the sequence of motions to be programmed, against predetermined velocity limits associated with the corresponding links of the work-performing robot which will reproduce the programmed steps, and providing humanly perceptible alarm indications uniquely identifiable with the various robot links when the motions manually programmed on the robot simulator exceed the velocity limits of the work-performing robot. Additionally, the individual velocities of the various robot simulator links are summed, and the sum continuously compared against the power limit of the hydraulic pump driving the link actuators of the work-performing robot. Should the aggregate velocity of the robot simulator links exceed the power capability of the hydraulic pump, that is, the pump capacity, an alarm indication is provided. In spray coating robot applications, the alarm indications occasioned by excessive link velocities, as well as excessive demands on the hydraulic pump, are recorded along with information indicating whether or not during a particular alarm condition the spray gun was ON or OFF. This record enables the manually programmed motion sequence to be evaluated to determine whether or not the alarm conditions which occurred during programming can be safely ignored and the program used to operate the work-performing robot.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A system for evaluating the performance capability of a relatively massive, work-performing, multi-link, multi-degree of freedom robot with respect to a series of programmable motions, said robot having different velocity limitations for each of said links, comprising:
-
a relatively lightweight hand manipulatable robot simulator having multiple links connected to permit relative motion therebetween to define plural degrees of freedom, said simulator links and degrees of freedom simulating those of said work-performing robot, velocity transducing means associated with said simulator links to provide actual velocity signals correlated to the actual velocity of said simulator links when said simulator is hand manipulated through a series of programmable motions, means for establishing velocity limitation reference signals correlated to velocity limitations of said work-performing robot links, alarm condition sensing means responsive to said actual velocity signals and said velocity limitation reference signals for providing different alarm signals when alarm conditions exist for different links due to the velocity of said simulator links exceeding said velocity limitations of said work-performing robot links, and alarm indicating means responsive to said alarm signals for providing a humanly perceptible alarm indication substantially concurrently with the occurrence of an alarm condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for evaluating the performance capability of a relatively massive, work-performing, multi-link, multi-degree of freedom robot with respect to a series of programmable motions, said robot having different velocity limitations for each of said links, comprising:
-
manually manipulating through said series of motions a relatively lightweight robot simulator having multiple links connected to permit relative motion therebetween to define plural degrees of freedom for simulating said work-performing robot, generating, with velocity transducing means associated with said simulator links, actual velocity signals correlated to the actual velocity of said simulator links when said simulator is hand manipulated through a series of programmable motions, generating velocity limitation reference signals correlated to velocity limitations of said work-performing robot links, comparing said actual velocity signals and said velocity limitation reference signals and providing in response thereto different alarm signals when alarm conditions exist for different links due to the velocity of said simulator links exceeding said velocity limitations of said work-performing robot links, and providing, in response to said alarm signals, a humanly perceptible alarm indication substantially concurrently with the occurrence of an alarm condition. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A system for evaluating the performance capability of a relatively massive, work-performing, multi-link, multi-degree of freedom robot with respect to a series of programmable motions, said robot having different acceleration-induced stress and/or deflection limitations for each of said links, comprising:
-
a relatively lightweight hand manipulatable robot simulator having multiple links connected to permit relative motion therebetween to define plural degrees of freedom, said simulator links and degrees of freedom simulating those of said work-performing robot, acceleration transducing means associated with said simulator links to provide actual acceleration signals correlated to the actual acceleration of said simulator links when said simulator is hand manipulated through a series of programmable motions, means for establishing acceleration limitation reference signals correlated to acceleration limitations of said work-performing robot links, alarm condition sensing means responsive to said actual acceleration signals and said acceleration limitation reference signals for providing different alarm signals when alarm conditions exist for different links due to the acceleration of said simulator links exceeding said acceleration limitations of said work-performing robot links, and alarm indicating means responsive to said alarm signals for providing a humanly perceptible alarm indication substantially concurrently with the occurrence of an alarm condition. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
-
Specification