Coordinating work within a multi-robot cell
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsSamuel F Pedigo, Veniamin Tereshchuk
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for robot control. One embodiment is a method for coordinating operations of robots performing work on a part. The method includes assigning a group of robots to a part, initiating work on the part via the group of robots, determining that a robot within the group is unable to continue performing work at a first location of the part, removing the robot from the group while other robots of the group continue performing the work, adding a functioning robot to the group at a second location that the robot is scheduled to occupy, and continuing work on the part via the group of robots.
Claims20
A method for coordinating operations of robots performing work on a part, the method comprising:
- assigning a group of robots to a part;
- initiating work on the part via the group of robots;
- determining that a first robot within the group is unable to continue performing work at a first location of the part;
- removing the first robot from the first location and the group while other robots of the group continue performing the work;
- adding a functioning robot to the group at a second location of the part that the first robot was scheduled to occupy during the work;
- and
- continuing work on the part via the group of robots.
A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying programmed instructions which, when executed by a processor, are operable for performing a method for coordinating operations of robots performing work on a part, the method comprising:
- assigning a group of robots to a part;
- initiating work on the part via the group of robots;
- determining that a first robot within the group is unable to continue performing work at a first location of the part;
- removing the first robot from the first location and the group while other robots of the group continue performing the work;
- adding a functioning robot to the group at a second location of the part that the first robot was scheduled to occupy during the work;
- and
- continuing work on the part via the group of robots.
An apparatus for coordinating operations of robots performing work on a part, the apparatus comprising:
- a controller that is configured to assign a group of robots to a part;
- and
- an interface that is configured to receive updates indicating work performed on the part via the group of robots;
- the controller is configured to determine that a first robot from the group is unable to continue performing work at a first location of the part, direct removal of the first robot from the first location and the group while other robots of the group continue performing work on the part, add a functioning robot to the group at a second location of the part that the first robot was scheduled to occupy during the work, and direct the group to continue work on the part via the robots.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.