Robot service system and a method for providing remote service for a robot

• US 8,099,191 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2008
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Ltd.)
• Inventors: Blanc, Dominique, Myhr, Mats, Eriksson, Peter J., Murphy, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amin, Bhavesh V
• Application Number:
  US12/330,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20090157224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1674 characterised by safety, monitoring, diagnostic
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/416 characterised by control of velocity, acceleration or deceleration G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31104 Remote configuration of parameters of controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33286 Test, simulation analysator
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39247 Control speed, acceleration as function of load and rate of fatigue
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/42289 Avoid overload servo motor, actuator limit servo torque
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49369 Minimize machining time by maximizing feed, speed

Abstract

A robot service system including a robot including least one manipulator and a controller controlling the motion of the manipulator. A remote service center includes an analyzing computer, and a communication line between the robot controller and the remote service center. A monitoring component is configured to monitor the current operation of the controller and the current motions of the manipulator, and to transmit information on the current operation of the controller and the current motions of the manipulator to the remote service center. The analyzing computer is configured, upon request, to calculate new maximum permissible performance parameters for the robot based on the received information and to transmit the new maximum permissible performance parameters to the robot controller. The analyzing computer is further configured to calculate one or more monitoring parameter, and the monitoring component is further configured to supervise that the robot is not run outside allowed limits based on the monitoring parameters.

Claims

1. A robot service system comprising a robot including least one manipulator and a controller controlling the motion of the manipulator, the robot service system comprising:

a remote service center including an analyzing computer,

a communication line between the robot controller and the remote service center, wherein the remote service center is adapted, upon request, to send new parameters to the robot controller and the robot controller is adapted to receive the parameters and to run the robot based on the new parameters, and

a monitoring component configured to monitor the current operation of the controller and the current motions of the manipulator, and to transmit information on the current operation of the controller and the current motions of the manipulator to the remote service center,

wherein said analyzing computer is configured, upon request, to calculate new maximum permissible performance parameters for the robot based on said received information and to transmit the new maximum permissible performance parameters to the robot controller,

wherein said analyzing computer is further configured to calculate one or more monitoring parameters, and

wherein said monitoring component is further configured to supervise that the robot is not run outside allowed limits based on said monitoring parameters.

2. The robot service system according to claim 1, wherein the manipulator is movable about a plurality of axes, and said maximum permissible performance parameters include maximum allowed motor torques for the axes of the manipulator.

3. The robot service system according to claim 2, wherein said analyzing computer is configured, upon a request for more performance, to calculate new maximum permissible performance parameters including maximum allowed gearbox torque, and maximum allowed stress on the mechanical structure of the manipulator.

4. The robot service system according to claim 3, wherein said analyzing computer is configured to receive a robot program from the robot controller, to perform an automatic analysis of the program with regard to increased performance, and based thereon calculate the new maximum permissible performance parameters.

5. The robot service system according to claim 4, wherein said analyzing computer is configured to calculate the monitoring parameter based on the program code of the program, and wherein the monitoring component is configured to supervise that the robot program is not modified or tampered with based on the monitoring parameter.

6. The robot service system according to claim 5, wherein one of said monitoring parameters is a checksum calculated based on the program code.

7. The robot service system according to claim 2, wherein said analyzing computer is configured, upon a request for more load, to calculate new maximum permissible performance parameters including maximum allowed gearbox torques.

8. The robot service system according to claim 1, wherein said analyzing computer is configured, upon a request for more load, to calculate a monitoring parameter in the form of an allowed joint range for one of the axes of the robot, and wherein the monitoring component is configured to supervise that the axis is not moved outside the allowed joint range.

9. The robot service system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a help component configured, upon activation, to provide a user interface to the remote service center.

10. The robot service system according to claim 9, wherein the help component comprises a help button, the robot service system further comprising:

a portable control unit including a display unit and said help component, wherein the help component is configured to show said user interface on the display unit and to connect the control unit to the remote service center upon activation of the help button.

11. A method for providing remote service for an industrial robot including least one manipulator and a controller controlling the motion of the manipulator, the method comprising:

receiving a request for improved operation of the robot,

transmitting information on the current operation of the controller and the current motions of the manipulator to a remote service center upon receiving the request,

calculating new maximum permissible performance parameters for the robot based on said information,

transmitting the new maximum permissible performance parameters to the robot controller,

calculating one or more monitoring parameters,

operating the robot based on the new maximum permissible performance parameters, and

supervising the robot such that the robot is not run outside allowed limits based on said monitoring parameters.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the manipulator is movable about a plurality of axes, and said maximum permissible performance parameters include maximum allowed motor torques for the axes of the manipulator.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein a request for more performance is received and the new maximum permissible performance parameters include maximum allowed gearbox torque, and maximum allowed stress on the mechanical structure of the manipulator.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

analyzing a robot program with regard to increased performance, and based thereon calculating the new maximum permissible performance parameters.

15. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a request for more performance,

receiving a robot program,

calculating a monitoring parameter based on the program code of a robot program, and

supervising the robot such that the robot program is not modified or tampered with based on the monitoring parameter.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said monitoring parameter comprises a checksum calculated based on the program code.

17. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a request for more load is received, wherein the new maximum permissible performance parameters include new motion parameters.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein at least one of said monitoring parameters is an allowed joint range for one of the axes of the robot, the method further comprising:

supervising the axis such that the axis is not moved outside the allowed joint range.