Industrial robot and method for operating an industrial robot

• US 9,308,653 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2009
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Graf, Rene
• Primary Examiner(s): Badii, Behrang
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALSOMIRI, MAJDI A
• Application Number:
  US12/488,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20100017029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,486 Days
• Field of Search: 700/19, 700/195, 700245-247, 700/258, 700/259, 700/254, 700/264, 318/565, 3185681-56817, 414/729, 414/730, 901/2, 901/9
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/00 Accessories fitted to manipulators, e.g. for monitoring, for viewing; Safety devices combined with or specially adapted for use in connection with manipulators safety-devices in general F16P; protection against radiation in general G21F
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 57/032 with alternately or sequentially lifted supporting base and legs; with alternately or sequentially lifted feet or skid B62D57/024 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39001 Robot, manipulator control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/008 based on physical entities controlled by simulated intelligence so as to replicate intelligent life forms, e.g. based on robots replicating pets or humans in their appearance or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 35/02 with moving magnets and stationary coil systems

Abstract

An industrial robot with a robotic arm and a data recording module connected to the robotic arm is described. The data recording module is designed for a wireless communication and has a self-sufficient power supply with a converter unit by which mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy, the energy from the movement of the robotic arm being used therefore.

Claims

1. An industrial robot, comprising:

a robotic arm; and

a data recording module connected to the robotic arm, the data recording module being designed for a wireless communication and having a self-sufficient electrical power supply with an energy converter unit adapted to be responsive to an expected motion sequence of the robotic arm and configured to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, wherein mechanical energy from a controlled movement of the robotic arm is converted by the converter unit into electrical energy to power at least the data recording module.

2. The industrial robot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the converter unit converts a translational movement into electrical energy.

3. The industrial robot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the converter unit converts a rotational movement into electrical energy.

4. The industrial robot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the converter unit converts a rotational and translational movement into electrical energy.

5. The industrial robot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data recording module has an energy storage device in which the generated electrical energy is stored.

6. The industrial robot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data recording module communicates by an industrial W-LAN communication standard.

7. The industrial robot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data recording module communicates by a Bluetooth communication standard.

8. The industrial robot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data recording module communicates by a ZigBee communication standard.

9. The industrial robot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data recording module is arranged at a position of maximum average movement of the robotic arm.

10. A method of operating an industrial robot with a robotic arm, comprising:

connecting a data recording module to the robotic arm;

providing a self-sufficient electrical power supply with an energy converter unit for the data recording module;

adapting the energy converter unit to be responsive to an expected motion sequence of the robotic arm to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy;

executing a wireless communication by the data recording module; and

converting by way of the energy converter unit mechanical energy from a controlled movement of the robotic arm into electrical energy to power at least the data recording module.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein a translational movement of the robotic arm is converted into electrical energy.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein a rotational movement of the robotic arm is converted into electrical energy.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein a rotational and translational movement is converted into electrical energy.

14. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

providing an energy storage device for the data recording module; and

storing the electrical energy in the energy storage device.

15. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the data recording module communicates by an industrial W-LAN communication standard.

16. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the data recording module communicates by a Bluetooth communication standard.

17. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the data recording module communicates by a ZigBee communication standard.

18. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

arranging the data recording module at a position of maximum average movement of the robotic arm.

19. An industrial robot, comprising:

a robotic arm;

a data recording module coupled to control and monitor work performed by the robotic arm, the data recording module configured to provide wireless communication;

a self-sufficient electrical power supply comprising an energy converter unit responsive to motion of the robotic arm and configured to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy to power the data recording module; and

an energy storage device arranged to store surplus electrical energy from the energy converter unit.