Abstract:
The invention relates to a control method for a painting robot, comprising the following steps: (a) a robot path is set using several path points that are to be traversed by a reference point of the robot and are each defined by space coordinates; (b) the space coordinates of the individual path points are converted into corresponding axis coordinates according to inverse robot kinematics, said axis coordinates reproducing the position of the individual robot axes in the respective path points; (c) axis-related regulators for the individual robot axes are triggered according to the converted axis coordinates; (d) axis-related driving motors are triggered in the individual robot axes by means of the associated axis-related regulators; (e) corrective path values for the individual path points are calculated according to a dynamic robot model, said corrective path values taking into account the elasticity and/or friction and/or inertia of the robot; (f) corrected axis coordinates for the individual path points are calculated from the non-corrected axis coordinates of the individual path points and the corrective path values; (g) the axis-related regulators are triggered using the corrected axis coordinates.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a National Phase application claiming the benefit of International Application No. PCT/EP/2008/003674, filed May 7, 2008, which claims priority to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2007 024143.9, filed May 24, 2007, the complete disclosures of which are hereby incorporated in by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a control method for a multiaxial robot, in particular for a painting robot, according to the main claim. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    DE 103 42 471 A1 reveals a robot control system for a multiaxial painting robot, which moves a Tool Centre Point (TCP) along a predetermined robot path. This known robot control system may take account of and compensate mechanical elasticities of the individual robot axes, in order to improve the positioning accuracy of the painting robot. In this instance, the individual robot axes of the painting robot are actuated in each case by one axis controller, the mechanical elasticity of the painting robot being taken into account in that the deviation of the axis controller of a relatively flexible robot axis acts, in the context of axially overlapping coupling, on an axis controller of a relatively rigid axis. 
         [0004]    This known robot control system has already proven advantageous, but it is desirable, in particular in the case of highly dynamic robot movements, to take even better account of mechanical elasticities of the painting robot and to provide even better compensation, in order to increase positioning accuracy. 
         [0005]    A robot control system is known from US 2004/0093119 A1 which corrects friction-related positioning errors of the robot in the case of drive regulation in the individual robot axes, the predetermined robot path not being modified however. The positioning accuracy of the robot is not therefore improved to a sufficient degree by this robot control system, this being particularly true in the case of highly dynamic operation of the robot. 
         [0006]    Reference should also be made with regard to the prior art to DE 10 2004 056 861 A1; “Proceedings of the 2005 IEEE Conference on Control Algorithms”, Aug. 28-31, 2000, pp. 1170-1175; “Proceedings of IFAC Symposium on Robot Control”, Sep. 19-21, 1994, pp. 485-490; DE 698 29 559 T2; DE 10 2004 008 406 A1; “Proceedings of the 1992 IEEE Conference on Robotics and Automation”, May 1992, pp. 1429-1435; “IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology”, Vol. 12, No. 6, November 2004, pp. 904-919 and EP 1 173 801 B1. However, in this prior art, too, the positioning accuracy of the robot is unsatisfactory. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved control method for a multiaxial robot which compensates elasticities of the robot as well as possible, in order to improve the positioning accuracy of the robot. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    Various advantageous aspects of the present disclosure are explained in greater detail below with reference to the Figures together with the description of the exemplary illustrations below. In the drawings: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic representation of a robot control system according to one exemplary illustration for actuating a multiaxial painting robot, 
           [0010]      FIGS. 2A and 2B : show the control method according to an exemplary illustration in the form of a flow chart, 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows the arithmetic unit of the robot control system of  FIG. 1  for calculating the path correction values from the internal torque values, 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows a diagram for calculating internal friction as a function of the time derivative of the axis coordinates, 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a schematic representation for determining the model parameters of the dynamic robot model in the context of a calibration process, 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  shows a modification of the representation of  FIG. 5 , in which the model parameters are calculated in a different way and 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  shows a modification of the representation of  FIG. 5 , in which a robot axis is braked to a standstill to determine the model parameters of the dynamic robot model. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Various exemplary illustrations are provided herein for calculating path correction values when controlling a multiaxial robot along a predetermined robot path, which values take account of the elasticity, friction and/or inertia of the robot, such that the actuation of the robot with an accordingly corrected robot path compensates the dynamic positioning errors (e.g. overshoot, elastic deformation of the robot axes). 
