Robotic safety using wearables

1 . A system for increasing safety during robot-human collaborations in a manufacturing environment, the system comprising:

a set of wireless earpieces for use by a human worker, the set of wireless earpieces comprising:

a wearable housing;

a processor disposed within the wearable housing;

an emitter operatively connected to the wearable housing and the processor, the emitter is configured to generate a field around the human worker;

and

a detector operatively connected to the wearable housing and the processor; and

an industrial robot in operative communication with the set of wireless earpieces;

wherein the industrial robot is equipped to detect a location of the human worker using data from the set of wireless earpieces;

wherein the industrial robot is configured to update the location of the human worker relative to the industrial robot; and

wherein a disruption of the field indicates the industrial robot is located within the field and the set of wireless earpieces communicate a message to the industrial robot indicating the robot is within the field.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the message communicated to the industrial robot from the set of wireless earpieces instruct the industrial robot to reverse its motion.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the message communicated to the industrial robot from the set of wireless earpieces instruct the industrial robot to slow its motion.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the message communicated to the industrial robot from the set of wireless earpieces instruct the industrial robot to alter its operation.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the message communicated to the industrial robot from the set of wireless earpieces instruct the industrial robot to reduce force in its motion.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the set of wireless earpieces includes a left wireless earpiece and a right wireless earpiece.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each wireless earpiece further comprises:

a transceiver disposed within the wearable housing and operatively connected to the processor; and

at least one sensor operatively connected to the processor.

8 . A method for increasing safety during robot-human collaborations in a manufacturing environment, the method comprising:

generating a field around a human worker wearing a wireless earpiece having an emitter within the wireless earpiece to generate the field;

determining whether a disturbance within the field has occurred indicating a proximity between the wireless earpiece and an industrial robot;

receiving data at the industrial robot indicating the human worker is in proximity of the industrial robot;

communicating information to alter an operation of the industrial robot when the field around the wireless earpiece is disturbed by the industrial robot; and

altering the operation of the industrial robot.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of producing a sound at the wireless earpiece when the field around the wireless earpiece is disturbed by the industrial robot, wherein the sound is shaped to represent a spatial location of the industrial robot relative to the wireless earpiece.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the altering operation of the industrial robot comprises stopping the industrial robot.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the altering operation of the industrial robot comprises changing direction of motion of the industrial robot.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the altering operation of the industrial robot comprises reducing the force of motion of the industrial robot.

13 . A system for increasing safety during robot-human collaborations in a manufacturing environment, the system comprising:

at least one wireless earpiece for use by a human worker, the at least one wireless earpiece comprising:

a wearable housing;

a processor disposed within the wearable housing;

at least one sensor operatively connected to the processor; and

an emitter operatively connected to the wearable housing and the processor, the emitter configured to generate a field around the human worker using the at least one wireless earpiece; and

an industrial robot in operative communication with the at least one wireless earpiece;

wherein the at least one wireless earpiece is configured to detect a location of the industrial robot using data sensed by the at least one sensor;

wherein the operation of the industrial robot is altered when the at least one sensor detects the industrial robot has disrupted the field surrounding the human worker.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one sensor further comprises a detector.

15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured to track changes in movement associated with the human worker using inertial sensor data from an inertial sensor operably coupled to the processor and communicating position or changes in movement of the human worker to the industrial robot using a transceiver operably coupled to the processor.

16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the altered operation of the industrial robot involves stopping.

17 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the industrial robot is configured to avoid contact with the human worker by changing direction of motion.

18 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the industrial robot is configured to reduce force of contact with the human worker.

19 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the wireless earpiece is configured to produce a sound at a speaker operably coupled to the processor when the location between the wireless earpiece and the industrial robot is less than a threshold.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the sound is shaped to represent a spatial location of the industrial robot relative to the wireless earpiece.