Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A kinematic method to operate a multijointed robot to achieve coordinated, speed-invariant motion when the robot's end effector is moved along a predefined path comprising the steps of: defining a total execution time function for each path segment which is a function of acceleration time, slew time, and deceleration time for each of the joints; for each of the joints, calculating values for the acceleration time, slew time, and deceleration time which minimize the total time function subject to constraints on the displacements of the joints, the limiting velocities of the joints, the limiting accelerations of the joints, and the limiting decelerations of the joints; operating the end effector of the robot such that all joints start and stop moving at the same time and at least one moving joint is responsible for determining the acceleration time, at least one other moving joint (or possibly the same joint) is responsible for determining the deceleration time, and at least one moving joint (or one of the two prior joints) is responsible for determining the slew time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A kinematic method to operate a multijointed robot to achieve coordinated, speed-invariant motion when the robot's end effector is moved along a predefined path comprising the steps of: defining a total execution time function for each path segment which is a function of acceleration time, slew time, and deceleration time for each of the joints; for each of the joints, calculating values for the acceleration time, slew time, and deceleration time which minimize the total time function subject to constraints on the displacements of the joints, the limiting velocities of the joints, the limiting accelerations of the joints, and the limiting decelerations of the joints; operating the end effector of the robot such that all joints start and stop moving at the same time and at least one moving joint is responsible for determining the acceleration time, at least one other moving joint (or possibly the same joint) is responsible for determining the deceleration time, and at least one moving joint (or one of the two prior joints) is responsible for determining the slew time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the total execution time function, t T , for a path segment is defined as t.sub.T =t.sub.a +t.sub.s +t.sub.d, wherein t T is the total time for motion of the joints, t a is acceleration time, t s is slew time, and t d is deceleration time for the joints.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the constraints are ##EQU14## where: Q i is the given displacement of any one joint (i.e., the ith joint); V limi is limiting velocity for the ith joint; A limi is limiting acceleration for the ith joint; and D limi is limiting deceleration for the ith joint.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein, for quantities t*, t* a , t* s and t* d where: ##EQU15## the quantities t a , t d and t s have the following values: ##EQU16##
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein, for each joint, the acceleration of the joint is controlled to be the same as the deceleration of the
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the total execution time function, t T , for a path segment is defined as t.sub.T =2t.sub.a +t.sub.s wherein t T is the total time for motion of the joints, t a is acceleration time, and t s is slew time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein the constraints are: ##EQU17## where: Q i is the given displacement of any one joint (i.e., the ith joint); V limi is limiting velocity for the ith joint; and A limi is limiting acceleration for the ith joint.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein, for a quantity t* such that ##EQU18## the quantities ta, t s and t d are determined to have the following values: ##EQU19##
Claim 10
Independent Claim
240 words
A method for operating a robot having an end effector and a plurality of joints, each of which is driven by an individually controllable servo motor to achieve coordinated, minimum-time motion which is speed-invariant when the end effector is moved along a predefined path segment, comprising the steps of: defining a total execution time function, t T , for the path segment such that: t.sub.T =t.sub.a +t.sub.s +t.sub.d wherein t T is the total time for motion of the joints, t a is acceleration time, t s is slew time, and t d is deceleration time; determining values for the acceleration times, deceleration times and slew times for the moving joints of the robot which minimize total execution time subject to the constraints that: ##EQU20## where: Q i is the given displacement of any one joint (i.e., the ith joint); V limi is limiting velocity for the ith joint; A limi is limiting acceleration for the ith joint; and D limi is limiting deceleration for the ith joint; and operating the end effector of the robot such that all joints start and stop their motion at the same time and at least one moving joint is responsible for determining the acceleration time, at least one other moving joint (or possibly the same joint) is responsible for determining the deceleration time, and at least one moving joint (or one of the two prior joints) is responsible for determining the slew time.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
240 words
