Method of programming manipulator, control system and industrial robot

1 . A method of programming a manipulator, the method comprising:

providing a movement path for execution by the manipulator, the movement path comprising a plurality of points including a start point and an end point and at least one movement segment between the plurality of points;

moving the manipulator to a modification type selection position;

selecting at least one path modification type, among a plurality of path modification types, for modification of the movement path based on the modification type selection position;

moving the manipulator to a path modifying position; and

modifying the movement path from the start point to the end point based on the at least one selected path modification type and the path modifying position upon receiving a modification input from a user.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the modification of the movement path comprises modifying one of the points, deleting one of the points or adding a further point.

3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the modification or the deletion of the point comprises:

moving the manipulator to a point selection region among a plurality of point selection regions, each point selection region being associated with a unique point among the plurality of points;

selecting the point associated with the point selection region to which the manipulator has been moved as the point for modification or deletion; and

modifying or deleting the selected point based on the path modifying position.

4 . The method according to claim 3 , further comprising providing feedback to the user indicative of the manipulator being in one of the point selection regions.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the feedback comprises a force feedback in the manipulator.

6 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the point selection regions and at least one movement segment selection region are mutually exclusive in a continuous volume reachable by the manipulator.

7 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the selection of the point associated with the point selection region or the selection of the movement segment associated with the movement segment selection region is made based on a selection input from the user.

8 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the point selection regions and at least one movement segment selection region are mutually exclusive in a continuous volume reachable by the manipulator.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one movement segment selection region and a plurality of point selection regions are mutually exclusive in a continuous volume reachable by the manipulator.

10 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the addition of the further point comprises:

moving the manipulator to a movement segment selection region among at least one movement segment selection region, each movement segment selection region being associated with a unique movement segment among the at least one movement segment;

selecting the movement segment associated with the movement segment selection region to which the manipulator has been moved as a movement segment for modification; and

adding the further point in association with the selected movement segment based on the path modifying position.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the point selection regions and the at least one movement segment selection region are mutually exclusive.

12 . The method according to claim 10 , further comprising providing feedback to the user indicative of the manipulator being in one of the at least one movement segment selection region.

13 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the movement of the manipulator comprises moving the manipulator by means of lead-through.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , further comprising providing force feedback towards the movement path during movement of the manipulator.

15 . A control system for programming a manipulator, the control system comprising at least one data processing device and at least one memory having at least one computer program stored thereon, the at least one computer program having program code which, when executed by the at least one data processing device, causes the at least one data processing device to perform the steps of:

providing a movement path for execution by the manipulator, the movement path having a plurality of points including a start point and an end point and at least one movement segment between the plurality of points;

continuously or repeatedly reading a position of the manipulator;

selecting at least one path modification type, among a plurality of path modification types, for modification of the movement path based on a modification type selection position of the manipulator;

continuously or repeatedly determining a path modifying position based on a current position of the manipulator; and

modifying the movement path from the start point to the end point based on the at least one selected path modification type and the path modifying position upon receiving a modification input from a user.

16 . An industrial robot comprising a manipulator and a control system for programming the manipulator, the control system including at least one data processing device and at least one memory having at least one computer program stored thereon, the at least one computer program having program code which, when executed by the at least one data processing device, causes the at least one data processing device to perform the steps of:

providing a movement path for execution by the manipulator, the movement path having a plurality of points including a start point and an end point and at least one movement segment between the plurality of points;

continuously or repeatedly reading a position of the manipulator;

selecting at least one path modification type, among a plurality of path modification types, for modification of the movement path based on a modification type selection position of the manipulator;

continuously or repeatedly determining a path modifying position based on a current position of the manipulator; and

modifying the movement path from the start point to the end point based on the at least one selected path modification type and the path modifying position upon receiving a modification input from a user.

17 . The industrial robot according to claim 16 , further comprising an input element on the manipulator for providing the modification input.