         [0017]    In the context of the control method according to the exemplary illustrations, a robot path may be predetermined for a reference point of the robot, such as for example the “Tool Centre Point (TCP)”, by a plurality of path points which are intended to be traversed by the reference point. The individual path points on the robot path may be defined by spatial coordinates which define the position of the individual path points in the three spatial directions. For example, a set of coordinates or a position vector with three coordinates may be predetermined for each path point, these indicating the position of the respective path point in a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. 
         [0018]    The spatial coordinates of the individual path points of the predetermined robot path may then be converted for the purposes of the control method according to the exemplary illustrations in conventional manner in accordance with inverse robot kinematics, into corresponding axis coordinates, the axis coordinates representing the position of the individual robot axes at the respective path points. Conversion of the spatial coordinates into the corresponding axis coordinates in accordance with inverse robot kinematics may be performed by any known method for doing so. The converted axis coordinates of the individual path points then may advantageously assume the form of a position vector in a system of axis coordinates. 
         [0019]    The converted axis coordinates of the individual path points may then serve to actuate axis-related controllers for the individual robot axes, which may be performed in any manner that is convenient, such as for example from the above-cited patent application DE 103 42 471 A1. Accordingly, the content of DE 103 42 471 A1 is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
         [0020]    The axis-related controllers for the individual robot axes may then actuate the drive motors in the individual robot axes in such a way that the reference point (for example the Tool Centre Point) successively traverses the individual path points of the predetermined robot path. 
         [0021]    In addition to the above-described conventional method steps, according to the exemplary illustrations, path correction values for the individual path points on the robot path may be calculated according to a dynamic robot model, the path correction values taking account of the elasticity, friction and/or inertia of the robot and thereby allowing compensation of dynamic positioning errors. 
         [0022]    The path correction values may then serve in calculation of corrected axis coordinates for the individual path points of the predetermined robot path. For example, for calculation of the corrected axis coordinates the path correction values may simply be added to the uncorrected axis coordinates of the respective path points, such that the path correction values form an offset. 
         [0023]    Finally, the individual axis-related controllers may then be actuated with the corrected axis coordinates, the dynamic positioning errors thereby being compensated. 
         [0024]    In one exemplary illustration, a dynamic robot model is provided for calculating the “internal” forces and torques for the moved masses of the robot, and the calculation may advantageously take place in real time (“online”) in accordance with a rigid body model. 
         [0025]    In this example, the control method may advantageously provide for internal torque values to be calculated from the uncorrected axis coordinates of the individual path points in accordance with the dynamic robot model, the internal torque values representing the internal torque of the drive motors and of the associated robot axes. For example, the internal torque values calculated in this way may take account of a static friction component, a viscous friction component and/or the mass inertia of the drive train of the individual robot axes, as will be described in further detail below. 
         [0026]    In this exemplary illustration, the path correction values may then be calculated from the internal torques and the known external torques, the elasticity of the individual robot axes being taken into account by regarding the individual robot axes in the simplest case as elastic torsion springs of zero order. The path correction values may then be obtained, in accordance with a linear interrelationship, from a predetermined torsion spring constant and the total torques as the sum of the internal torques and the external torques. 
         [0027]    For the purposes of the exemplary illustrations, the internal torque values may include a static friction term M fric,stat , which represents speed-independent friction which acts in the direction of rotation of the respective drive motor and may be calculated for example from the sign of the uncorrected axis coordinates of the path points and a predetermined static friction constant. The static friction term M fric,stat  may here be calculated according to the following formula from the static friction constant fista and the uncorrected axis coordinates q i , the index i indicating the respective robot axis: 
         [0000]        M   fric,stat,i   =f   i   sta   ·sgn ( {dot over (q)}   i ) 
         [0028]    Furthermore, the internal torque values calculated in the context of the dynamic robot model may comprise a dynamic friction term M fric,dyn , this being a linear term which acts proportionally to the rotational speed of the respective drive motor. For example, the dynamic friction term may be calculated according to the following formula from a dynamic friction constant f i   vis  and the first time derivative {dot over (q)} i  of the uncorrected axis coordinates of the path points: 
         [0000]    
       
