Isolated human work platform for stabilized positioning of collaborative robotics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10344906-B2
Application number	US-201715418284-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 27, 2017
Priority date	Jan 27, 2017
Publication date	Jul 9, 2019
Grant date	Jul 9, 2019

Abstract

An isolated human work platform for stabilized positioning of collaborative robotics. A base platform is provided, and a work platform is positioned above the base platform for supporting one or more humans. One or more robots are supported on the base platform independently of the work platform, so that movement of the work platform does not affect the robots' positions. The work platform is isolated from the robots for stabilized positioning of the robots, so that the base platform and work platform together provide a collaborative workspace for the robots and the humans.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for stabilized positioning of collaborative robotics, comprising:
a base platform;
a work platform positioned relative to the base platform for supporting one or more humans; and
one or more robots supported on the base platform independently of the work platform;
the work platform being isolated from the robots for stabilized positioning of the robots, so that the base platform and work platform together provide a collaborative workspace for the robots and the humans;
the base platform and work platform are positioned within a fuselage assembly of an aircraft; and
the base platform is independently supported inside of the fuselage assembly.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the work platform is positioned above the base platform inside the fuselage assembly.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a workstand positioned at one end of the fuselage assembly to independently support the base platform in position within the fuselage assembly.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the work platform is used by the humans to access inside the fuselage assembly.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the work platform is supported by one or more risers mounted on the base platform at one end and is coupled to an independent support structure at another end, in order to provide isolated support for movement thereon, without imparting any motion to the robots, thereby eliminating positioning errors caused by flexing, vibrations or fluctuations in the work platform's height due to movement of the work platform.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the robots are supported on at least one gantry positioned on either or both sides of the work platform, and the gantry comprises a rail system for positioning the robots using a drive belt.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the gantry is mounted on and supported by the base platform independently of the work platform.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a cable carrier system provides cable tracks for the robots that are stacked and routed in such a way that they are independent of one another.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the cable carrier system is positioned on or above the base platform and underneath the work platform.

10. A method of stabilized positioning of collaborative robotics, comprising:
providing a base platform;
positioning a work platform relative to the base platform for supporting one or more humans;
supporting one or more robots on the base platform independently of the work platform; and
isolating the work platform from the robots for stabilized positioning of the robots, so that the base platform and work platform together provide a collaborative workspace for the robots and the humans;
wherein the base platform and work platform are positioned within a fuselage assembly of an aircraft; and
wherein the base platform is independently supported inside of the fuselage assembly.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the work platform is positioned above the base platform inside the fuselage assembly.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising positioning a workstand at one end of the fuselage assembly to independently support the base platform in position within the fuselage assembly.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the work platform is used by the humans to access inside the fuselage assembly.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the work platform is supported by one or more risers mounted on the base platform at one end and is coupled to an independent support structure at another end, in order to provide isolated support for movement thereon, without imparting any motion to the robots, thereby eliminating positioning errors caused by flexing, vibrations or fluctuations in the work platform's height due to movement of the work platform.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the robots are supported on at least one gantry positioned on either or both sides of the work platform, and the gantry comprises a rail system for positioning the robots using a drive belt.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the gantry is mounted on and supported by the base platform independently of the work platform.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein a cable carrier system provides cable tracks for the robots that are stacked and routed in such a way that they are independent of one another.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the cable carrier system is positioned on or above the base platform and underneath the work platform.

19. A method for assembly of an aircraft fuselage, comprising:
providing a base platform within a fuselage assembly;
positioning a work platform relative to the base platform for supporting one or more humans within the fuselage assembly;
supporting one or more robots on the base platform within the fuselage assembly independently of the work platform; and
isolating the work platform from the robots for stabilized positioning of the robots, so that the base platform and work platform together provide a collaborative workspace for the robots and the humans;
wherein the base platform and work platform are positioned within a fuselage assembly of an aircraft; and
wherein the base platform is independently supported inside of the fuselage assembly.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the work platform is positioned above the base platform inside the fuselage assembly.

21. The method of claim 19 , further comprising positioning a workstand at one end of the fuselage assembly to independently support the base platform in position within the fuselage assembly.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein the work platform is used by the humans to access inside the fuselage assembly.

23. The method of claim 19 , wherein the work platform is supported by one or more risers mounted on the base platform at one end and is coupled to an independent support structure at another end, in order to provide isolated support for movement thereon, without imparting any motion to the robots, thereby eliminating positioning errors caused by flexing, vibrations or fluctuations in the work platform's height due to movement of the work platform.

24. The method of claim 19 , wherein the robots are supported on at least one gantry positioned on either or both sides of the work platform, and the gantry comprises a rail system for positioning the robots using a drive belt.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the gantry is mounted on and supported by the base platform independently of the work platform.

26. The method of claim 19 , wherein a cable carrier system provides cable tracks for the robots that are stacked and routed in such a way that they are independent of one another.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the cable carrier system is positioned on or above the base platform and underneath the work platform.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Miller John Eric
• Mathis Dennis R

Classifications

• E04G1/00

  Scaffolds primarily resting on the ground · CPC title

• B64F5/10

  Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor · CPC title

• B25H5/00 Primary

  Tool, instrument or work supports or storage means used in association with vehicles; Workers' supports, e.g. mechanics' creepers {(collecting or removing exhaust gases in workshops B08B15/002; vehicle lifting devices, e.g. jacks, platforms or ramps B66F)} · CPC title

• B25J19/00

  Accessories fitted to manipulators, e.g. for monitoring, for viewing; Safety devices combined with or specially adapted for use in connection with manipulators (safety-devices in general F16P; protection against radiation in general G21F) · CPC title

• F16M3/00 Primary

  Portable or wheeled frames or beds, e.g. for emergency power-supply aggregates, compressor sets (construction of vehicles in general B60 - B62) · CPC title