IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,214,503
Granted Patent B2
US 12,214,503 · App. 17/730,498 · Granted Feb 4, 2025

Robot control system, information processor, information processing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium storing program

Inventor: Toshiyuki Higuchi (Kyoto, JP)
Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
B25J9/1664B25J13/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,214,503
App. No.
17/730,498
Granted
Feb 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A technique allows verification of a robot operation without any cost for an additional robot or for a person entering a monitoring area. A robot control system includes a monitored robot for which a monitoring area is defined and a robot controller that controls the monitored robot in a plurality of modes including a first mode to change an operation of the monitored robot in response to an object detected in the monitoring area being a robot.

Claims (36)

1. A robot control system, comprising:

a monitored robot for which a monitoring area is defined; and

a robot controller configured to control the monitored robot in a plurality of modes including a first mode to change or continue an operation of the monitored robot and a second mode to continue the operation of the monitored robot,

wherein the robot controller controls the monitored robot to stop the operation of the monitored robot in response to an object detected in the monitoring area being an autonomous robot and an operation mode of the monitored robot being the first mode,

the robot controller controls the monitored robot to continue the operation of the monitored robot in response to the object detected in the monitoring area being the autonomous robot and the operation mode of the monitored robot being the second mode, and

the robot controller controls the monitored robot to stop the operation of the monitored robot in response to the object detected in the monitoring area being not the autonomous robot.

2. The robot control system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a determination controller configured to determine whether to change or continue the operation of the monitored robot in accordance with specified information specifying operation verification of the monitored robot,

wherein in the first mode, the robot controller controls the monitored robot to change or continue the operation in accordance with a result of determination performed by the determination controller.

3. The robot control system according to claim 1 , wherein

the monitoring area includes a plurality of subareas, and

the robot control system further includes a receiving controller configured to receive information specifying at least one subarea of the plurality of subareas to undergo operation verification in the first mode.

4. The robot control system according to claim 3 , wherein

the robot controller controls the robot to enter the at least one subarea specified with the information received by the receiving controller.

5. The robot control system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a display configured to display information indicating whether the monitoring area is an area that has undergone operation verification of the monitored robot in the first mode.

6. An information processor, comprising:

an obtaining controller configured to obtain an output signal indicating detection of an object in a monitoring area defined for a monitored robot; and

a robot controller configured to control the monitored robot in a plurality of modes including a first mode to change or continue an operation of the monitored robot and a second mode to continue the operation of the monitored robot,

wherein the robot controller controls the monitored robot to stop the operation of the monitored robot in response to an object detected in the monitoring area being an autonomous robot and an operation mode of the monitored robot being the first mode,

the robot controller controls the monitored robot to continue the operation of the monitored robot in response to the object detected in the monitoring area being the autonomous robot and the operation mode of the monitored robot being the second mode, and

the robot controller controls the monitored robot to stop the operation of the monitored robot in response to the object detected in the monitoring area being not the autonomous robot.

7. An information processing method, comprising:

obtaining an output signal indicating detection of an object in a monitoring area defined for a monitored robot;

controlling the monitored robot in a plurality of modes including a first mode to change or continue an operation of the monitored robot and a second mode to continue the operation of the monitored robot; and

controlling the monitored robot to stop the operation of the monitored robot in response to an object detected in the monitoring area being an autonomous robot and an operation mode of the monitored robot being the first mode,

controlling the monitored robot to continue the operation of the monitored robot in response to the object detected in the monitoring area being the autonomous robot and the operation mode of the monitored robot being the second mode, and

controlling the monitored robot to stop the operation of the monitored robot in response to the object detected in the monitoring area being not the autonomous robot.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a process, comprising:

obtaining an output signal indicating detection of an object in a monitoring area defined for a monitored robot;

controlling the monitored robot in a plurality of modes including a first mode to change or continue an operation of the monitored robot and a second mode to continue the operation of the monitored robot; and

controlling the monitored robot to stop the operation of the monitored robot in response to an object detected in the monitoring area being an autonomous robot and an operation mode of the monitored robot being the first mode,

controlling the monitored robot to continue the operation of the monitored robot in response to the object detected in the monitoring area being the autonomous robot and the operation mode of the monitored robot being the second mode, and

controlling the monitored robot to stop the operation of the monitored robot in response to the object detected in the monitoring area being not the autonomous robot.

9. The robot control system according to claim 1 , further comprising a safety controller configured to determine whether the object detected in the monitoring area is the autonomous robot and determine, in response to determining that the object detected in the monitoring area is the autonomous robot, whether the operation mode of the monitored robot is the first mode or the second mode.

10. The robot control system according to claim 9 , wherein the safety controller is further configured to stop the operation of the monitored robot, without determining whether the operation mode of the monitored robot is the first mode or the second mode, in response to determining that the object detected in the monitoring area is not the autonomous robot.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 10, 2022
From: HIGUCHI, TOSHIYUKI
To: OMRON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059880/0062 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-089386 · May 27, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220379471A1 · Dec 1, 2022
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US 12,661,793