      
       M 
       fric,dyn,i 
       =f 
       i 
       vis 
       ·{dot over (q)} 
       i  
      
     
         [0029]    Finally, the internal torque values calculated in the context of the dynamic robot model may also comprise an inertia term M inert  which represents the mechanical inertia of the drive train of the respective robot axis and is proportional to the angular acceleration of the respective drive motor. The inertia term M inert  may here be calculated from the second time derivative {umlaut over (q)} i  of the uncorrected axis coordinates of the path points and an inertia constant J i  in accordance with the following formula: 
         [0000]    
       
      
       M 
       inert 
       =J 
       i 
       ·{umlaut over (q)} 
       i  
      
     
         [0030]    In one exemplary illustration, the temperature dependence of the above-mentioned friction terms is taken into account. To this end, in the context of the exemplary control methods the ambient temperature is measured, the model parameters (for example the static friction constant, the dynamic friction constant and the inertia constant) then being read out of a parameter memory as a function of the measured temperature. The path correction values are then calculated with the read-out model parameters of the dynamic robot model, i.e. taking account of the current temperature. This temperature adjustment of the model parameters of the dynamic robot model offers the advantage that temperature dependencies of the mechanical behavior of the robot may be taken into account in the context of the exemplary control methods. 
         [0031]    The “internal” parameters f i   sta , f i   vis  and J i  may advantageously be determined experimentally for each axis by a special driving program for the robot and an optimisation method. During this driving, the motor torques arising may be read from the drives and the motor torques which result purely from the masses of the robot are generally simultaneously calculated. The internal parameters may be calculated from the resultant torques difference using a “least squares method”. The set of parameters determined applies for the current temperature of the motor/gear train of the respective axis. The operating temperature of the robot may be subdivided into discrete steps. The robot is generally gradually heated by being driven. Once the next temperature level has been reached, the above-mentioned identification method is performed to determine the parameters f i   sta , f i   vis  and J i  and the associated temperature may be generally simultaneously stored. In this way, the associated set of parameters is obtained for each axis for each temperature step. In subsequent operation the current temperature value is read out cyclically for each axis, e.g., at regular time intervals, and then the associated set of parameters is put online. 
         [0032]    After the above-described calculation of the internal torque values in accordance with the dynamic robot model, the path correction values may then, as already mentioned above, be calculated from the internal torque values and the known external torque values, wherein this calculation may take place in the simplest case in accordance with a simple interrelationship between torque and angle of rotation if in each case an elastic torsion spring of zero order is taken as the underlying model for the individual robot axes. However, the path correction values may be calculated from the internal torque values by means of a P element, of a PT1 element and/or of a PT2 element, which allows for generally optimum modeling. 
         [0033]    In the exemplary illustrations, the axis coordinates, corrected with the path correction values, of the individual path points may be advantageously filtered prior to actuation of the axis-related controller, in order to smooth the axis coordinates. During this filtering an average or a weighted average may be formed, for example. In addition, filtering may be carried out by a phase-lead filter or by a Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filter. Other possible filter types for filtering the corrected axis coordinates prior to actuation of the axis-related controllers are bandpass filters or low-pass filters. 
         [0034]    It should additionally be mentioned that the various exemplary illustrations are not restricted to the above-described control methods, but rather from a hardware standpoint also comprises a robot control system which is suitable for carrying out this control method and is set up accordingly. 
         [0035]    Finally, the present disclosure also comprises a multiaxial robot, in particular a painting robot, which is actuated by such a robot control system in accordance with the exemplary control methods. 
         [0036]    The drawing in  FIG. 1  shows a simplified, schematic diagram of a robot control system according to an exemplary illustration for actuating a multiaxial painting robot. 
         [0037]    Here the individual robot axes are driven by drive motors  1 , for example as provided in the above-cited patent application DE 103 42 471 A1. 
         [0038]    The drive motors  1  in the individual robot axes are in this exemplary illustration actuated with a predetermined current value I in each case by an axis controller  2  for the individual robot axes, the underlined values here and hereinafter in each case indicating vectors which contain in each case one component for the individual robot axes. 
         [0039]    In addition, the exemplary robot control system comprises a path interpolator  3 , which receives as input variable a predetermined robot path through a plurality of path points, the individual path points being intended to be traversed by the Tool Centre Point (TCP) of the painting robot and in each case being defined by a three-dimensional position vector, the individual components of the position vector representing the spatial coordinates of the path points in a three-dimensional, Cartesian coordinate system. 
         [0040]    The path interpolator  3  may then convert the spatial coordinates of the individual path points of the predetermined robot path in accordance with inverse robot kinematics into axis coordinates, which represent the position of the individual robot axes of the painting robot at the respective path points of the predetermined robot path. The path interpolator thus outputs a multidimensional position vector θ, the number of dimensions of the position vector θ corresponding to the number of robot axes, such that the individual components q i  of the position vector θ represent the positions of the individual robot axes of the painting robot at the respective path points. 
         [0041]    The position vector θ may then be supplied to an arithmetic unit  4 , which calculates the first time derivative dθ/dt and the second time derivative dθ 2 /dt 2  of the position vector θ, i.e. the speed and acceleration in the axis coordinate system. 
         [0042]    Furthermore, the robot control system may include a dynamic robot model  5  implemented in software, which calculates from the axis-related position vector θ, the first time derivative dθ/dt and the second time derivative dθ 2 /dt 2  of the position vector θ a torque vector M, which consists of the sum of the external torque M EXT  and the internal torque M INT , the internal torque M INT  taking account of the friction and inertia in the individual robot axes and being calculated in accordance with the following formula: 
         [0000]        M   INT.i   =f   i   sta   ·sgn ( q   i )+ f   vis   ·{dot over (q)}   i   +J   i   ·{umlaut over (q)}   i    
         [0043]    The torque vector M=M INT +M EXT  may then be supplied to an arithmetic unit  6 , which calculates from the torque vector M a path correction vector Δθ, which is then used for path correction, as will be described in detail below. The path correction vector Δθ is here calculated from the torque vector M in accordance with the following formula: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               Δ 
                
