Versions Compared

Key

  • This line was added.
  • This line was removed.
  • Formatting was changed.

This article covers several ways of editing adjusting operations to avoid collisions for simultaneous multi-robot work areas. Procedure on how to rearrange and change path directions, moving the entry / exit point, in work cells with multiple robots.

Table of Contents
stylenone

A As an example, a dome-shaped part requires edge following operations on five contours.

...

There are many ways to solve collisions between robots. Let’s take a look at a few possible solutions.

Rearrange operations for a robot

One way of solving collisions is to change the sequence in which operations are executed performed for a given robot.

Here In this example, Robot_1 is executing processing operations 1 and 2, and Robot_2 is executing processing operations 3, 4, and 5.:

...

Operations 1 and 3 are executed by different robots, and there There is a collision between the joints of the different robots when operations 1 and 3 are processed.

...

This is due to the proximity and timing of the two paths.

Instead the The sequence of Robot_2 could be changed so that operation 4 is processed first. This would leave more space between Robot_1 and Robot_2 as the operations are processedexecuted, lessening the chance of a collision.

  1. Use the control handle to drag the operation to a different place in the sequence.

    image-20240724-030459.pngImage Removedimage-20240724-184529.pngImage Added
  2. Select Calculate to see if the collision is cleared.

    image-20240724-184420.pngImage Modified

As you rearrange operations, the robot trajectories will be updatedRearranging the sequence of operations will also affect robot motion, including moves to and from home position and moves between operations. Pay attention to these changes as the robots move between home positions and between operationsand resolve any kinematic issues if they arise.

Reassign operations to different robots

If the multiple robots are performing use the same application (for example, if they are both equipped with interchangeable deburring tools), reassigning operations to different robots can solve collisions.

When planning the sequence of operations in a multi-robot cell, consider required spacing between robots, how much room is available in the work cell, whether you need to include an additional buffer distance for safety.

Notes:

Rearranging operations in the Device > Operations pane.

Change sequence of operations within a given robot

Move operations from one robot to another

Move start point

...

  1. Use the control handle to drag the operation to a different robot.

    image-20240724-184900.pngImage Added
  2. Adjust the sequence of operations for that robot, if needed.

  3. Select Calculate to see if the collision is cleared.

    image-20240724-185207.pngImage Added

Move start point

In some cases, moving the entry/exit point on one of the paths may solve a collision. This can affect timing so that robots do not collide.

  1. On the Device tab, in the Operations pane, right-click an operation and select Edit in task.

    image-20240723-212720.png
  2. Select the path, then click the red ball at the entry/exit point.

    image-20240723-212841.png
  3. Click a point along the path to move the entry/exit to a different location.

    image-20240723-212949.png
  4. In On the Task tab, select Apply and then OK to keep your changes.

  5. In On the Device tab, select Calculate.

  6. Check to see if the collision still occurs.

...

Change path direction

For applications where it is possible to change the direction in which of a path is processed, you can try reversing the path direction to solve collisions.

  1. On the Device tab, in the Operations pane, right-click an operation and select Edit in task.

    image-20240723-212720.png
  2. Right-click the path (be sure to right-click one of the vectors on the path), then select Path > Invert direction.

    image-20240724-024245.png
  3. Confirm that the path direction is reversed.

    image-20240724-024352.png
  4. In On the Task tab, select Apply and then OK to keep your changes.

  5. In On the Device tab, select Calculate.

Do not use this method for applications where path direction should not reversed, such as with plasma cutting.