The present invention relates to a remote control system for robot, which remotely controls the robot apparatus based on control data radio-transmitted from a robot remote control apparatus for the purpose of rescuing an object to be rescued such as a human being and restoration work at a dangerous site.
For example, a system disclosed in Japanese Published Unexamined Utility Model Application No. Hei-6-68977 is available as a remote control system for robot for remotely controlling a rescue robot apparatus.
A robot apparatus in the remote control system for robot described in the above-described published application conveys an object person to be rescued, who is placed on its base frame, in which the object person to be rescued is moved by remote-controlled slave manipulator arms while observing a shot image picked up by a television camera, and is placed on its base frame for rescue.
However, in the prior art remote control system for robot, slave manipulator arms make rough movement to move an object person to be rescued, onto the base frame, wherein there is a problem in that the slave manipulator arms cannot respond with skillful movement and movement for removing a heavy load. Also, there is another problem in that the slave manipulator arms cannot cope with skillful movement at a dangerous site and movement for removing a heavy load.
In the remote control system for robot, the robot apparatus to be remotely controlled is required to carry out skillful movement and movement for removing a heavy load.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a remote control system for robot, in which a robot apparatus to be remotely controlled is capable of carrying out skillful movement and movement for removing a heavy load.
In order to solve the problems, a remote control system for robot according to the invention is a remote control system for robot that includes a robot remote control apparatus for remotely controlling a robot and a robot apparatus controlled based on data from the remote control apparatus, wherein the robot remote control apparatus is provided with a first computer unit for generating control data for the robot apparatus, and a first mobile transmission unit for transmitting the control data to a base station connected to a public transmission network; the robot apparatus is provided with a second mobile transmission unit for receiving control data transmitted from the base station connected to the public transmission network, and a second computer unit for processing the control data and controlling a mechanism portion; the mechanism portion is provided with one or two heavy-load working arms, one or two light-load working arms, and a travelling system, all of which are controlled by the second computer unit; and the second computer unit controls one or two heavy-load working arms, one or two light-load working arms and a travelling system on the basis of the control data for the robot apparatus.
Accordingly, a remote control system for robot is obtainable, in which a remotely controlled robot apparatus is capable of carrying out skillful movements and movements for removing heavy loads.
A remote control system for robot according to the first aspect of the invention is a remote control system for robot including a robot remote control apparatus for remotely controlling a robot and a robot apparatus controlled based on data from the remote control apparatus; wherein the robot remote control apparatus includes a remote instruction unit for generating control data for the robot apparatus, a first computer unit for inputting and processing the control data, and a first mobile transmission unit for transmitting the control data to a base station connected to a public transmission network; the robot apparatus includes a second mobile transmission unit for receiving the control data transmitted from the base station connected to the public transmission network, and a second computer unit for processing the control data and controlling a mechanism portion; the mechanism portion includes one or two heavy-load working arms, one or two light-load working arms, and a travelling system, all of which are controlled by the second computer unit; and the second computer unit controls one or two heavy-load working arms, one or two light-load working arms, and the travelling system on the basis of the control data for the robot apparatus.
With such a construction, since control data from the robot remote control apparatus is transmitted via the first mobile transmission unit, it is possible to control the robot apparatus even if the robot apparatus operating as an object to be controlled is installed at least anywhere in Japan, and at the same time, since the robot apparatus includes one or two heavy-load working arms and one or two light-load working arms, one or two heavy-load working arms are caused to carry out activities for removing a heavy load, and one or two light-load working arms are caused to carry out skillful activities, wherein the remote control system for robot has an action by which a quick rescue activity can be carried out.
Herein, the heavy-load working arm and light-load working arm may be provided as a pair or a singular heavy-load working arm and a pair of light-load working arms in compliance with the use of a robot.
A remote control system for robot according to the second aspect is featured in that, in the remote control system for robot according to the first aspect, one or two heavy-load working arms and one or two light-load working arms, respectively, include a basal arm, a branch arm, a wrist portion and a finger portion.
With such a construction, since the robot apparatus is provided with one or two heavy-load working arms and one or two light-load working arms disposed inside one or two heavy-load working arms, the heavy-load working arms disposed outside are caused to carry out powerful activities such as removal of a heavy load, and the light-load working arms disposed inwardly are caused to carry out skillful activities not requiring great power, wherein the remote control system for robot has an action by which a quick rescue activity can be securely carried out.
A remote control system for robot according to the third aspect is featured in that, in the remote control system for robot according to the first aspect or the second aspect, one or two heavy-load working arms and the travelling system are driven by hydraulic power, and one or two light-load working arms are driven by electric power.
With such a construction, since one or two heavy-load working arms driven by hydraulic power are caused to carry out powerful activities such as removal of a heavy load, and one or two light-load working arms driven by electric power are caused to carry out highly precise and skillful activities, it becomes possible to quickly and securely carry out a rescue activity at high accuracy.
A remote control system for robot according to the fourth aspect of the invention is featured in that, in the remote control system for robot according to any one of the first aspect through the third aspect, the travelling system is composed of crawlers driven by hydraulic power.
