Underactuated joining system for moving assembly line

1. An underactuated joining system for use with a workpiece transported by a moving assembly line, comprising:

a robot having a plurality of actuated joints;

an articulated compliance mechanism coupled to the robot and having a range of motion, the articulated compliance mechanism including multiple linkages, an end-effector connected to the multiple linkages and configured to connect to a joining tool, a plurality of unactuated joints interconnecting the linkages, and one or more position sensors collectively configured to measure corresponding joint positions of the unactuated joints; and

a controller in communication with the position sensors, wherein the controller is configured, in response to the corresponding joint positions, to selectively control a respective position of the actuated joints, and to thereby cause the articulated compliance mechanism to compliantly follow the workpiece as the workpiece is actively transported by the moving assembly line while the joining tool is engaged with the workpiece while the joining tool remains engaged therewith, such that mutually engaged rigid bodies are in motion, by:

continuously determining a displacement in the articulated compliance mechanism as the workpiece is transported by the moving assembly line; and

commanding a motion of the robot that closes the displacement and thereby maintains the articulated compliance mechanism in a center of the range of motion to thereby cause the underactuated joining system and the joining tool to compliantly follow or track the workpiece as the workpiece is transported by the moving assembly line.

2. The underactuated joining system of claim 1 , further comprising the joining tool.

3. The underactuated joining system of claim 2 , wherein the joining tool is one of a nut driver, a welding gun, a welding torch, or a rivet gun.

4. The underactuated joining system of claim 3 , wherein the workpiece is a vehicle body operated on by the nut driver, the welding gun, the welding torch, or the rivet gun.

5. The underactuated joining system of claim 1 , wherein the articulated compliance mechanism is configured to return to an equilibrium position when the joining tool is not engaged with the workpiece.

6. The underactuated joining system of claim 5 , wherein the articulated compliance mechanism is configured to use gravity as a restoring force when returning the articulated compliance mechanism to the equilibrium position.

7. The underactuated joining system of claim 1 , further comprising a machine vision system in communication with the controller, wherein the machine vision system is configured to generate a location signal indicative of a target area on the workpiece, and wherein the controller is configured to automatically engage the joining tool with the workpiece in response to the location signal.

8. The underactuated joining system of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the unactuated joints include a respective locking device configured to engage in response to a locking signal, and wherein the controller is configured to selectively generate the locking signal to thereby reduce a number of degrees of freedom of the underactuated joining system.

9. The underactuated joining system of claim 8 , wherein the locking signal is configured to change an attitude or tilt angle of the joining tool relative to the workpiece.

10. The underactuated joining system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors configured to detect an operator within a predetermined proximity of the underactuated joining system, wherein the controller is configured to selectively arrest motion of the robot in response to detection of the operator within the predetermined proximity of the underactuated joining system.

11. The underactuated joining system of claim 1 , further comprising the moving assembly line.