Universal robot control board configuration

An adaptive robot control for interfacing with a plurality of robot arms, said control comprising:

• an arm interface being of the type dependent for motor drive parameters and feedback control characteristics, said interface being selected from either one of a first or a second electronic arm interface board including, respectively thereon, substantially all required arm interface circuitry, dependent on either one of a first or a second robot arm type to be controlled, said required arm interface circuitry including respective motor drive circuitry and position and velocity feedback processing circuitry for the plurality of robot arms;
• electronic control board means having control and resource circuitry capable of providing at least a complete basic robot control and being structured to operate substantially independently of any particular robot arm type to be controlled for any of different controllable robot arm types;
• and
• interconnector means for coupling said electronic control board means with one of said arm interface boards to form an assembled control for the robot arm type associated with said one arm interface board.

A method for implementing robot control being adaptable for interfacing with a plurality of robot arms, said method comprising the steps of:

• selecting an arm interface of the type dependent on motor drive parameters and feedback control characteristics, said selection being to either of a first or a second electronic arm interface board, basing thereon substantially all necessary arm interface control circuit functions dependent on either one of a first or a second robot arm type to be controlled, said arm type defining respective motor drive functions and position and velocity feedback processing functions unique to the particular arm type used;
• assembling said selected interface board in circuit with a universal electronic control board means having control and resource circuitry, thereby providing at least a complete basic robot control while operating substantially independently of the particular robot arm type controlled for any of different controllable robot arm types;
• and
• interconnecting sad assembly with interconnector means for coupling said electronic control board means with one of said arm interface board to form an assembled control for the robot arm type associated with said one arm interface board.