Sanding automation system and method

A sanding automation method of a sanding automation system for removing a surface defect of an exterior component, the sanding automation method comprising:

• a) using an inspection mark tool mounted to a first robot, generating an inspection mark of a certain pattern on an exterior component with uniform pressure, and securing visibility of a surface defect;
• b) analyzing, by a vision system, an image of the exterior component photographed through at least one vision sensor and recognizing at least one of a surface defect marking position, a surface defect type, a surface defect size, and a surface defect depth based on the inspection mark on the exterior component;
• and
• c) performing a sanding operation with the set amount of sanding according to a corresponding surface defect depth level while sequentially moving a sanding tool mounted to a second robot to at least one of the surface defect marking positions to remove the surface defect.

A sanding automation system for removing a surface defect of an exterior component, the sanding automation system comprising:

• a sanding robot configured to generate an inspection mark of a certain pattern on a surface of an exterior component with uniform pressure through a non-rotating fixed sanding tool and securing visibility of a surface defect;
• and
• a vision system including at least one vision sensor, wherein the at least one vision sensor is configured to analyze an image of the exterior component photographed and to recognize a surface defect marking position and a surface defect depth based on an inspection mark displayed on the exterior component;
• wherein the sanding robot performs a sanding operation with the amount of sanding set according to a corresponding surface defect depth level while rotating the sanding tool according to a signal received from the vision system and sequentially moving the sanding tool to at least one of the surface defect marking positions to remove the surface defect.