Robot

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9266240-B2
Application number	US-201414549453-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2014
Priority date	May 21, 2012
Publication date	Feb 23, 2016
Grant date	Feb 23, 2016

Abstract

Provided is a robot further improved in safety. The robot includes at least one link which is rotatably coupled around an axis, a motor which rotates the link around the axis, a first sensor which detects a rotation state of the motor, and a second sensor which detects a rotation state of the link. The robot also includes a controller which controls the rotation of the link based on information from the first sensor. The controller determines an operation state of at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor, based on first information from the first sensor and second information from the second sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A robot comprising:
at least one link rotatably provided around an axis;
a motor to rotate the at least one link around the axis;
a first sensor to detect a rotation state of the motor;
a second sensor to detect a rotation state of the at least one link; and
a controller configured to control the rotation state of the at least one link based on first information from the first sensor,
the controller comprising:
a first comparator configured to compare the first information received from the first sensor with a first expected value that is determined according to the first information outputted from the first sensor while the motor rotates under normal condition based on a command signal to the motor;
a second comparator configured to compare second information received from the second sensor with a second expected value that is determined according to the second information outputted from the second sensor while the motor rotates under the normal condition based on the command signal; and
a determination device configured to determine an abnormality in the first sensor and an abnormality in the second sensor based on each comparison result of the first comparator and the second comparator.

2. The robot according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first sensor comprises an encoder attached to the motor, and
wherein the second sensor comprises any one of a speed sensor, an acceleration sensor, and a strain sensor.

3. The robot according to claim 2 ,
wherein the at least one link includes link dodies, and
wherein the link bodies are sequentially coupled from a base via the respective shafts, and constitute an arm unit.

4. The robot according to claim 3 , wherein the second sensor is provided to correspond to each of the at least one link which is driven by each motor.

5. The robot according to claim 3 , wherein the second sensor comprises the acceleration sensor and is provided at a distal end of the at least one link positioned at the most distal end from the base.

6. The robot according to claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one link includes link dodies, and
wherein the link bodies are sequentially coupled from a base via the respective shafts, and constitute an arm unit.

7. The robot according to claim 6 , wherein the second sensor is provided to correspond to each of the at least one link which is driven by each motor.

8. The robot according to claim 6 , wherein the second sensor comprises the acceleration sensor and is provided at a distal end of the at least one link positioned at the most distal end from the base.

9. A robot comprising:
means for rotating a link around an axis;
first means for detecting a rotation state of the means for rotating;
second means for detecting a rotation state of the link;
a first comparison means for comparing first information received from the first means with a first expected value that is determined according to the first information outputted from the first means while the means for rotating rotates under normal condition based on a command signal to the means for rotating;
a second comparison means for comparing, second information received from the second means with a second expected value that is determined according to the second information outputted from the second means while the means for rotating under the normal condition based on the command signal; and
means for determining an abnormality in the first means and an abnormality in the second means based on each comparison result of the first comparison means and the second comparison means.

Assignees

• Yaskawa Denki Seisakusho Kk

Inventors

• Shiraki Tomoyuki
• Ichibangase Atsushi
• Sajikawa Yuji
• Matsuo Tomohiro
• Ishikawa Shinichi
• Kawano Tomoki

Classifications

• B25J9/047 Primary

  the pivoting axis of the first arm being offset to the vertical axis · CPC title

• Y10S901/49

  Protective device · CPC title

• Y10S901/30

  End effector · CPC title

• Y10S901/02

  Arm motion controller · CPC title

• B25J9/1676 Primary

  Avoiding collision or forbidden zones · CPC title