Method for simultaneous operation of robot welders

Abstract

A method for preventing collisions between robots by causing a first robot to stop or pause so that a second robot may safely pass by or perform a specified operation. Once the second robot has completed its operation then the first robot is allowed to resume operation. Each robot automatically stops when it reaches a certain point in its job. The robots communicate with a central controller which allows the robots to resume operation when the central controller has determined that all of the robots have reached their respective correct positions. This prevents collisions between robots which are operating in the same area, especially those robots operating on the same workpiece. This method works with existing robot welders, does not require modifications to the robots, and does not require expensive spatial analysis computer programs, which may not even be available for the type of processor used in a particular robot. The peformance of two or more heat generating operations, such as welding operations, can cause excessive heating of an object if the operations are performed closely together in time or space. That excessive heating can result in distortion of the object. The present invention prevents excessive heating and subsequent distortion of the object by changing the sequence of the operations.