Robotic system and drilling end effector for robotic system

#The present disclosure is generally related to robotic systems and, more particularly, to a robotic system and a drilling end effector for a robotic system capable of capturing debris created during a drilling operation.

#Many repetitive manufacturing operations are now automatically performed by robotic systems. For example, a programmable mechanical arm may manipulate various types of end of arm tooling to drill holes, install fasteners or perform other types of manufacturing operations. In areas where space is limited or access is restricted, those same manufacturing operations may need to be performed by hand. Certain manufacturing operations, whether performed manually (e.g., by hand) or automatically (e.g., by a robot) create debris. In certain manufacturing environments, such as in the aerospace industry, debris created from a drilling operation can potentially cause damage to the manufactured article if allowed to remain. In order to ensure that all the debris created by the drilling operation is removed, the debris removal process is often performed manually. As such, considerable time and labor must be devoted to the removal of any debris following the drilling operation.

#Accordingly, those skilled in the art continue with research and development efforts in the field of robotic systems configured to perform drilling operations.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of a manufacturing environment;

#FIG. 2 is schematic perspective view of one embodiment of the manufacturing environment of FIG. 1;

#FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of a robotic system of FIG. 1;

#The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments of the disclosure. Other embodiments having different structures and operations do not depart from the scope of the present disclosure. Like reference numerals may refer to the same element or component in the different drawings.

#In FIGS. 1 and 13, referred to above, solid lines, if any, connecting various elements and/or components may represent mechanical, electrical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic and other couplings and/or combinations thereof. As used herein, “coupled” means associated directly as well as indirectly. For example, a member A may be directly associated with a member B, or may be indirectly associated therewith, e.g., via another member C. It will be understood that not all relationships among the various disclosed elements are necessarily represented. Accordingly, couplings other than those depicted in the block diagrams may also exist. Dashed lines, if any, connecting blocks designating the various elements and/or components represent couplings similar in function and purpose to those represented by solid lines; however, couplings represented by the dashed lines may either be selectively provided or may relate to alternative examples of the present disclosure. Likewise, elements and/or components, if any, represented with dashed lines, indicate alternative examples of the present disclosure. One or more elements shown in solid and/or dashed lines may be omitted from a particular example without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Environmental elements, if any, are represented with dotted lines. Virtual (imaginary) elements may also be shown for clarity. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that some of the features illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 13 may be combined in various ways without the need to include other features described in FIGS. 1 and 13, other drawing figures, and/or the accompanying disclosure, even though such combination or combinations are not explicitly illustrated herein. Similarly, additional features not limited to the examples presented, may be combined with some or all of the features shown and described herein.

#In FIGS. 11 and 12, referred to above, the blocks may represent operations and/or portions thereof and lines connecting the various blocks do not imply any particular order or dependency of the operations or portions thereof. Blocks represented by dashed lines indicate alternative operations and/or portions thereof. Dashed lines, if any, connecting the various blocks represent alternative dependencies of the operations or portions thereof. It will be understood that not all dependencies among the various disclosed operations are necessarily represented. FIGS. 11 and 12 and the accompanying disclosure describing the operations of the method(s) set forth herein should not be interpreted as necessarily determining a sequence in which the operations are to be performed. Rather, although one illustrative order is indicated, it is to be understood that the sequence of the operations may be modified when appropriate. Accordingly, certain operations may be performed in a different order or simultaneously. Additionally, those skilled in the art will appreciate that not all operations described need be performed.