The disclosure concerns a coating method and a corresponding coating device for coating components with a nozzle applicator with several nozzles, in particular for painting motor vehicle body components. The disclosure provides that the nozzle applicator is flexibly controlled during the coating method.

An one implementation, an automated construction robot system includes: a mobile base assembly configured to be displaceable within a work area; a head assembly configured to process a work surface; an arm assembly configured to moveably-couple the head assembly and the mobile base assembly and controllably-displace the head assembly with respect to the work surface; a machine vision system configured to scan a target area and generate target area information; and a computational system configured to: process the target area information to define a work area coating plan, generate one or more coating plan instructions based, at least in part, upon the work area coating plan, and manipulate one or more of the mobile base assembly, the head assembly and the arm assembly to apply a coating material to the work surface via the head assembly based, at least in part, upon the one or more coating plan instructions.

An automated construction robot system includes: a mobile base assembly configured to be displaceable within the work area; a head assembly configured to process a work surface; an arm assembly configured to moveably-couple the head assembly and the mobile base assembly and controllably-displace the head assembly with respect to the work surface; a machine vision system configured to scan a target area and generate target area information; and a computational system configured to: process the target area information to identify a surface defect, generate one or more remedial instructions based, at least in part, upon the surface defect identified, and manipulate one or more of the mobile base assembly, the head assembly and the arm assembly based, at least in part, upon the one or more remedial instructions.

An automated construction robot system includes: a mobile base assembly configured to be displaceable within the work area; a head assembly configured to process a work surface; an arm assembly configured to moveably-couple the head assembly and the mobile base assembly and controllably-displace the head assembly with respect to the work surface; and a computational system configured to: manipulate one or more of the mobile base assembly, the head assembly and the arm assembly; detect contact of the mobile base assembly, the head assembly and/or the arm assembly with an object, and adjust the manipulation of the mobile base assembly, the head assembly and/or the arm assembly in response to sensing such contact with the object.

An automated construction robot system includes: a mobile base assembly configured to be displaceable within a work area; a head assembly configured to process a work surface; an arm assembly configured to moveably-couple the head assembly and the mobile base assembly and controllably-displace the head assembly with respect to the work surface; and a computational system configured to: manipulate one or more of the mobile base assembly, the head assembly and the arm assembly to apply a coating material to the work surface via the head assembly.

An automated construction robot system includes: a mobile base assembly configured to be displaceable within a work area; a head assembly configured to process a work surface; an arm assembly configured to moveably-couple the head assembly and the mobile base assembly and controllably-displace the head assembly with respect to the work surface; a machine vision system configured to scan a non-target area and generate non-target area information; and a computational system configured to: manipulate one or more of the mobile base assembly, the head assembly and the arm assembly to apply a coating material to the work surface via the head assembly, process the non-target area information to generate one or more remedial instructions, and manipulate one or more of the mobile base assembly, the head assembly and the arm assembly based, at least in part, upon the one or more remedial instructions.

An automated construction robot system includes: a mobile base assembly configured to be displaceable within a work area; a head assembly configured to process a work surface; an arm assembly configured to moveably-couple the head assembly and the mobile base assembly and controllably-displace the head assembly with respect to the work surface; a machine vision system configured to scan a target area and generate target area information; and a computational system configured to: manipulate one or more of the mobile base assembly, the head assembly and the arm assembly to apply a coating material to the work surface via the head assembly, process the target area information to generate one or more edge instructions, and manipulate the angle of incidence of the head assembly with respect to the work surface based, at least in part, upon the one or more edge instructions.

A variable-duty-cycle microcontroller is configured for use within an automated construction robot system and includes: an inlet port configured to receive coating material from a coating supply system; an outlet port configured to provide a regulated quantity of coating material to a head assembly; and a coating material regulation system configured to control the passage of the coating material from the inlet port to the outlet port, wherein the coating material regulation system is configured to process a variable-duty-cycle control signal and regulate the quantity of coating material applied to a work surface via the head assembly.

A method for the surface treatment of an article (2) by means of a robotic device (3) comprising a robotic arm (5) and a spraying head (4) fitted on the robotic arm (5); the method comprises a learning step, during which the operator moves the spraying head (4) by means of a handling device (9) and the movements made by the spraying head (4) are stored by a storage unit (8); and a reproduction step, which is subsequent to the learning step and during which the robotic arm (5) is operated so that the spraying head (4) repeats the movements stored by the storage unit (8).

A system for applying material to a substrate includes a nozzle, robot, actuator, sensor, and controller. The robot provides primary movement such that the nozzle traverses a predefined global bead path across and spaced apart from the substrate. The actuator provides secondary relative movement between the nozzle and substrate. The sensor senses a first location on the substrate that is spaced apart from a location where the nozzle deposits material by a distance based on a sensor response time and relative speed of the nozzle and substrate. The controller detects a feature of the substrate based on the data received from the sensor. The controller directs the actuator to provide the secondary relative movement such that a bead of material is applied to the substrate along a feature-relative bead path. The controller controls the actuator to provide the secondary relative movement based on the response time and the relative speed.