Software defined manufacturing/assembly system
AssigneeBright Machines, Inc.
InventorsBrian Philip Mathews, Ronald Poelman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present system is a software defined manufacturing (SDM) system that integrates several technologies and methods into a system that automates the process of engineering and operating automated manufacturing systems (aka “automating automation”). In one embodiment, some or all of the below aspects of the “automating automation” system are integrated: modular, configurable, reusable manufacturing cells; computer vision systems; autocalibration systems; a recipe-based programming environment; configuration management system; production analytics; and a marketplace for sharing recipes.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method comprising:
- receiving a computer aided design (CAD) data of a product for assembly;
- analyzing the CAD data to determine a plurality of assembly steps;
- determining actions associated with each of the plurality of assembly steps;
- analyzing the actions, and determining adjustments to the CAD data to optimize the product for assembly;
- generating updated CAD data for the product, based on the adjustments;
- receiving a high level recipe specifying a plurality of actions to assemble the product;
- translating the high level recipe to an executable set of instructions by:
- identifying, using the updated CAD data, locations for each of the plurality of actions;
- retrieving a parametrized sub-recipe for a step in the high level recipe, and customizing the parametrized sub-recipe based on the identified locations;
- generating commands executable by a robotic cell to take the plurality of actions at the identified locations to assemble the product defined by the updated CAD data;
- and
- designing a microfactory line including a plurality of robotic cells to execute the plurality of actions in the high level recipe.
A robotic assembly system comprising:
- a network connection to receive a computer aided design (CAD) data of a product for assembly;
- a processor configured to:
- analyze the CAD data to determine a plurality of assembly steps;
- determine actions associated with each of the plurality of assembly steps;
- analyze the actions, and determining adjustments to the CAD data to optimize the product for assembly;
- generate an updated CAD data for the product, based on the adjustments;
- receive a high level recipe specifying a plurality of actions to assemble the product;
- translate the high level recipe to an executable set of instructions by:
- identifying, using the updated CAD data, locations for each of the plurality of actions;
- retrieving a parametrized sub-recipe for a step in the high level recipe, and customizing the parametrized sub-recipe based on the identified locations;
- generating commands executable by a robotic cell to take the plurality of actions at the identified locations to assemble the product defined by the updated CAD data;
- and
- the processor further configured to design a microfactory line including a plurality of robotic cells to execute the plurality of actions in the high level recipe.
A method to assemble a product using a robotic assembly system comprising:
- (A) generating an updated computer aided design (CAD) data for the product comprising:
- receiving an initial computer aided design (CAD) data for a product for assembly;
- analyzing the initial CAD data and determining alterations to the initial CAD data to optimize the product for assembly;
- and
- altering the initial CAD data based on the determining, to generate the updated CAD data;
- (B) generating an executable set of instructions to assemble the product defined by the updated CAD data comprising:
- identifying, using the updated CAD data, locations for each of a plurality of actions;
- customizing each of the plurality of actions based on the identified locations;
- generating commands executable by the robotic assembly system to take the plurality of actions at the identified locations to assemble the product defined by the updated CAD data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.