SYSTEM FOR GENERATING SETS OF CONTROL DATA FOR ROBOTS

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for generating sets of control data for networked robots, comprising a plurality of robots (R.sub.i), wherein i=1, 2, 3, . . . , n, and n≧2, an optimizer (OE) and a database (DB), which are networked via a data network, wherein each robot (R.sub.i) comprises at least: a control unit (SE.sub.i) for controlling and/or regulating the robot (R.sub.i); a storage unit (SPE.sub.i) for controlling sets of control data SD.sub.i(A.sub.k), which in each case enable the control of the robot (R.sub.i) in accordance with a predetermined task (A.sub.k), wherein k=1, 2, 3, . . . , m; a unit (EE.sub.i) for specifying a new task A.sub.m+1 for the robot (R.sub.i), wherein A.sub.m+1≠A.sub.k; a unit (EH.sub.i) for determining a set of control data SD,(A.sub.m+1) for execution of the task (A.sub.m+1) by the robot (R.sub.i), an evaluation unit (BE.sub.i), which evaluates the set of control data SD.sub.i(A.sub.m+1) determined by the unit (EH.sub.i), with regard to at least one parameter (P1) with the characteristic number K.sub.P1(SD.sub.i(A.sub.m+1)), and a communication unit (KE.sub.i) for communication with the optimizer (OE) and/or the database (DB) and/or other robots (R.sub.j≠i), the optimizer (OE), which is designed and configured in order to determine, upon request by a robot (R.sub.i), at least one optimized set of control data SD.sub.i,P2(A.sub.m+1) with regard to at least one predetermined parameter (P2), wherein the request by the robot (R.sub.i) occurs when the characteristic number K.sub.P1(SD.sub.i(A.sub.m+1) does not meet a predetermined condition, and the data base (DB) stores the set of control data SD.sub.i,P2(A.sub.m+1) optimized by the optimizer (OE) and provides it to the robot (R.sub.i) for execution of the task (A.sub.m+1).

Claims

1. A system for generating sets of control data for networked robots, comprising a plurality of robots R.sub.i, wherein i=1, 2, 3, . . . , n, and n≧2, an optimizer OE and a database DB, which are networked via a data network, wherein each robot R.sub.i comprises at least: a control unit SE.sub.i for controlling and/or regulating the robot R.sub.i; a storage unit SPE.sub.i for controlling sets of control data SD.sub.i(A.sub.k), which in each case enable the control of the robot R.sub.i in accordance with a predetermined task A.sub.k, wherein k=0, 1, 2, . . . , m; a unit EE.sub.i for specifying a new task A.sub.m+1 for the robot R.sub.i, wherein A.sub.m+1≠A.sub.k; a unit EH.sub.i for determining a set of control data SD.sub.i(A.sub.m+1) for execution of the task A.sub.m+1 by the robot R.sub.i, an evaluation unit BE.sub.i, which evaluates the set of control data SD.sub.i(A.sub.m+1) determined by the unit EH.sub.i, with regard to at least one parameter P1 with the characteristic number K.sub.P1(SD.sub.i(A.sub.m+1)), and a communication unit KE.sub.i for communication with the optimizer OE and/or the database DB and/or other robots R.sub.j≠i, the optimizer OE, which is designed and configured in order to determine, upon request by a robot R.sub.i, at least one optimized set of control data SD.sub.i,P2(A.sub.m+1) with regard to at least one predetermined parameter P2, wherein the request by the robot R.sub.i occurs when the characteristic number K.sub.P1(SD.sub.i(A.sub.m+1)) does not meet a predetermined condition, and the data base DB stores the set of control data SD.sub.i,P2(A.sub.m+1) optimized by the optimizer OE and provides it to the robot R.sub.i for execution of the task A.sub.m+1.

2. The system according to claim 1, in which the parameter P1 and the parameter P2 are identical.

3. The system according to claim 1, in which the parameter P1 and/or the parameter P2 is/are a partial energy consumption or a total energy consumption of the robot in the execution of the respective set of control data SD.sub.i, or a total time period which the robot needs for execution of the respective control data SD.sub.i, or a combination thereof.

4. The system according to claim 1, in which the unit EH.sub.i is in each case designed and configured to be self-learning, wherein the determination of the set of control data SD.sub.i(A.sub.m+1) occurs based on the set of control data SD.sub.i(A.sub.k) for k=0 to m.

5. The system according to claim 4, in which the unit EH.sub.i is designed and configured so that the determination of the set of control data SD.sub.i(A.sub.m+1) occurs based on the characteristic numbers K(SD.sub.i(A.sub.k)).

6. The system according to claim 1, in which the optimizer OE is designed to be self-learning, wherein the determination of the optimized set of control data SD.sub.i,P2(A.sub.m+1) occurs based on already determined optimized sets of control data SD.sub.i,P2.

7. The system according to claim 1, in which the optimizer OE is designed as a collaborative agent system in the data network, which comprises at least the units EH.sub.i as agents, wherein the determination of the optimized set of control data SD.sub.i,P2(A.sub.m+1) occurs in one or more or all of the units EH.sub.i.

