Patent · US Active

Method and system for optimizing the layout of a robot work cell

US8571706B2 · kind B2 · utility

57Cited by
9References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 20, 2008
Grant dateOct 29, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 26, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P90/02
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method for optimizing placement of a plurality of workstations in a workcell including an industrial robot programmed to execute a sequence of tasks on the workstations. Each task contains robot targets to be visited by the robot when executing the task. A preferred region is defined within the reachable range of the robot. Tasks are placed inside or as close as possible to the preferred region using an evaluation criterion and an optimization algorithm. The tasks are assigned to each workstation a position inside or close to the preferred region. A best order of the workstations and a defined order in which the tasks are to be executed are determined. The positions of the workstations are adjusted utilizing an optimization algorithm configured to run the robot program iteratively in order to optimize the placement of the workstations with regard to the robot performance.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.