Method and Computer Program for Producing a Graphical User Interface of a Manipulator Program

Abstract

The present invention relates to a computer program for producing a graphical user interface (100) of a manipulator program and to a method for navigation through a manipulator program, wherein the manipulator system (1) controlled by the manipulator program comprises at least one manipulator (30). The manipulator program comprises at least one set-down point (AP1 to AP5). The user interface (100) has a graphical program progress indicator (150) which indicates the current program progress of the manipulator program and the at least one set-down point (AP1 to AP5) of the manipulator program. The at least one set-down point (AP1 to AP5) indicated can be selected by a user, and the manipulator program is set up to control the manipulator system (1) in such a manner that the system assumes a system state assigned to the selected set-down point (AP1 to AP5) in response to the selection. The method comprises the steps of: providing a manipulator program; producing the graphical user interface; stopping the manipulator program; receiving a selection of a set-down point on the program progress indicator of the graphical user interface; and guiding the manipulator program to the selected set-down point, with the result that the manipulator program controls the manipulator system in such a manner that the system assumes the system state assigned to the selected set-down point. Such navigation may be advantageous, in particular, in the field of debugging, error correction and parameter correction or parameter optimization.

Claims

1. A computer program comprising instructions for producing a graphical user interface (100) of a manipulator program for controlling a manipulator system (1), wherein the manipulator system (1) comprises at least one manipulator (30), wherein the manipulator program comprises at least one rerun point (AP1 to AP5), and wherein the user interface (100) has: a graphical program progress indicator (150), which indicates the current program progress of the manipulator program and the at least one rerun point (AP1 to AP5) of the manipulator program, wherein the at least one rerun point (AP1 to AP5) indicated is selectable by a user; and wherein the manipulator program is configured to control the manipulator system (1) such that the latter assumes a system state assigned to the selected rerun point (AP1 to AP5) in response to the selection.

2. The computer program as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rerun point (AP1 to AP5) defines a location in the sequence of the manipulator program to which a system state of the manipulator system (1) is assigned.

3. The computer program as claimed in claim 1, wherein the manipulator program comprises a plurality of operations (O1 to On), wherein the at least one rerun point (AP1 to AP5) forms the beginning and/or the end of an operation (O1 to On) and preferably the beginning and/or the end of an operation structure, comprising a plurality of operations (O1 to On).

4. The computer program as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rerun point (AP1 to AP5) enables the correct continuation of the manipulator program from this location in the sequence of the manipulator program, independently of the execution history of the manipulator program.

5. The computer program as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer program is configured to cause the manipulator program to automatically determine a path from a current location in the sequence of the manipulator program to the selected rerun point (AP1 to AP5).

6. The computer program as claimed in claim 5, wherein the computer program is configured, if automatic determining is not possible, to open an input dialogue that enables a path to be ascertained manually.

7. The computer program as claimed in claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface (100) comprises at least one model representation (2) of the manipulator program, wherein the program progress and/or the at least one rerun point (AP1 to AP5) of the manipulator program and/or a selection of a rerun point (AP1 to AP5) of the manipulator program can be indicated on the program progress indicator (150) in the model representation (2) of the manipulator program.

8. The computer program as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one rerun point (AP1 to AP5) indicated is assigned a link which can be used to open an input dialog by means of which the manipulator program can be altered.

9. The computer program as claimed in claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface (100) comprises at least one graphical representation of the manipulator system (1) which shows the manipulator system (1) in a system state corresponding to the at least one rerun point (AP1 to AP5), wherein the at least one graphical representation is linked to the rerun point (AP1 to AP5) indicated.

10. The computer program as claimed in claim 1, wherein the program progress indicator (150) can furthermore indicate at least one of the following elements: a link to further data, wherein further data comprise graphical representations and/or a model representation of the manipulator program; a wait and/or synchronization instruction of the manipulator program; repetitions and/or branchings of the manipulator program.

