Laser calibration of robotics systems

A method for calibrating a robotics system, wherein the calibration system comprises a control system, a laser projection device, a laser detection device that has at least one laser detection surface, and a plate that has at least one hole, wherein the laser detection surface and the plate are positioned in parallel, the method comprising:

• (a) in the control system, directing the robotics system to position a laser projection device at a plurality of calibration positions;
• (b) in the laser projection device, projecting a laser beam through the hole in the plate and onto the laser detection surface at a first group of the calibration positions, and projecting the laser beam onto the plate and not through the hole at a second group of calibration positions;
• (c) in the laser detection device, detecting the laser beam on the laser detection surface when the laser beam is projected through the hole onto the laser detection surface, detecting that the laser beam is not on the laser detection surface when the laser beam is projected onto the plate and not through the hole, and providing information indicating presence and absence of the laser beam to the control system;
• and
• (d) in the control system, determining a corrective factor for the robotics system based on the calibration positions and the information provided from the laser detection device.

A method for calibrating a robotics system, wherein the calibration system comprises a laser detection device that has at least one laser detection surface and a plate that has at least one hole, wherein the laser detection surface and the plate lie in parallel X-Y planes the method comprising:

• (a) directing the robotics system to position a laser projection device to project a laser beam in a Z-direction to a center X-coordinate and a center Y-coordinate, wherein the center X-coordinate and a center Y-coordinate represent a center of the hole, and wherein the laser beam is projected through the hole onto the laser detection surface;
• (b) directing the robotics system to move the laser projection device in a positive X-direction;
• (c) identifying a first X-coordinate when the laser detection surface no longer detects the laser beam because the laser beam is blocked by the plate;
• (d) directing the robotics system to move the laser projection device in a negative X-direction;
• (e) identifying a second X-coordinate when the laser detection surface no longer detects the laser beam because the laser beam is blocked by the plate;
• (f) determining a third X-coordinate that is in between the first X-coordinate and the second X-coordinate and equidistant from the first X-coordinate and the second X-coordinate;
• (g) directing the robotics system to position the laser projection device to project the laser beam to the third X-coordinate (h) directing the robotics system to move the laser projection device in a positive Y-direction;
• (i) identifying a first Y-coordinate when the laser detection surface no longer detects the laser beam because the laser beam is blocked by the plate;
• (j) directing the robotics system to move the laser projection device in a negative Y-direction;
• (k) identifying a second Y-coordinate when the laser detection surface no longer detects the laser beam because the laser beam is blocked by the plate;
• (l) determining a third Y-coordinate that is in between the first Y-coordinate and the second Y-coordinate and equidistant from the first Y-coordinate and the second Y-coordinate;
• (m) identifying the third X-coordinate and the third Y-coordinate;
• and determining a corrective factor for the robotics system using a sixth X-coordinate and a sixth Y-coordinate.