Cable-driven robotic platform systems and methods of operation are disclosed. The system includes a robotic platform suspended by a system of overhead cables, motorized cable reels and pulleys. A master control computer coordinates operation of the motorized cable system as a function of sensor data captured by navigation sensors on-board the platform so as to move the robotic platform inside an industrial plant. The system is configured to maneuver around pipings and avoid obstacles in the plant in order to maximize the effective workspace that the robotic platform can reach to perform operations including inspection or repair. Additionally, a robotic “wire jacket” device can be attached to suspension cables and configured to crawl along a cable. The wire-jacket can be selectively positioned on a cable to provide an intermediate cable suspension point that improves platform mobility within congested spaces and avoids obstacles.

Cable-driven robotic platform systems and methods of operation are disclosed. The system includes a robotic platform suspended by a system of overhead cables, motorized cable reels and pulleys. A master control computer coordinates operation of the motorized cable system as a function of sensor data captured by navigation sensors on-board the platform so as to move the robotic platform inside an industrial plant. The system is configured to maneuver around pipings and avoid obstacles in the plant in order to maximize the effective workspace that the robotic platform can reach to perform operations including inspection or repair. Additionally, a robotic “wire jacket” device can be attached to suspension cables and configured to crawl along a cable. The wire-jacket can be selectively positioned on a cable to provide an intermediate cable suspension point that improves platform mobility within congested spaces and avoids obstacles.

This system is a data collection system collecting a robot operation-related data/signal from a robot controller. The data collection system includes a data collection condition setting unit setting a collection condition of the robot operation-related data/signal from the robot controller and a data storage unit storing the robot operation-related data/signal collected from the robot controller. A shared memory inside which the data storage unit and the data collection condition setting unit are formed is formed in a substrate which can be mounted on an expansion slot of the robot controller. According to this system, a data collection function can be post-installed to an existing robot controller so as to arbitrarily select and collect various data on the robot operation.

A modular wire processing center comprises a plurality of individual processing modules that are controlled by a central control unit. The plurality of processing modules includes an automatic crimper and at least two further processing modules selected from the group of an automatic cutter, a marking system, a stripping unit, a terminal feeding device, a wire feeding unit and a wire discharging/bundling unit. The processing modules are designed as independently operable individual processing units and are positioned with the control unit on a mobile platform.

A method for parameterizing a photogrammetric cable robot, having a frame, a mobile platform carrying a camera and cables, each cable extending from a mobile platform attachment point to a position-adjustable exit point, while remaining linked to the frame. The robot's maximum workspace is defined by the ranges of possible positions of the different cable exit points. A set of pairs of setpoint positions and orientations of the platform is determined, for performing the point measurements of a scene by photogrammetry. Then, a genetic algorithm comprising crossing, transformation and selection operations is applied to a population of vectors, each representing respective positions of cable exit points, the selection being made via a fitness function involving a first objective function evaluating a collision percentage and a second objective function evaluating a percentage violation of a mobile platform constraint of equilibrium, when the platform assumes the different setpoint positions and orientations.

A modular wire processing center comprises a plurality of individual processing modules that are controlled by a central control unit. The plurality of processing modules includes an automatic crimper and at least two further processing modules selected from the group of an automatic cutter, a marking system, a stripping unit, a terminal feeding device, a wire feeding unit and a wire discharging/bundling unit. The processing modules are designed as independently operable individual processing units and are positioned with the control unit on a mobile platform.

This system is a data collection system collecting a robot operation-related data/signal from a robot controller. The data collection system includes a data collection condition setting unit setting a collection condition of the robot operation-related data/signal from the robot controller and a data storage unit storing the robot operation-related data/signal collected from the robot controller. A shared memory inside which the data storage unit and the data collection condition setting unit are formed is formed in a substrate which can be mounted on an expansion slot of the robot controller. According to this system, a data collection function can be post-installed to an existing robot controller so as to arbitrarily select and collect various data on the robot operation.