Control system for coordinating robotic machines to collaborate on tasks

US10065317B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• Huan Tan · Pasadena, US
• John Michael Lizzi · Saratoga Springs, US
• Charles Burton Theurer · Niskayuna, US
• Balajee Kannan · Niskayuna, US
• Romano Patrick · Niskayuna, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 30, 2016
• Grant date: Sep 4, 2018
• Expiry date: Mar 9, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B25J9/1666
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A system includes first and second robotic machines and a task manager. The first and second robotic machines have respective first and second sets of capabilities for interacting with a surrounding environment. The task manager selects the first and second robotic machines from a group to perform a task based on the first and second sets of capabilities of the robotic machines. The task involves manipulating and/or inspecting a target object of a vehicle. The task manager assigns a first sequence of sub-tasks to be performed by the first robotic machine and a second sequence of sub-tasks to be performed by the second robotic machine. The first and second robotic machines are configured to coordinate performance of the first sequence of sub-tasks by the first robotic machine with performance of the second sequence of sub-tasks by the second robotic machine to accomplish the task.