ROBOT SYSTEM AND WORK FACILITY

• US 20150019011A1
• Filed: 09/29/2014
• Published: 01/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yaskawa Denki
• Inventors: NAMBA, Taro, UENO, Tomohiro, YOSHIDA, Osamu
• Application Number:
  US14/499,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20150019011A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/248
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0084 comprising a plurality of manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/161 Hardware, e.g. neural networks, fuzzy logic, interfaces, processor
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1687 Assembly, peg and hole, palletising, straight line, weaving pattern movement
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1697 Vision controlled systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36404 Adapt teached position as function of deviation 3-D, 2-D position workpiece
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40032 Peg and hole insertion, mating and joining, remote center compliance
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45091 Screwing robot, tighten or loose bolt

Abstract

This disclosure discloses a robot system including one or more work facilities, and a central information processor. The work facilities comprise a robot, a robot controller, and a sensor. The robot performs predetermined work. The central information processor includes an information accepting part, an algorithm storage part, an information analysing part, and an analytical information output part. The information accepting part accepts detection information of the sensor of each work facility. The algorithm storage part stores a processing algorithm for the detection information. The information analysing part analyses the detection information accepted based on the processing algorithm stored in the algorithm storage part. Then analytical information output part outputs analytical information of the detection information to the robot controller of a corresponding the work facility. The robot controller controls a movement of the robot based on the analytical information.

Claims

1. A robot system comprising

one or more work facilities comprising a robot configured to perform predetermined work, a robot controller configured to control a movement of the robot, and a sensor correspondingly provided on the robot;

and

a central information processor data-communicably connected to each of the one or more work facilities;

the central information processor including

an information accepting part configured to accept detection information of the sensor of each work facility;

an algorithm storage part configured to store a processing algorithm for the detection information in each work facility;

an information analysing part configured to analyse the detection information accepted by the information accepting part based on the processing algorithm stored in the algorithm storage part; and

an analytical information output part configured to output analytical information of the detection information analysed by the information analysing part to the robot controller of a corresponding the work facility; and

the robot controller being configured to control the movement of the robot based on the analytical information output from the analytical information output part.

2. The robot system according to claim 1, wherein

the sensor is an image sensor configured to generate image information of a work target of the robot as the detection information;

the information accepting part of the central information processor accepts the image information generated by the image sensor of each work facility;

the algorithm storage part stores a processing algorithm for the image information in each work facility;

the information analysing part performs image analysis on the image information accepted by the information accepting part based on the processing algorithm stored in the algorithm storage part;

the analytical information output part outputs image analytical information of the image information analysed by the information analysing part to the robot controller of a corresponding the work facility; and

the robot controller controls the movement of the robot based on the image analytical information output from the analytical information output part.

3. The robot system according to claim 1, wherein

the central information processor is configured as an aggregate of one or more computers and storage devices linked by a network.

4. The robot system according to claim 1, wherein

the work facility comprises an interface device for inputting information into the central information processor;

the central information processor comprises an algorithm configuring part configured to configure the processing algorithm to be executed in the information analysing part from the processing algorithms stored in the algorithm storage part, in accordance with the information from the interface device; and

the information analysing part analyses the detection information based on the processing algorithm configured by the algorithm configuring part.

5. A work facility used in the robot system according to claim 1, comprising a robot configured to perform predetermined work, a robot controller configured to control the movement of the robot, and a sensor correspondingly provided on the robot, further comprising

a transmitter configured to transmit detection information of the sensor to the central information processor configured to analyse the detection information via a network;

and

a receiver configured to receive analytical information of the detection information transmitted from the central information processor via a network;

the robot controller being configured to control the movement of the robot based on the analytical information received by the receiver.

6. The robot system according to claim 2, wherein

the central information processor is configured as an aggregate of one or more computers and storage devices linked by a network.

7. The robot system according to claim 2, wherein

the work facility comprises an interface device for inputting information into the central information processor;

the central information processor comprises an algorithm configuring part configured to configure the processing algorithm to be executed in the information analysing part from the processing algorithms stored in the algorithm storage part, in accordance with the information from the interface device; and

the information analysing part analyses the detection information based on the processing algorithm configured by the algorithm configuring part.

8. The robot system according to claim 3, wherein

the work facility comprises an interface device for inputting information into the central information processor;

the central information processor comprises an algorithm configuring part configured to configure the processing algorithm to be executed in the information analysing part from the processing algorithms stored in the algorithm storage part, in accordance with the information from the interface device; and

the information analysing part analyses the detection information based on the processing algorithm configured by the algorithm configuring part.

