Rig supply handler

1. A method of controlling a crane and a manipulator attached to the crane comprising:

determining the relative motion between a first platform including the crane and a second platform;

determining the current position of the manipulator; and

repositioning the manipulator to compensate for the relative motion between the first platform and the second platform and in accordance with operator commands,

wherein the manipulator includes a substantially vertical oriented beam movable within a guide frame.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the current position of the manipulator includes receiving information from joint sensors on the crane and the manipulator.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the current position of the manipulator includes receiving information from sensors on a docking head located at the end of the beam opposite the crane.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

determining the relative motion between the first platform and the second platform includes receiving motion information from first sensors on the first platform and second sensors on the second platform; and

repositioning the manipulator further includes:

determining the location of a docking head located at the end of the beam opposite the crane;

determining a required location of the docking head based upon the determined relative motion between the first platform and the second platform and based upon any operator commands; and

producing manipulator and crane commands to move the docking head to the required location by determining required joint positions for the manipulator and crane.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

connecting the manipulator to a payload on the first platform and lifting the payload; and

placing the payload on the second platform.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the relative motion between the first platform and the second platform includes receiving motion information from first sensors on the first platform and second sensors on the second platform.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the motion information includes six-degree of freedom motion information.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein repositioning the manipulator further includes:

determining the location of a docking head located at the end of the beam opposite the crane;

determining a required location of the docking head based upon the determined relative motion between the first platform and the second platform and based upon any operator commands; and

producing manipulator and crane commands to move the docking head to the required location.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein producing manipulator and crane commands includes determining required joint positions for the manipulator and crane.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein producing the manipulator and crane commands is limited by load limits for each joint of the manipulator and crane.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

connecting the manipulator to a payload on the second platform and lifting the payload.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

preventing connecting the manipulator to a payload if an angle of a manipulator vertical axis from vertical exceeds a predetermined angle.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the guide frame is a vertical guide frame and the beam is configured to move vertically within the vertical guide frame.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the vertical guide frame comprises a truss configuration surrounding the outer surface of a portion of the beam.

15. A supply handler comprising:

a manipulator including a substantially vertical oriented beam movable within a guide frame, the manipulator attachable to a crane on a first platform, the crane including a plurality of joints wherein each joint has at least one actuator and a position sensor; and

a controller that controls the manipulator and the crane,

wherein the controller receives first motion information regarding the motion of the first platform, second motion information regarding the motion of a second platform, and operator commands to operate the crane, and

wherein the controller repositions the crane and the manipulator to compensate for the relative motion between the first platform and the second platform and in accordance with operator commands.

16. The supply handler of claim 15 , wherein the guide frame is a vertical guide frame and the beam is configured to move vertically within the vertical guide frame.

17. The supply handler of claim 15 , further comprising:

first motion sensors on a first platform that produce the first motion information; and

second motion sensors on a second platform that produce the second motion information.

18. The supply handler of claim 17 , wherein the first and second motion information include six-degree of freedom motion information.

19. The supply handler of claim 15 , further comprising:

a docking head located at the end of the beam opposite the crane, including a latch that is capable of latching to cargo.

20. The supply handler of claim 19 , further comprising:

position sensors on the docking head.