IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,605,831
Granted Patent B2
US 12,605,831 · App. 18/328,227 · Granted Apr 21, 2026

Robot controller and robot control system

Inventor: Tatsuro Fujisawa (Toyama, JP)
Assignee: NACHI-FUJIKOSHI CORP.
B25J9/1664
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,605,831
App. No.
18/328,227
Granted
Apr 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A robot controller that can accurately determine whether a collaborative robot is in either a collaborative state or a non-collaborative state. The robot controller includes: an acquisitor acquiring a prescribed detection range from a detection device detecting the human present in the detection range; a range determinator determining whether the detection range acquired by the acquisitor includes a set range set for a collaborative robot collaborating with the human so as to include a predetermined range regarding the robot; a speed determinator determining a magnitude relationship between an operating speed of the collaborative robot and a first speed; and a collaborative state determinator determining whether the collaborative robot is in either the collaborative state of being operable with the human or the non-collaborative state of not being operable therewith when the human enters the predetermined range, based on determination results of the range determinator and speed determinator.

Claims (42)

1 . A robot controller comprising:

an acquisitor acquiring a prescribed detection range from a detection device detecting a human present in the detection range;

a range determinator determining whether or not the detection range acquired by the acquisitor includes a set range that is set for a collaborative robot collaborating with the human so as to include a predetermined range regarding the collaborative robot;

a speed determinator determining a magnitude relationship between an operating speed of the collaborative robot and a first speed; and

a collaborative state determinator determining whether an operating state of the collaborative robot is either a collaborative state or a non-collaborative state in accordance with determination results of the range determinator and the speed determinator, the collaborative state being a state in which the collaborative robot is operable with the human when the human enters the predetermined range, the non-collaborative state being a state in which the collaborative robot is not operable with the human when the human enters the predetermined range,

wherein the collaborative state determinator determines that the operating state is the collaborative state when the determination result of the range determinator is an affirmative determination that the detection range includes the set range and the speed determinator determines that the operating speed is lower than or equal to the first speed,

wherein the speed determinator further determines a magnitude relationship between the operating speed and a second speed that is lower than the first speed, and

wherein the collaborative state determinator determines that the operating state is the collaborative state when the speed determinator indicates that the operating speed is lower than or equal to the second speed,

wherein the predetermined range is a predetermined collaborative range from the collaborative robot, and

wherein the range determinator sets the set range in accordance with a time during which the operating speed is reduced from the first speed to the second speed, a third speed regarding a moving speed of the human, and the collaborative range.

2 . A robot control system comprising:

a collaborative robot collaborating with a human;

an acquisitor acquiring a prescribed detection range from a detection device detecting the human present in the detection range;

a range determinator determining whether or not the detection range acquired by the acquisitor includes a set range that is set for the collaborative robot so as to include a predetermined range regarding the collaborative robot;

a speed determinator determining a magnitude relationship between an operating speed of the collaborative robot and a first speed; and

a collaborative state determinator determining whether an operating state of the collaborative robot is either a collaborative state or a non-collaborative state in accordance with determination results of the range determinator and the speed determinator, the collaborative state being a state in which the collaborative robot is operable with the human when the human enters the predetermined range, the non-collaborative state being a state in which the collaborative robot is not operable with the human when the human enters the predetermined range,

wherein the collaborative state determinator determines that the operating state is the collaborative state when the determination result of the range determinator is an affirmative determination that the detection range includes the set range and the speed determinator determines that the operating speed is lower than or equal to the first speed,

wherein the speed determinator further determines a magnitude relationship between the operating speed and a second speed that is lower than the first speed, and

wherein the collaborative state determinator determines that the operating state is the collaborative state when the speed determinator indicates that the operating speed is lower than or equal to the second speed,

wherein the predetermined range is a predetermined collaborative range from the collaborative robot, and

wherein the range determinator sets the set range in accordance with a time during which the operating speed is reduced from the first speed to the second speed, a third speed regarding a moving speed of the human, and the collaborative range.

3 . A robot controller comprising:

an acquisitor acquiring a prescribed detection range from a detection device detecting a human present in the detection range;

a range determinator determining whether or not the detection range acquired by the acquisitor includes a set range that is set for a collaborative robot collaborating with the human so as to include a predetermined range regarding the collaborative robot;

a speed determinator determining a magnitude relationship between an operating speed of the collaborative robot and a first speed; and

a collaborative state determinator determining whether an operating state of the collaborative robot is either a collaborative state or a non-collaborative state in accordance with determination results of the range determinator and the speed determinator, the collaborative state being a state in which the collaborative robot is operable with the human when the human enters the predetermined range, the non-collaborative state being a state in which the collaborative robot is not operable with the human when the human enters the predetermined range,

wherein the collaborative state determinator determines that the operating state is the collaborative state when the determination result of the range determinator is an affirmative determination that the detection range includes the set range and the speed determinator determines that the operating speed is lower than or equal to the first speed,

wherein the speed determinator further determines a magnitude relationship between the operating speed and a second speed that is lower than the first speed, and

wherein the collaborative state determinator determines that the operating state is the collaborative state when the speed determinator indicates that the operating speed is lower than or equal to the second speed,

wherein the predetermined range is an operating range in which the collaborative robot operates, and

wherein the range determinator sets the set range in accordance with a time during which the operating speed is reduced from the first speed to the second speed, a third speed regarding a moving speed of the human, and the operating range.

4 . A robot control system comprising:

a collaborative robot collaborating with a human;

an acquisitor acquiring a prescribed detection range from a detection device detecting the human present in the detection range;

a range determinator determining whether or not the detection range acquired by the acquisitor includes a set range that is set for the collaborative robot so as to include a predetermined range regarding the collaborative robot;

a speed determinator determining a magnitude relationship between an operating speed of the collaborative robot and a first speed; and

a collaborative state determinator determining whether an operating state of the collaborative robot is either a collaborative state or a non-collaborative state in accordance with determination results of the range determinator and the speed determinator, the collaborative state being a state in which the collaborative robot is operable with the human when the human enters the predetermined range, the non-collaborative state being a state in which the collaborative robot is not operable with the human when the human enters the predetermined range,

wherein the collaborative state determinator determines that the operating state is the collaborative state when the determination result of the range determinator is an affirmative determination that the detection range includes the set range and the speed determinator determines that the operating speed is lower than or equal to the first speed,

wherein the speed determinator further determines a magnitude relationship between the operating speed and a second speed that is lower than the first speed, and

wherein the collaborative state determinator determines that the operating state is the collaborative state when the speed determinator indicates that the operating speed is lower than or equal to the second speed,

wherein the predetermined range is an operating range in which the collaborative robot operates, and

wherein the range determinator sets the set range in accordance with a time during which the operating speed is reduced from the first speed to the second speed, a third speed regarding a moving speed of the human, and the operating range.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 2, 2023
From: FUJISAWA, TATSURO
To: NACHI-FUJIKOSHI CORP.
Reel/Frame 063841/0665 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-090750 · Jun 3, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230390929A1 · Dec 7, 2023
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