Robot control apparatus, robot control system, and robot control method

A robot control system comprising:

• a conveyor;
• a collaborative robot that processes a workpiece flowing on the conveyor;
• a detection device that detects a human present within a certain range from the collaborative robot;
• and
• a robot control apparatus including a speed setter configured to set an upper limit value on an operating speed of the conveyor such that the value is different depending on whether a human is or is not detected from a detection result from the detection device, a conveyor controller configured to control the operating speed of the conveyor to be an operating speed less than or equal to the upper limit value set by the speed setter, and a robot controller configured to set an operating speed of the collaborative robot according to the detection result from the detection device.

A robot control method for controlling operations of a collaborative robot that processes work on a workpiece flowing on a conveyor, the control being performed according to a detection result from a detection device that detects a human present within a certain range from the collaborative robot, the robot control method comprising:

• setting an upper limit value on an operating speed of the conveyor such that the value is different depending on whether a human is or is not detected from the detection result from the detection device;
• controlling operations of the conveyor at an operating speed up to the set upper limit value;
• setting an operating speed of the collaborative robot according to the detection result from the detection device;
• and
• controlling operations of the collaborative robot so that the set operating speed is reached.