               
                   
               
                
               
                 
                   θ 
                   i 
                 
                  
                 
                   ( 
                   s 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
             = 
             
               
                 M 
                 i 
               
               
                 
                   
                     s 
                     2 
                   
                   · 
                   θ 
                 
                 + 
                 
                   s 
                   · 
                   D 
                 
                 + 
                 K 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0044]    The uncorrected position vector θ may then be supplied, together with the path correction vector Δθ, to an adder  7 , which calculates a corrected position vector θ CORR , the corrected position vector θ CORR  compensating dynamic path deviations in the robot control system. 
         [0045]    The corrected position vector θ CORR  may then be supplied to a filter  8 , which filters the position vector θ CORR  in order to smooth the position vector θ CORR . The filter  8  thus outputs a smoothed position vector θ* CORR , the individual components of the corrected and smoothed position vector θ* CORR  being supplied to the individual axis controllers  2  for the individual robot axes. 
         [0046]    The flow chart in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  clarifies an exemplary operating method, e.g., in accordance with the above described exemplary robot control system. 
         [0047]    In a first step S 1 , a path curve of a plurality of path points may be predetermined for the path interpolator  3 , which path points are intended to be successively traversed by the Tool Centre Point (TCP) of the painting robot, the individual path points of the predetermined path curve being defined by Cartesian spatial coordinates. 
         [0048]    The spatial coordinates of the individual path points are then converted, e.g., by the path interpolator  3 , in a step S 2  into corresponding axis coordinates θ, the axis coordinates representing the position of the individual robot axes at the respective path points. 
         [0049]    In a further step S 3 , the arithmetic unit  4  may calculate the first time derivative dθ/dt and the second time derivative dθ 2 /dt 2  of the position vector θ at the axis coordinates. 
         [0050]    In addition, in a step S 4 , the ambient temperature T may be measured, since the dynamic robot model  5  may be temperature-dependent, as will be described in detail below. 
         [0051]    In step S 5 , model parameters of the dynamic robot model  5  may be read out from a parameter memory as a function of the previously measured ambient temperature T, the model parameters being a static friction constant f i   sta , a dynamic friction constant f i   vis  and an inertia constant J i . 
         [0052]    In a step S 6 , the total torque M may then be calculated in the dynamic robot model  5  as the sum of the internal torque M INT  and the external torque M EXT , thereby accounting for friction and inertia of the robot. 
         [0053]    In step S 7 , the total torque M calculated in accordance with the dynamic robot model may then be converted, in accordance with the elasticity of the robot axes into corresponding path correction values Δθ for the individual path points at the axis coordinates. 
         [0054]    In step S 8 , the corrected axis coordinates of the individual path points may be calculated, e.g., in that the adder  7  adds the path correction values Δθ to the uncorrected axis coordinates θ. 
         [0055]    In addition, in step S 9 , the corrected axis coordinates may be filtered by the filter  8  for smoothing purposes. 
         [0056]    Moreover, in step S 10 , the individual axis controllers  2  may be actuated with the corrected and filtered axis coordinates θ* CORR . 
         [0057]    In step S 11 , regulation of the individual drive motors  1  in the individual axles may be effected, e.g., by the axis controllers  2 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 3  shows an exemplary schematic illustration of the arithmetic unit  6  of  FIG. 1 , which as described above may calculate the path correction vector Δθ from the torque vector M. In this example, the arithmetic unit  6  consists of a P element  9 , a PT1 element  10 , a PT2 element  11  and an adder  12 , the P element  9 , the PT1 element  10  and the PT2 element  11  receiving the torque vector M on the input side and being connected on the output side with the adder  12 , which adds the output signals of the P element  9 , of the PT1 element  10  and of the PT2 element  11 , in order to calculate the path correction vector Δθ. 
         [0059]    The P element may be implemented in any known manner that is convenient. The P element  9  thus may have a proportional transmission characteristic. 
         [0060]    The PT1 element  10  may likewise be implemented in any known manner convenient, and may have a proportional transmission characteristic with first order lag. 
         [0061]    Finally, the PT2 element  11  may also be implemented in any known manner convenient, and may have a proportional transmission characteristic with second order lag. 
         [0062]    The individual components Δθ i  of the path correction vector Δθ may thus be calculated by the arithmetic unit  6  in accordance with the following transmission function: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               Δ 
                