11. The computer program as claimed in claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface (100) has at least one of the following buttons: a button (160) by means of which the manipulator program can be stopped; a button (161) by means of which a new rerun point can be defined at a selected location indicated on the program progress indicator and/or by means of which a new path can be defined; a button (162) by means of which the manipulator program can be continued from a selected location indicated on the program progress indicator; a button (163) by means of which rerun points can be selected which lie between the currently selected location of the program progress indicator and the location at which a stop of the manipulator system was effected; a button (164) by means of which individual operations of the manipulator program can be reversed and/or rerun points (AP1 to AP5) can be selected, and/or a button (165) by means of which rerun points that have already been passed through can be selected.

12. The computer program as claimed in claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface (100) comprises at least one second program progress indicator, which program progress indicator indicates the current program progress of a manipulator program of at least one second manipulator.

13. The computer program as claimed in claim 1, wherein the program progress indicator (150) is assigned a timescale (151), wherein the timescale (151) is zoomable.

14. The computer program as claimed in claim 1, wherein the program progress indicator (150) indicates wait times of the manipulator system (1) on a shortened timescale and preferably cuts them out.

15. The computer program as claimed in claim 1, wherein the program progress indicator (150) is a program progress bar.

16. A method for navigating through a manipulator program by means of a computer program as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method comprises: providing a manipulator program; producing the graphical user interface (100); stopping the manipulator program; receiving a selection of a rerun point (AP1 to AP5) on the program progress indicator (150) of the graphical user interface, and guiding the manipulator program to the selected rerun point (AP1 to AP5), such that the manipulator program controls the manipulator system (1) such that the latter assumes a system state assigned to the selected rerun point (AP1 to AP5).

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising: automatically determining a path from a current location in the sequence of the manipulator program to the selected rerun point (AP1 to AP5) and, if automatic determining is not possible, opening an input dialog that enables a path to be ascertained manually.

18. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein in the course of guiding the manipulator program to the selected rerun point (AP1 to AP5), it is possible to wait for an interaction of an operator with the manipulator system (1), and the interaction is preferably displayed for an operator.

19. A control device (20) for a manipulator system (1), comprising a computer program as claimed in claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface (100) is preferably produced on a hand-held display device (10), such as a tablet computer and/or a smartphone.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0078] The invention is described below by means of the appended figures. In this case:

[0079] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a manipulator system;

[0080] FIG. 2 shows a schematic model representation of a manipulator program;

[0081] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a display device comprising a graphical user interface;

[0082] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a display device, comprising a further graphical user interface, and

[0083] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a program progress indicator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0084] In particular, FIG. 1 shows a manipulator system 1 comprising a manipulator 30, a control device 20 and also a display device 10. The manipulator 30 can be an industrial robot, for example. The display device 10 can be integrated into the control device 20 or can be embodied as a separate device. By way of example, the display device 10 can be a tablet computer or a smartphone that communicates with the control device 20 of the manipulator system 1 in a wired or wireless manner. A computer program for producing a graphical user interface of a manipulator program can be installed on the display device 10 and/or on the control device 20. The computer program can likewise be integrated into an existing manipulator program.

[0085] FIG. 2 shows a graphical representation of a manipulator program 2. The graphical representation of the manipulator program comprises operations S200 to S261, which are represented by circles. The individual operations are linked with one another via the solid arrows. The operations of the manipulator program can be executed successively or else include branchings. Individual operations are assigned rerun points AP1 to AP5 (represented in squares). At said rerun points AP1 to AP5 the system state of the manipulator system is consistent in each case, that is to say that, proceeding from the rerun point, operations lead to the same result, independently of the execution history of the manipulator program. The arrows illustrated in a dotted manner indicate a possible sequence of the manipulator program. Beginning at rerun point AP1, firstly of the operation S200 is executed. The sequence then continues with operations S210 and S211 to arrive at operation S220. Proceeding from operation S220, which is assigned the rerun point AP3, operations S221, S222, S223 and S225 are executed. An error occurs in operation S225, as is illustrated by a flash of lightening.

