Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Universitè Laval

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Dalong Gao

Clement M Gosselin

Roland J Menassa

Thierry Laliberte

Simon Foucault

Boris Mayer-St-Onge

Robin Stevenson

Robert J Scheuerman

Alexandre Lecours

Ningjian Huang

Richard Clemence Janis

Nicolas Lauzier

Lance T Ransom

Xiang Zhao

Rodney L Smith

Pei-chung Wang

Yhu-Tin Lin

Chris A Ihrke

Feng Gao

Jing Sun

Neil David McKay

Marc-Antoine Lacasse

Martin Grenier

Qiao Sun

Vincent Duchaine

Xianbao Chen

Pierre-Luc Belzile

Jing Jing Zhang

David S Yang

Bradley J Blaski

Jianying Shi

Hui-ping Wang

Jorge F Arinez

Matthew J Reiland

Miguel Arturo Saez

Wu Tao

Ryan Gergely

Chi-Hung Shen

Guoxian Xiao

Samuel Paul Marin

Diana Marie Wegner

Jinglin Li

Justin Allen Wolsker

Roberto Hirayama

David E Milburn

Linda Y Harkenrider

Noemie Paradis

Shelia A Marin, Legal Representative

Prateek Mishra

Paul E Crittenden

A tool reconfiguration system includes a robot, an end effector, a photogrammetry module, an adjustment module, and a robot control module. The end effector is configured to be attached to the robot and to a vehicle component. The end effector is adjustable between a plurality of configurations. The photogrammetry module includes a first camera that is configured to capture images of the end effector. The adjustment module is configured to receive the images of the end effector and determine whether the end effector has been adjusted from a first configuration to a second configuration based on at least one of the images. The robot control module is configured to, based on the determination, selectively actuate one or more components of the end effector and adjust a present configuration of the end effector to one of the first configuration and the second configuration.

Robotic tool reconfiguration system

A reconditioning device includes: a first shearing plate; a second shearing plate; and a housing. The housing includes: a first member configured to hold the first shearing plate and comprising an input for receiving a material; a second member connected to the first member to form an inner cavity, a portion of the inner cavity is located in a gap between the first shearing plate and the second shearing plate; and an output member connected to a pipeline of a production applicator and configured to output the material subsequent to shearing. The shaft extends through the second member, is connected to the second shearing plate, and is configured to be rotated to shear the material disposed in the gap between the first shearing plate and the second shearing plate.

Material reconditioning devices and dispensing systems

A robotic system for forming a moldable workpiece is provided. The robotic system includes a robot, an end effector, an adjustment module, and a control module. The robot is configured to pass the workpiece through a machine. The end effector is configured to be attached to the robot and configured to grasp and release the workpiece. The end effector is adjustable to a plurality of different configurations. The adjustment module is configured to determine a change in the workpiece from (a) a first form of the workpiece prior to the passing of the workpiece through the machine to (b) a second form of the workpiece after passing of the workpiece through the machine. The control module is configured to adjust a present configuration of the end effector to a second configuration based on the change in the workpiece from (a) the first form to (b) the second form.

Robotic system for free-forming a workpiece

A calibration system includes a docking stand fixed within a three-dimensional coordinate system and an end effector supported by the docking stand. The end effector includes a frame received by the docking stand and an adjustable member movable along the frame. The adjustable member includes a clamp and a reference surface. The calibration system includes a computational system including at least one processor and at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions. The calibration system includes a measurement instrument in electronic communication with the computational system. The measurement instrument is movable and is arranged to interact with the reference surface and transmit a signal to the processor. The processor is programmed to analyze a location of the measurement instrument within the three-dimensional coordinate system and the interaction between the measurement instrument and the reference surface to determine a location of the adjustable member within the three-dimensional coordinate system.

Calibration system comprising an end effector with an adjustable member and a measurement instrument for determining a location of the adjustable member, and a method of operating the same

A robotic system includes a support structure, a motor mount assembly, first and second parallel chains, a serial translation assembly, a sensor and a control module. The motor mount assembly includes rotary motors, where the rotary motors include a first rotary motor and a second rotary motor. The first and second parallel chains are connected to the movable platform, the rotary motors and the motor mount assembly. The serial translation assembly is connected to the supporting structure and the motor mount assembly and includes a linear actuator and a third rotary motor. The sensor is connected to the movable platform and detects force applied by a human operator on the movable platform and generates a signal indicative of the force applied. The control module controls the rotary motors and the third rotary motor based on the signal to assist the human operator in moving the movable platform.

Three degree-of-freedom robotic systems for automatic and/or collaborative planar fastening operations

An electrical connector assembly includes a pair of electrical connectors for electrically connecting to one another to close an electric circuit. The assembly further includes a connection indicator attached to one or more of the electrical connectors. The connection indicator generates a feedback, in response to the electrical connectors being one of connected to one another and disconnected from one another. The connection indicator is separate from the electric circuit, and the feedback is at least one of a radio frequency signal (RF signal), an electronic signal, a visible light, and an acoustic signal.

Electrical connector assembly with a connection indicator for a motor vehicle

A robotic system includes a support structure, a platform, a center serial chain, outer serial chains, motors, a sensor, and a control module. The center serial chain connects a center of the platform to the support structure and includes first joints connected to a linear sliding shaft. The outer serial chains are disposed radially outward of the center serial chain. Each of the outer serial chains includes second joints connecting a bar to the platform and the supporting structure. The motors are connected to the outer serial chains. The sensor is connected to the platform and detects at least one of force or torque applied by a human operator on the platform and generates a signal indicative thereof. The control module controls the motors based on the signal to assist the human operator in at least one of moving or rotating the platform.

