System And Method For Positioning Workpiece In A Workstation Using An Automatic Guided Vehicle

A method for positioning a workpiece in a workstation, comprising:

• transporting a workpiece into a workstation using an automatic guided vehicle, where the workpiece is supported by the one or more adjustable locators affixed to the automatic guided vehicle and the one or more adjustable locators are movable in more than one degree of freedom in relation to the automatic guided vehicle;
• measuring, by machine vision, spatial position of the workpiece;
• calculating, by a computer processor, an adjustment to position of the workpiece between the measured spatial position of the workpiece and a nominal work position for the workpiece in the workstation;
• moving, by the one or more adjustable locators, the workpiece to the nominal work position according to calculated adjustment, where the one or more adjustable locators are driven by respective motors which are controlled by the computer processor;
• and
• performing an operation on the workpiece while the workpiece remains in the nominal work position.

A manufacturing system, comprising:

• one or more adjustable locators are mounted on a frame of a workstation, the one or more adjustable locators are movable by respective motors in more than one degree of freedom in relation to the frame;
• an automatic guided vehicle having a workpiece fixture configured to support a workpiece, the automatic guided vehicle configured to transport a workpiece into the workstation;
• a machine vision system associated with the workstation and configured to measure position of the workpiece fixture when the automatic guided vehicle is positioned in the workstation;
• a computer processor in data communication with the machine vision system and the one or more adjustable locators, the computer processor is configured to receive the measured position of the workpiece fixture from the machine vision system and operates to calculate an adjustment to position of the workpiece fixture between the measured spatial position of the workpiece fixture and a nominal work position and control the one or mode adjustable locators according to calculated adjustment to move the workpiece fixture to the nominal work position.