[0086] The manipulator program is thus interrupted in operation S225. rerun point AP2 is then selected by an operator, for example, in order to continue the manipulator program 2. The computer program assigned to the manipulator program 2 can then automatically determine a path to rerun point 2 and cause corresponding operations to be executed by the manipulator program. To that end, firstly operation S250 is executed. In S260, in order to be able to arrive at rerun point AP2, operation S262 must be chosen as the next operation. This operation leads to the rerun point AP3. The rerun point AP3 is linked with rerun point AP2 via the path defined via operation S263. It is thus possible automatically to return from the erroneous operation S225 to the rerun point AP2. The manipulator system, in accordance with the operations, once again assumes the system state assigned to the rerun point AP2.

[0087] In addition, debugging can be carried out, such that upon the renewed execution of the manipulator program beginning from AP2 the manipulator program can be continued without having to be interrupted in operation S225. Afterward it is possible to continue with operations S250, S260 and S261, for example, in order to arrive at rerun point AP5.

[0088] FIG. 3 shows a graphical display device 10, which is for example a smartphone or a tablet computer. The display device can likewise be integrated into a control device of the manipulator system. The graphical user interface 100 is displayed on the display device 210. The graphical user interface 100 comprises a program progress indicator 150, which is illustrated in the form of a program progress bar. The program progress bar 150 is a time bar, for example, which uses a cursor to indicate the location in the sequence of the manipulator program at which the manipulator program is currently located.

[0089] Block structures 210 to 225 are displayed on a further part of the graphical user interface 100. Said block structures 210 to 225 are a model representation of the manipulator program. In this regard, an operation corresponding to operation S210 is represented by means of block 210, for example. Correspondingly, an operation corresponding to operation S220 from FIG. 2 is represented by means of block 220. Block 220 comprises further subordinate blocks corresponding to operations S221, S223 and S225. Operations S224, S226 and S227, which are not currently being executed in the sequence of the manipulator program, are omitted in the model representation chosen. The clarity can thus be increased.

[0090] Besides the program progress bar 150, the current program progress can also be represented in the model representation for example by the colored background of the current block. By way of example, block 223 corresponding to operation S223 here exhibits a colored background. This indicates to the operator that the manipulator program is currently in operation S223.

[0091] FIG. 4 shows a further form of the model representation of the manipulator program on the graphical user interface. Besides the program progress indicator 150, a graphical model or the like can also be displayed on the graphical user interface 100. By way of example, the graphical model of the manipulator program already known from FIG. 2 can be displayed. This enables a clear representation of all possible branchings of the manipulator program. In this case, operations are represented for example as circles, and rerun points as rectangles. The operation of the manipulator program that is currently being executed is highlighted by a corresponding background. In addition, an arrow or a cursor 160 can point to the current program progress.

[0092] The program progress indicator 150 is illustrated in detail in FIG. 5. A timescale 151 is assigned to the program progress indicator 150. Furthermore, a sequence of rerun points AP1 to AP4 is represented on the program progress indicator. The cursor 155 indicates the location in the sequence of the manipulator program at which the manipulator program is located. By way of example, if an error occurs after rerun point AP4 (dashed illustration of the cursor 155), then the program can be returned to rerun point AP3. To that end, the cursor is dragged to the corresponding location in the program progress bar and the corresponding rerun point is selected. Alternatively, a rerun point can also be selected directly. The buttons 160-165 enable the graphical user interface to be operated in a simple manner. By way of example, the manipulator program can be interrupted by means of button 160. Button 161 makes it possible to define a rerun point at the current location in the sequence of the manipulator program and/or to define a new path. Button 162 allows the program to be continued, while button 163 instigates jumping to a rerun point lying after the current location in the sequence of the manipulator program. Individual operations of the manipulator program can be reversed by means of button 164. Button 165 allows direct jumping back to previous rerun points.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0093] 1 Manipulator system [0094] 10 Graphical display device [0095] 20 Control device [0096] 30 Manipulator [0097] AP1-AP5 rerun points [0098] S200-S261 Operations [0099] 100 Graphical user interface [0100] 210-225 Blocks of a block representation of the manipulator program [0101] 150 Program progress indicator [0102] 160 Arrow/Cursor [0103] 151 Timescale [0104] 155 Cursor [0105] 160 to 165 Buttons