Patent Document ID: 9701019
Application ID: 14345313
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for the automatic, computer-assisted generation of workflow charts for processing a work piece with a tool using an industrial robot, the method comprising: preparing an initial chart with a plurality of tool paths for a work piece in a specific target position and for specific process parameters that impact the processing of the work piece, a tool path defining a target movement of the tool along the work piece; defining a state space describing variable parameter values that impact the processing of the work piece, wherein each point in the space represents a specific combination of potential parameter values, wherein the variable parameter values relate to properties of the workpiece or to the processing of the work piece; discretizing, with the computer, the space into individual states; simulating, with the computer, the processing of the work piece using the initial chart for one or more discrete states and analyzing a result of the simulated processing based on a pre-definable criterion; with the computer, iteratively modifying the initial chart and subsequently simulating the processing of the work piece using the modified chart for at least one discrete state, and evaluating the result of the simulated processing based on a pre-definable cost function, wherein the modifying, subsequently simulating, and processing steps are all performed in the iteration; and performing, with the computer, the iteratively modifying step until the cost function reaches a minimum or drops below a threshold value, indicating that an optimized chart for the respective state has been identified.