Method and system for operating a transfer robot in a manufacturing environment

A method for guiding a mobile workstation within a manufacturing environment, wherein the mobile workstation includes a workpiece and one or more on-board position sensors, and wherein the manufacturing environment includes one or more infrastructure sensors, the method comprising:

• moving, using the mobile workstation, the workpiece through the manufacturing environment;
• performing, using a robotic system including a robot disposed in the mobile workstation, an automated operation on the workpiece;
• commanding, using a control system, a transfer robot to transfer the robotic system to or from the mobile workstation;
• and
• controlling, using the control system, the mobile workstation and the robotic system based on image data from the one or more infrastructure sensors, position data from the one or more on-board position sensors, the automated operation to be performed by the robot, or a combination thereof.

A system for guiding a mobile workstation within a manufacturing environment, wherein the mobile workstation includes a workpiece and one or more on-board position sensors, and wherein the manufacturing environment includes one or more infrastructure sensors, the system comprising:

• a robotic system including a robot that is secured to the mobile workstation with a fastening mechanism, wherein the robot is configured to perform an automated operation on the workpiece, and wherein the robotic system includes an on-board vision sensor;
• one or more transfer robots configured to transfer the robotic system to or from the mobile workstation;
• and
• a control system configured to:
• command the transfer robot to perform a transfer operation of the robotic system, wherein the transfer operation includes at least one of disposing the robotic system at the mobile workstation or retrieving the robotic system from the mobile workstation, and
• control the mobile workstation and the robotic system based on image data from the one or more infrastructure sensors, position data from the one or more on-board position sensors, the automated operation to be performed by the robot, or a combination thereof, wherein the image data corresponds to an undetectable zone of the on-board vision sensor.