Proximity detection in fabrication environments having robots
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsKevin Cheng, Farahnaz Sisco, Fei Cai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for reporting proximity in an assembly environment. One method includes equipping a technician with a first proximity detector that is wearable, disposing a second proximity detector at a robot that moves within a cell of the assembly environment, and directing the first proximity detector to provide a warning to the technician if a distance between the first proximity detector and the second proximity detector is less than a threshold.
Claims25
The method of claim 1 wherein:
- transmitting comprises:
- transmitting a first signal from the first proximity detector to sensors in the assembly environment;
- and
- transmitting a second signal from the second proximity detector to the sensors.
The method of claim 1 further comprising:
- placing multiple proximity detectors at the robot, each of the multiple proximity detectors transmitting a signal that identifies the robot and distinguishes the proximity detector from other proximity detectors at the robot;
- and
- determining distances between each of the multiple proximity detectors at the robot and the first proximity detector.
-16. (canceled)
A portion of an aircraft assembled according to the method of claim 1.
A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying programmed instructions which, when executed by a processor, are operable for performing a method for reporting proximity in an assembly environment, the method comprising:
- equipping a technician with a first proximity detector that is wearable;
- disposing a second proximity detector at a robot that moves within a cell of the assembly environment;
- transmitting signals from the proximity detectors to sensors in the assembly environment that are disposed outside of the cell;
- and
- directing the first proximity detector to provide a warning to the technician if a distance between the first proximity detector and the second proximity detector, determined based on the signals from the proximity detectors, is less than a threshold while the technician is within the cell.
-33. (canceled)
A system for proximity reporting in an assembly environment, the system comprising:
- a first proximity detector that is wearable;
- a second proximity detector that is disposed at a robot in a cell of the assembly environment;
- sensors in the assembly environment that are disposed outside of the cell and
- a proximity server comprising:
- a memory storing data indicating a first threshold and a second threshold that is smaller than the first threshold;
- and
- a controller that analyzes a first signal and a second signal received by the sensors to determine a distance between the first proximity detector and the second proximity detector based on the first signal and the second signal, provides a notification to the first proximity detector if the distance is less than the first threshold, and provides a notification to the second proximity detector if the distance is less than the second threshold while the first proximity detector is within the cell.
A system for detecting a proximity between technicians and robots, the system comprising:
- sensors that receive signals indicating positions of a first proximity detector worn by a technician and a second proximity detector at a robot, and that are disposed outside of a cell occupied by the robot and the technician;
- and
- a proximity server comprising:
- a memory that stores the signals;
- and
- a controller that determines a distance between the first proximity detector and the second proximity detector, directs the first proximity detector to provide a warning to the technician if the distance is less than a first threshold, and directs the robot to halt if the distance is less than a second threshold while the technician is within the cell.
-44. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.