Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Kuka Roboter Gmbh

Sabine Thürauf

Philip Mewes

Abhinav Gulhar

Holger Mönnich

A method is provided for operating a robotic device having a kinematic chain of movable components. The method includes: detecting respective values at least one characteristic of a plurality of the movable components by sensors arranged on the kinematic chain or in the vicinity of the kinematic chain; ascertaining a maximum value based on the detected values; comparing the ascertained maximum value with a predefined first safety limit by a controller of the robotic device; and adjusting the at least one characteristic or a further characteristic of the kinematic chain when the ascertained maximum value has a predefined relationship with the first safety limit, in order to increase the operating safety of the robotic device.

Robotic devices and methods of operating robotic devices

A method for operating a robotic device with a kinematic chain of mobile components is provided. The kinematic chain includes a function-specific end-effector at one end. Sensor values are acquired by sensors of the robotic device arranged on the kinematic chain or in the environment of the kinematic chain. A force acting on the end-effector or another component of the kinematic chain, or a variable dependent thereupon, is determined in a prespecified manner based on the acquired sensor values. The force or variable determined is compared with a prespecified first safety limit value by a control mechanism of the robotic device. A characteristic of the kinematic chain or the function-specific end-effector is adapted if the force or variable determined is in a prespecified relationship to the first safety limit value in order to increase the operational safety of a robotic device and of people in the environment of the robotic device.

Growing community of inventors

Forchheim, Germany

Sabine Thürauf