Six degree-of-freedom and three degree-of-freedom robotic systems for automatic and/or collaborative fastening operations

Robotic systems are provided for flexibility in assembly operations. A robotic system includes a suction module having a front side with a face shaped to match a mating component and a rear side with a coupling for a suction line. Openings extend through the face. The suction module defines internal passages connecting the coupling with the at least one opening through the face. An end-effector has a base plate, a mounting plate selectively moveable relative to the base plate, and a clamp. The suction module is selectively mounted to the mounting plate and releasably secured by the clamp. An actuator is mounted to selectively move the mounting plate and the suction module relative to the base plate.

Flexible robotic system using end-effector with pass-through suction modules

A method of assembling a manufactured item without a guide rail and an assembly system are provided. The method includes disposing a base item on an unmanned independent vehicle system, moving the unmanned independent vehicle system to an assembly station, and attaching an additional item to the base item. The assembly system includes a number of unmanned independent vehicle systems, each unmanned independent vehicle system having at least one wheel. Each unmanned independent vehicle system is configured to be loaded with a base item. A number of assembly stations are provided, each being configured to complete at least one assembly operation. Each unmanned independent vehicle system is configured to independently move to multiple of the assembly stations to have a different assembly operation performed at each assembly station, resulting in additional items being attached to each base item to form each manufactured item.

Nondeterministic assembly system and method

An adaptable assembly line work-piece processor for use at a work station includes, but is not limited to, a work-piece supporter. The adaptable assembly line work-piece processor further includes, but is not limited to, a reconfigurable interface assembly attached to the work-piece supporter. The adaptable assembly line work-piece processor still further includes, but is not limited to, a work-piece manipulator attached to the reconfigurable interface assembly. The work-piece supporter, the reconfigurable interface assembly, and the work-piece manipulator are configured to cooperate to sequentially support and manipulate a plurality of differently configured work-pieces.

Reconfigurable interface assembly, adaptable assembly line work-piece processor, and method

A method of laser welding a workpiece stack-up () that includes at least two overlapping steel workpieces () comprises directing a laser beam () at a top surface () of the workpiece stack-up to form a keyhole () surrounded by a molten steel weld pool (). The laser beam is conveyed along a predefined weld pattern that includes one or more nonlinear inner weld paths () and an enclosed outer peripheral weld path () surrounding the one or more nonlinear inner weld paths. During conveyance of the laser beam along the one or more nonlinear inner weld paths, the keyhole fully penetrates through the workpiece stack-up from the top surface of the stack-up to the bottom surface () of the stack-up. The method produces weld joints between the steel workpieces that do not have an intentionally imposed gap formed between their faying surfaces.

Laser welding overlapping metal workpieces

A method for joining a plurality of workpieces includes providing a rotating drive tool. A fastener is secured to the drive tool. The drive tool is then rotatably driven such that a distal end of the fastener rotates against a surface of the plurality of workpieces. A heated material zone is then generated on the plurality of workpieces as caused by friction from the rotation of the fastener against the surface of the plurality of workpieces. The distal end of the fastener is rotatably and axially driven through the heated material zone. Finally, the drive tool is removed from the fastener, such that when the heated material zone cools, a portion of the heated material zone is fused to the fastener.

Hybrid workpiece joining

A reconfigurable interface assembly includes, but is not limited to, a first sub-assembly that is adapted for attachment to a work-piece supporter. The first sub-assembly includes a first brake. The reconfigurable interface assembly further includes a second sub-assembly attached to the first sub-assembly. The second sub-assembly is adapted for attachment to a work-piece manipulator. The second sub-assembly includes a second brake. The first sub-assembly is configured to move the second sub-assembly in a first direction with respect to the first sub-assembly and the first brake is configured to inhibit movement of the second sub-assembly in the first direction with respect to the first sub-assembly. The second sub-assembly is configured to move the first sub-assembly in a second direction with respect to the second sub-assembly and the second brake is configured to inhibit movement of the first sub-assembly in the second direction with respect to the first sub-assembly.

A movement device is moved along an X axis and a Y axis by providing a sensor configured to measure angle of rotation of at least one of a first and a second kinematic link about a respective axis of rotation. A force is imparted on the first and second kinematic links such that an angular displacement of the first and second kinematic links about the respective axis of rotation is achieved. The angular displacement of the first and second kinematic links about the respective axis of rotation is determined. The movement device is moved along the X axis and/or the Y axis in response to the determination of the angle of rotation of the first and second kinematic links about the respective axis of rotation until first and second kinematic links are vertical.

Movement system configured for moving a payload

The present disclosure relates to methods by which a warped workpiece is reconfigured in a pre-determined manner to reduce a separation between the warped workpiece and a joining workpiece. The warped workpiece is reformed/reshaped, prior to joining, by softening material of the warped workpiece through application of a predetermined amount of energy at or near warping and using a directional force applied to a first surface of the warped workpiece, thus reducing a separation space at a joining interface of the warped workpiece and joining workpiece.

Systems and methods for joining a warped workpiece to another workpiece

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Rochester, MI, United States of America

Dalong Gao