9. The robot system according to claim 6, wherein

the work facility comprises an interface device for inputting information into the central information processor;

the central information processor comprises an algorithm configuring part configured to configure the processing algorithm to be executed in the information analysing part from the processing algorithms stored in the algorithm storage part, in accordance with the information from the interface device; and

the information analysing part analyses the detection information based on the processing algorithm configured by the algorithm configuring part.

10. A work facility used in the robot system according to claim 2, comprising a robot configured to perform predetermined work, a robot controller configured to control the movement of the robot, and a sensor correspondingly provided on the robot, further comprising

a transmitter configured to transmit detection information of the sensor to the central information processor configured to analyse the detection information via a network;

and

a receiver configured to receive analytical information of the detection information transmitted from the central information processor via a network;

the robot controller being configured to control the movement of the robot based on the analytical information received by the receiver.

11. A work facility used in the robot system according to claim 3, comprising a robot configured to perform predetermined work, a robot controller configured to control the movement of the robot, and a sensor correspondingly provided on the robot, further comprising

a transmitter configured to transmit detection information of the sensor to the central information processor configured to analyse the detection information via a network;

and

a receiver configured to receive analytical information of the detection information transmitted from the central information processor via a network;

the robot controller being configured to control the movement of the robot based on the analytical information received by the receiver.

12. A work facility used in the robot system according to claim 6, comprising a robot configured to perform predetermined work, a robot controller configured to control the movement of the robot, and a sensor correspondingly provided on the robot, further comprising

a transmitter configured to transmit detection information of the sensor to the central information processor configured to analyse the detection information via a network;

and

a receiver configured to receive analytical information of the detection information transmitted from the central information processor via a network;

the robot controller being configured to control the movement of the robot based on the analytical information received by the receiver.

13. A work facility used in the robot system according to claim 4, comprising a robot configured to perform predetermined work, a robot controller configured to control the movement of the robot, and a sensor correspondingly provided on the robot, further comprising

a transmitter configured to transmit detection information of the sensor to the central information processor configured to analyse the detection information via a network;

and

a receiver configured to receive analytical information of the detection information transmitted from the central information processor via a network;

the robot controller being configured to control the movement of the robot based on the analytical information received by the receiver.

14. A work facility used in the robot system according to claim 7, comprising a robot configured to perform predetermined work, a robot controller configured to control the movement of the robot, and a sensor correspondingly provided on the robot, further comprising

a transmitter configured to transmit detection information of the sensor to the central information processor configured to analyse the detection information via a network;

and

a receiver configured to receive analytical information of the detection information transmitted from the central information processor via a network;

the robot controller being configured to control the movement of the robot based on the analytical information received by the receiver.

15. A work facility used in the robot system according to claim 8, comprising a robot configured to perform predetermined work, a robot controller configured to control the movement of the robot, and a sensor correspondingly provided on the robot, further comprising

a transmitter configured to transmit detection information of the sensor to the central information processor configured to analyse the detection information via a network;

and

a receiver configured to receive analytical information of the detection information transmitted from the central information processor via a network;

the robot controller being configured to control the movement of the robot based on the analytical information received by the receiver.

16. A work facility used in the robot system according to claim 9, comprising a robot configured to perform predetermined work, a robot controller configured to control the movement of the robot, and a sensor correspondingly provided on the robot, further comprising

a transmitter configured to transmit detection information of the sensor to the central information processor configured to analyse the detection information via a network;

and

a receiver configured to receive analytical information of the detection information transmitted from the central information processor via a network;

the robot controller being configured to control the movement of the robot based on the analytical information received by the receiver.

17. A robot system, comprising

one or more work facilities comprising a robot configured to perform predetermined work, a robot controller configured to control a movement of the robot, and a sensor correspondingly provided on the robot;

and

a central information processor data-communicably connected to each of the one or more work facilities;

the central information processor including

means for accepting detection information of the sensor of each work facility;

means for storing a processing algorithm for the detection information in each work facility;

means for analysing the detection information accepted by the means for accepting detection information based on the processing algorithm stored in the means for storing a processing algorithm; and

means for outputting analytical information of the detection information analysed by means for analysing the detection information to the robot controller of a corresponding the work facility; and

the robot controller being configured to control the movement of the robot based on the analytical information output from the means for outputting analytical information.