               
                   
               
                
               
                 
                   θ 
                   i 
                 
                  
                 
                   ( 
                   s 
                   ) 
                 
               
             
             = 
             
               
                 M 
                 i 
               
               
                 
                   
                     s 
                     2 
                   
                   · 
                   θ 
                 
                 + 
                 
                   s 
                   · 
                   D 
                 
                 + 
                 K 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0063]      FIG. 4  shows a diagram for calculating the internal torque M fri  as a function of the first time derivative {dot over (q)} of the axis coordinates. It is apparent therefrom that the friction torque M fri  is treated separately in a dead zone around the zero point, e.g., by linearly interpolating the values of the friction torque M fric  between the start and end of the dead zone. 
         [0064]      FIG. 5  shows a simplified exemplary representation of an exemplary calculation of the above-mentioned model parameters of the dynamic robot model. The Figure shows, by way of example, just a single robot axis  13  with an end effector  14  and a gear connection  15 . 
         [0065]    The gear connection  15  may be excited transiently, periodically or stochastically via an excitation unit  16  by means of a drive motor. 
         [0066]    The deflection may then be measured at the end effector  14  by a measuring unit  17  and forwarded to an evaluation unit  18 , the evaluation unit  18  subjecting the measured deflection of the end effector to Fourier analysis or correlation analysis, in order to calculate the mechanical transmission characteristic of the robot axis  13 . 
         [0067]    The exemplary representation in  FIG. 6  largely matches the representation in  FIG. 5 , such that reference is made to the description relating to  FIG. 5  to avoid repetition. 
         [0068]    A particular feature of this exemplary illustration consists in the fact that the measuring unit  17  is connected on the output side to an assessment unit  19 , which compares the measured deflection with a quality criterion and adjusts the correction statement in a correction unit  20  accordingly. The correction unit  20  is in turn connected to a calculation unit  21 , which influences the quality criterion in the assessment unit  19 . 
         [0069]    Finally,  FIG. 7  shows a modification of the exemplary representation of  FIG. 5 , in which the end effector  14  has been braked to a standstill. The excitation unit  16  here rotates the drive motor stepwise onwards and, in so doing, measures the torque at the drive motor, in order to calculate the spring constant of the axis  13  therefrom. 
         [0070]    The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Rather, a plurality of variants and modifications are possible, which likewise make use of the concept of the invention and therefore fall under the scope of protection. Reference in the specification to “one example,” “an example,” “one embodiment,” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least one example. The phrase “in one example” in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same example each time it appears. 
         [0071]    With regard to the processes, systems, methods, heuristics, etc. described herein, it should be understood that, although the steps of such processes, etc. have been described as occurring according to a certain ordered sequence, such processes could be practiced with the described steps performed in an order other than the order described herein. It further should be understood that certain steps could be performed simultaneously, that other steps could be added, or that certain steps described herein could be omitted. In other words, the descriptions of processes herein are provided for the purpose of illustrating certain embodiments, and should in no way be construed so as to limit the claimed invention. 
         [0072]    Accordingly, it is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments and applications other than the examples provided would be evident upon reading the above description. The scope of the invention should be determined, not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is anticipated and intended that future developments will occur in the arts discussed herein, and that the disclosed systems and methods will be incorporated into such future embodiments. In sum, it should be understood that the invention is capable of modification and variation and is limited only by the following claims. 
         [0073]    All terms used in the claims are intended to be given their broadest reasonable constructions and their ordinary meanings as understood by those skilled in the art unless an explicit indication to the contrary is made herein. In particular, use of the singular articles such as “a,” “the,” “the,” etc. should be read to recite one or more of the indicated elements unless a claim recites an explicit limitation to the contrary.