A method for operating a robot having an end effector and a plurality of joints, each of which is driven by an individually controllable servo motor to achieve coordinated, minimum-time motion which is speed-invariant when the end effector is moved along a predefined path segment, comprising the steps of: defining a total execution time function, t T , for the path segment such that: t.sub.T =t.sub.a +t.sub.s +t.sub.d wherein t T is the total time for motion of the joints, t a is acceleration time, t s is slew time, and t d is deceleration time; determining values for the acceleration times, deceleration times and slew times for the moving joints of the robot which minimize total execution time subject to the constraints that: ##EQU20## where: Q i is the given displacement of any one joint (i.e., the ith joint); V limi is limiting velocity for the ith joint; A limi is limiting acceleration for the ith joint; and D limi is limiting deceleration for the ith joint; and operating the end effector of the robot such that all joints start and stop their motion at the same time and at least one moving joint is responsible for determining the acceleration time, at least one other moving joint (or possibly the same joint) is responsible for determining the deceleration time, and at least one moving joint (or one of the two prior joints) is responsible for determining the slew time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein the servo motors are controlled such that, for each joint, the acceleration time of the joint is equal to the deceleration time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein the total execution time function, t T , for a path segment is defined as t.sub.T =2t.sub.a +t.sub.s wherein t T is the total time for motion of the joints, t a is acceleration time, and t s is slew time.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein the constraints are: ##EQU21## where: Q i is the given displacement of any one joint (i.e., the ith joint); V limi is limiting velocity for the ith joint; and A limi is limiting acceleration for the ith joint.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein, for a quantity t* such that ##EQU22## the quantities t a , t s and t d have the following values: ##EQU23##
Claim 16
Independent Claim
137 words
A method to operate a multi-jointed robot to achieve coordinated, speed-invariant motion of an end effector along a predefined path comprising the steps of: defining a total execution time function for each path segment which is a function of acceleration time, slew time, and deceleration time for each of the joints; calculating periods for the acceleration time, slew time, and deceleration time which minimize the total execution time function subject to constraints on the displacement of the joint, the limiting velocity, the limiting acceleration, and the limiting deceleration; operating the end effector of the robot such that all joints start moving at the same time and all joints accelerate for the calculated minimum acceleration time period, all joints slew for the minimum calculated slew time period, and all joints decelerate for the minimum calculated deceleration time period.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
137 words
A method to operate a multi-jointed robot to achieve coordinated, speed-invariant motion of an end effector along a predefined path comprising the steps of: defining a total execution time function for each path segment which is a function of acceleration time, slew time, and deceleration time for each of the joints; calculating periods for the acceleration time, slew time, and deceleration time which minimize the total execution time function subject to constraints on the displacement of the joint, the limiting velocity, the limiting acceleration, and the limiting deceleration; operating the end effector of the robot such that all joints start moving at the same time and all joints accelerate for the calculated minimum acceleration time period, all joints slew for the minimum calculated slew time period, and all joints decelerate for the minimum calculated deceleration time period.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein all joints stop moving at the same time and at least one moving joint operates at its limiting acceleration, at least one other moving joint (or the same joint) operates at its limiting deceleration, and at least one other moving joint (or one of the two prior joints) operates at its limiting velocity.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein the total execution time function, t T , for the path segment is defined as t.sub.T =t.sub.a +t.sub.s +t.sub.d, wherein t T is the total time for motion of the joints, t a is acceleration time, t s is slew time, and t d is deceleration time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method according to claim 16 wherein the constraints are ##EQU24## where: Q i is the given displacement of any one joint (i.e., the ith joint); V limi is limiting velocity for the ith joint; A limi is limiting acceleration for the ith joint; and D limi is limiting deceleration for the ith joint; and
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 17 wherein, for quantities t*, t* a , t* s and t* d , where: ##EQU25## the quantities t a , t d and t s have the following values: ##EQU26##
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 15 wherein, for each moving joint, the acceleration of the joint is controlled to be the same as the deceleration of the joint.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 19 wherein the total execution time function, t T , for the path segment is defined as t.sub.T =2t.sub.a +t.sub.s wherein t T is the total time for motion of the joints, t a is acceleration time and t s is slew time.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 20 wherein the constraints are: ##EQU27## where: Q i is the given displacement of any one joint (i.e., the ith joint); V limi is limiting velocity for the ith joint; and A limi is limiting acceleration for the ith joint.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 21 wherein, for a quantity t* as follows, ##EQU28## the quantities t a , t s and t d have the following values: ##EQU29##