Method for applying knowledge from a skilled worker via a master expert machine to a slave expert machine for repetitive tasks

Abstract

A mobile expert machine that moves along a nominal predefined trajectory. The expert machine should be a substitute for unskilled labor performed at workstations characterized by repetitive activities. An expert machine is defined as a machine that performs a specific task; the knowledge applied to the machine should be used to perform a repetitive task professionally. Predefined trajectory is defined as the actual trajectory that the slave expert machine should follow. The slave expert machine should move along a known predefined trajectory whose parameters have been calculated prior to start-up of the motion. It is assumed that the trajectory is given as function of time and the disturbances are well known. A Master Expert Machine (MEM) is incorporated with sensors for sensing and reading joint motions. It features excellent follow-up attributes and records motion activity in its memory by a process of “machine learning” within the study area. A skilled worker transfers his professional knowledge to the master expert machine in the form of elementary motions and subdivided tasks. The required task would be implemented via superposition and concatenation of the elementary moves and subdivided tasks. Based on the assumption that every task can be partitioned into a defined set of “elementary trajectories”, the master expert machine could be “loaded” by a skilled worker with the required data to implement any elementary trajectory. Using this strategy will enable implementation of long and compound tasks by identification of the “elementary trajectories” within a particular task. The Master Expert Machine transfers its recorded “knowledge” to a set of Slave Expert Machines (SEMs) in the study area or, in particular cases, remotely to SEMs located in the working area. The slave expert machine, after it has learned from the MEM, then works in the same manner performing the task independently.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.