8. The system according to claim 1, in which the determination of the optimized set of control data SD.sub.i,P2(A.sub.m+1) occurs by means of the optimizer OE using the sets of control data SD.sub.i(A.sub.k), wherein k=0, 1, . . . , m, stored on the storage units SPE.sub.i.

9. The system according to claim 1, in which the characteristic numbers K.sub.P1(SD.sub.i(A.sub.k)) are stored on the storage unit SPE.sub.i.

10. A method for operating a system according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of robots R.sub.i, wherein i=1, 2, 3, . . . , n, and n≧2, an optimizer OE, a database DB, which are networked via a data network for the data exchange, wherein a control unit SE.sub.i controls the robot R.sub.i, a storage unit SPE.sub.i of the robot R.sub.i stores sets of control data SD.sub.i(A.sub.k), which in each case enable the control of the robot R.sub.i in accordance with a predetermined task A.sub.k, wherein k=0, 1, 2, . . . , m; a new task A.sub.m+1 for the robot R.sub.i can be specified via a unit EE.sub.i of the robot R.sub.i, wherein A.sub.m+1≠A.sub.k; a unit EH.sub.i of the robot R.sub.i determines a set of control data SD.sub.i(A.sub.m+1) for execution of the task A.sub.m+1, an evaluation unit BE.sub.i, which evaluates the set of control data SD.sub.i(A.sub.m+1) determined by the unit EH.sub.i, with regard to at least one parameter P1 with the characteristic number K.sub.P1(SD.sub.i(A.sub.m+1)), the optimizer OE, upon request by a robot R.sub.i, determines at least one set of control data SD.sub.i,P2(A.sub.m+1) optimized with regard to a predetermined parameter P2, wherein the request by the robot R.sub.i occurs when the characteristic number K.sub.P1(SD.sub.i(A.sub.m+1)) does not meet a predetermined condition, and the data base DB which stores the set of control data SD.sub.i,P2(A.sub.m+1) optimized by the optimizer OE and provides it to the robot R.sub.i for execution of the task A.sub.m+1.

Description

[0034] Additional advantages, features and details result from the following description, in which—optionally in reference to the drawing—at least one exemplary embodiment is described in detail. Identical, similar and/or functionally equivalent parts are provided with identical reference numerals.

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of a variant of the proposed system.

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of a variant of the proposed system for generating sets of control data for networked robots, comprising three robots R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, an optimizer OE, and a database DB, which are networked via a data network DN. Each of the robots R.sub.i, wherein i=1, 2, 3, comprises: a control unit SE.sub.i for controlling and/or regulating the robot R.sub.i, a storage unit SPE.sub.i for storing sets of control data SD.sub.i(A.sub.k), which each enable the control of the robot R.sub.i in accordance with the predetermined task A.sub.k, wherein k=0, 1, 2, . . . , m; a unit EE.sub.i for specifying a new task A.sub.m+1 for the robot R.sub.i, wherein A.sub.m+1≠A.sub.k; a unit EH.sub.i for the determination of a set of control data SD.sub.i(A.sub.m+1) for execution of the task A.sub.m+1 by the robot R.sub.i, an evaluation unit BE.sub.i, which evaluates the set of control data SD.sub.i(A.sub.m+1) determined by the unit EH.sub.i with regard to at least one parameter P1 with the characteristic number K.sub.P1(SD.sub.i(A.sub.m+1)), and a communication unit KE.sub.i, for the communication with the optimizer OE and/or with the database DB and/or other robots R.sub.j≠i. The data communication between the respective robots R.sub.i and the local units associated therewith (SE.sub.i, SPE.sub.i, EH.sub.i, EE.sub.i, BE.sub.i and KE.sub.i) can be obtained in this embodiment example in accordance with the arrows shown.

[0037] The optimizer OE is designed and configured to determine, upon request by a robot R.sub.i, a set of control data SD.sub.i,P2(A.sub.m+1) which has been optimized with regard to at least one predetermined parameter P2, wherein the requirement by the robot R.sub.i occurs if the characteristic number K.sub.P1(SD.sub.i(A.sub.m+1)) does not meet a predetermined condition. The database DB stores the sets of control data SD.sub.i,P2(A.sub.m+1) optimized by the optimizer OE and provides them to the robot R.sub.i for execution of the task A.sub.m+1.

[0038] Although the invention is illustrated further and explained in detail by means of preferred exemplary embodiments, the invention is not limited to the disclosed examples, and other variants can be derived therefrom by the person skilled in the art, without leaving the scope of protection of the invention. Therefore, it is clear that a plurality of possible variations exists. It is also clear that embodiments mentioned as examples in fact only represent examples which in no way can be conceived of as limiting, for example, the scope of protection, the application possibilities or the configuration of the invention. Instead, the predetermined description and the figure description allow the person skilled in the art in the position to concretely implement the exemplary embodiments, wherein the person skilled in the art, having learned the disclosed inventive thought, can make multiple changes, for example, with regard to the function or the arrangement of individual elements mentioned in an exemplary embodiment, without leaving the scope of protection which is defined by the claims and their legal equivalences, for example, further explanations in the description.