Robotic manufacturing systems and methods
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMartin A. Szarski, Ashkan Amirsadri, Leng Vongchanh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A robotic manufacturing system and method include a robot including a control unit in communication with an operative member. The control unit is configured to operate the operative member in relation to a workpiece within a working area according to a control plan. A presence sensor is configured to detect presence of a human within the working area. An imaging device is configured to acquire an image of at least a portion of the workpiece in response to the presence sensor detecting the presence of the human within the working area.
Claims22
A robotic manufacturing system comprising:
- a robot including a control unit including one or more processors in communication with an operative member, wherein the control unit is configured to operate the operative member in relation to a workpiece within a working area according to a control plan;
- a presence sensor configured to detect presence of a human within the working area;
- and
- an imaging device configured to acquire an image of at least a portion of the workpiece in response to the presence sensor detecting the presence of the human within the working area, wherein the imaging device is configured to acquire the image after the human is no longer within the working area.
A robotic manufacturing method comprising:
- operating, by a control unit including one or more processors of a robot, an operative member of the robot in relation to a workpiece within a working area according to a control plan;
- detecting, by a presence sensor, presence of a human within the working area;
- and
- acquiring, by an imaging device, an image of at least a portion of the workpiece in response to the presence sensor detecting the presence of the human within the working area, wherein said acquiring comprises acquiring the image after the human is no longer within the working area.
A robotic manufacturing system comprising:
- a robot including:
- a control unit including one or more processors in communication with an operative member, wherein the control unit is configured to operate the operative member in relation to a workpiece within a working area according to a control plan;
- a presence sensor configured to detect presence of a human within the working area and an operative area of the workpiece within the working area;
- and
- an imaging device configured to acquire an image of at least a portion of the workpiece in response to the presence sensor detecting the presence of the human within the working area, wherein the imaging device is configured to acquire the image after the human is no longer within the working area, and
- wherein the control unit is further configured to:
- compare the image with reference data of the workpiece,
- cease operating the operative member according to the control plan if the image differs from the reference data,
- update the reference data based on at least one change between the image and the reference data, and
- update the control plan after the reference data is updated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.