IP Library Granted Patent US 12,649,243
Granted Patent B2
US 12,649,243 · App. 18/416,621 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

Working robot operating system and method

Inventors: Seong Sul Lee (Gunpo-si, KR); Yeon Woo Song (Seoul, KR); Seung Ho Lee (Incheon, KR); Sun Hoon Kim (Seoul, KR); Yoon Soo Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Dae Won Lee (Gunpo-si, KR)
Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA CORPORATION
B25J11/005B25J9/0084B25J9/1661
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,649,243
App. No.
18/416,621
Granted
Jun 9, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A working robot operating system and method are provided. The system includes a plurality of working robots each configured to perform a work process involving deterioration of a working part and a repair process of repairing the deterioration of the working part. The system also includes a control device configured to determine an existing performance schedule in which the repair process of each of the plurality of working robots is performed based on production information of a product and specification information of a working part for each working robot. The control device is also configured to determine an optimal performance schedule of the repair process for each of the plurality of working robots based on the determined existing performance schedule, and to control the plurality of working robots so that the repair process is performed by following the determined optimal performance schedule.

Claims (60)

1 . A working robot operating system comprising:

a plurality of working robots each configured to perform a work process involving deterioration of a working part and a repair process of repairing the deterioration of the working part; and

a control device configured to

determine an existing performance schedule in which the repair process of each of the plurality of working robots is performed based on production information of a product and specification information of a working part for each working robot,

perform a control operation so that each of the plurality of working robots performs the repair process based on the determined existing performance schedule,

determine whether the work process is delayed for each product for each of the plurality of working robots based on a performance result of the repair process performed by each of the plurality of working robots,

determine an optimal performance schedule of the repair process for each of the plurality of working robots based on the determined existing performance schedule of at least one working robot, the work process of which is determined to be delayed, among the plurality of working robots, and

control the plurality of working robots so that the repair process is performed by following the determined optimal performance schedule.

2 . The working robot operating system according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to:

determine a performance cycle of the repair process based on the production information and the specification information; and

determine the existing performance schedule based on the determined performance cycle.

3 . The working robot operating system according to claim 2 , wherein the control device is configured to:

determine a workload per time and a maximum workload for each working robot based on the production information and the specification information; and

determine the performance cycle based on the determined workload per time and the maximum workload for each working robot.

4 . The working robot operating system according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to:

classify the plurality of working robots into a group in which no delay occurs for each product, a group in which delays occur in some products, and a group in which delays occur in all products based on the determination as to whether the work process is delayed; and

determine the optimal performance schedule based on an existing performance schedule of at least one working robot classified as the group in which delays occur in some products or the group in which delays occur in all products among the classified groups.

5 . The working robot operating system according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to:

determine a performance time point of the repair process of the at least one working robot based on the existing performance schedule;

determine a candidate sequence range for the at least one working robot based on a cycle adjustment value preset so that the determined performance time point is included at a last sequence position; and

determine the optimal performance schedule based on the determined candidate sequence range.

6 . The working robot operating system according to claim 5 , wherein the control device is configured to:

determine whether the work process is delayed in each of candidate sequence positions included in the candidate sequence range;

classify the determined candidate sequence range into a first case where delays occur in all the candidate sequence positions and a second case where there is a candidate sequence position at which no delay occurs; and

determine the optimal performance schedule based on a candidate sequence range having an earliest sequence position among candidate sequence ranges classified as the first case.

7 . The working robot operating system according to claim 6 , wherein the control device is configured to:

determine a reference point serving as a criterion for sequence score calculation for each of candidate sequence ranges classified as the first case and the second case;

calculate a sequence score for each sequence position based on the candidate sequence range having the earliest sequence position;

determine a time point corresponding to a sequence position having a highest sequence score among calculated sequence scores as an optimal performance time point; and

determine the optimal performance schedule based on the determined optimal performance time point.

8 . The working robot operating system according to claim 7 , wherein, the control device is configured to, after the optimal performance time point is determined, determine a next optimal performance time point based on a candidate sequence range having a next earliest sequence position among the candidate sequence ranges classified as the first case.

9 . The working robot operating system according to claim 7 , wherein, the control device is configured to, for a candidate sequence range present before the determined optimal performance time point in the first case and the second case, determine a reference point of the candidate sequence range as the optimal performance time point.

10 . The working robot operating system according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to:

receive process performance information obtained by performance of the plurality of working robots following the optimal performance schedule; and

determine a process performance result based on the received process performance information and cause the process performance result to be output.

11 . The working robot operating system according to claim 10 , wherein the control device is configured to determine a process performance result including at least one of information on a quantity of the repair process of the working part or information as to whether repair of the working part is defective based on the process performance information.

12 . The working robot operating system according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to:

store the determined optimal performance schedule;

determine whether the production information has changed; and

control the plurality of working robots so that the repair process is performed by following the stored optimal performance schedule when the production information has not changed.

13 . The working robot operating system according to claim 12 , wherein the control device is configured to:

update the stored optimal performance schedule in consideration of changed production information when the production information is changed; and

control the plurality of working robots so that the repair process is performed by following the updated optimal performance schedule.

14 . The working robot operating system according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is a programmable logic controller (PLC) configured to control the plurality of working robots.

15 . The working robot operating system according to claim 1 , wherein the control device includes:

a respective counter provided to correspond to each of the plurality of working robots; and

a control panel configured to control a working robot by receiving a signal from a corresponding counter.

16 . The working robot operating system according to claim 1 , wherein:

the working part comprises a welding tip;

the work process is a welding process; and

the repair process is an auto tip dressing (ATD) process.

17 . A working robot operating method, comprising:

determining, by a control device, an existing performance schedule in which a repair process of repairing deterioration of a working part of each of a plurality of working robots configured to perform a work process involving deterioration of the working part is performed based on production information of a product and specification information of a working part for each working robot;

performing, by the control device, a control operation so that each of the plurality of working robots performs the repair process based on the determined existing performance schedule;

determining, by the control device, whether the work process is delayed for each product for each of the plurality of working robots based on a performance result of the repair process performed by each of the plurality of working robots;

determining, by the control device, an optimal performance schedule of the repair process for each of the plurality of working robots based on the determined existing performance schedule of at least one working robot, the work process of which is determined to be delayed, among the plurality of working robots; and

controlling, by the control device, the plurality of working robots so that the repair process is performed by following the determined optimal performance schedule.

18 . The working robot operating method according to claim 17 , further comprising:

determining, by the control device, a process performance result including at least one of information on a quantity of the repair process of the working part and information as to whether repair of the working part is defective based on process performance information obtained by performance of the plurality of working robots following the optimal performance schedule after the controlling; and

outputting, by the control device, the process performance result.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 19, 2024
From: LEE, SEONG SUL; SONG, YEON WOO; LEE, SEUNG HO; KIM, SUN HOON; KIM, YOON SOO; LEE, DAE WON
To: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY; KIA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066176/0787 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2023-0108445 · Aug 18, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250058476A1 · Feb 20, 2025
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