With such a construction, the robot apparatus has an action by which it can easily move at a high speed even if the site is a hard-to-travel place such as an uneven road and steeply inclined topographic features.
A remote control system for robot according to the fifth aspect is featured in that, in the remote control system for robot according to any one of the first aspect through the fourth aspect, the robot apparatus includes a carriage base driven by the travelling system, a cabin on the carriage base, and further includes an on-board instruction unit for controlling one or two heavy-load working arms, one or two light-load working arms and the travelling system in the cabin.
With such a construction, the system has an action by which the robot apparatus can be easily controlled not only at a place remote from a site but also at the vicinity of the site, which is on board the cabin.
A remote control system for robot according to the sixth aspect is featured in that, in the remote control system for robot according to any one of the first aspect through the fifth aspect, the mechanism portion includes a plurality of cameras for picking up an object and converting the same into image signals, and a plurality of microphones for converting sound and noise generated in the surroundings into sound signals, the second computer unit transmits the image signals and sound signals via the second mobile transmission unit, and the robot remote control apparatus receives signals transmitted from the second mobile transmission unit, displays the image signals on a monitor display and sends out the sound signals through a speaker as sound.
With such a construction, since it is possible to know the status of the robot apparatus through images and sound even if it is installed at a remote place, the remote control system for robot has an action by which the robot apparatus can be quickly controlled at high accuracy.
A remote control system for robot according to the seventh aspect is featured in that, in the remote control system for robot according to any one of the first aspect through the sixth aspect, a remote instruction unit includes rotatable and movable working arms, a plurality of sensors disposed in the working arms, and a plurality of instruction switches for carrying out ON/OFF instructions, wherein control data for the robot apparatus is generated on the basis of values of rotation and movement detected by a plurality of sensors and ON/OFF of a plurality of instruction switches.
With such a construction, since control data for the robot apparatus can be generated by means of a plurality of sensors and a plurality of instruction switches by operating the steering arms and turning on and off the instruction switches, the remote control system for robot has an action by which the robot apparatus can be easily controlled.
A remote control system for robot according to the eighth aspect is featured in that, in the remote control system for robot according to any one of the fifth aspect through the seventh aspect, the on-board instruction unit includes rotatable and movable working arms, a plurality of sensors disposed in the working arms, and a plurality of instruction switches for carrying out ON/OFF instructions, wherein control data for the robot apparatus is generated on the basis of values of rotation and movement detected by a plurality of sensors and ON/OFF of a plurality of instruction switches.
With such a construction, since control data for the robot apparatus can be generated by means of a plurality of sensors and a plurality of instruction switches by operating the steering arms and turning on and off the instruction switches, the remote control system for robot has an action by which the robot apparatus can be easily controlled.
A remote control system for robot according to the ninth aspect is featured in that, in the remote control system for robot according to the seventh aspect or the eighth aspect, the rotatable and movable steering arms are turned into a fixed state or a released state by a fixing mechanism such as a disk pad brake having a disk portion driven by an actuator.
With such a construction, since the steering arms of the heavy-load working arms and the light-load working arms can be easily set to a fixed state or a released state, the remote control system for robot has an action by which operation for controlling the robot apparatus can be facilitated.
Hereinafter, a description is given of embodiments of the invention with reference to
In
With respect to a remote control system for robot thus constructed, a description is given of the activities.
Remote instruction signals to control the robot apparatus 2, which are outputted from the remote instruction unit 4, are inputted into the robot remote control portion 3, and are outputted from the robot remote control portion 3 as formatted control data. Radio signals including the control data outputted from the robot remote control portion 3 are inputted into the robot control portion 7 via the antenna 3a, base station 19, public transmission network 20, base station 21 and antenna 7a as radio signals. The radio signals are converted to control data in the robot control portion 7. The robot control portion 7 controls the mechanism portion 10 of the robot apparatus 2 in response to the control data.
In
Reference numeral 30 denotes a computer unit that composes the robot remote control portion 3, 31 denotes a central processing unit (CPU), 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d denote interface portions, 33 denotes a RAM, 34 denotes a ROM, 35 denotes a mobile transmission unit that composes the robot remote control portion 3, 36 denotes a mobile transmission card, 37 denotes a PHS telephone set, 41 denotes an input unit that composes the remote instruction unit 4, 42 denotes a group of motors, 51 denotes a status display unit that composes the display unit portion 5, 61 denotes a controller for controlling the status display unit 51, and 62 denotes a driver unit for controlling the group of motors 42.
In
Reference numeral 70 denotes a computer unit that composes the robot control portion 7, 71 denotes a central processing unit (CPU), 72athrough 72f denote interface portions, 73 denotes a RAM, 74 denotes a ROM, 75 denotes a mobile transmission unit that composes the robot control portion 7, 76 denotes a mobile transmission card, 77 denotes a PHS telephone set, 81 denotes an input unit that composes the on-board instruction unit 8, 82 denotes a group of motors, 91 denotes a status display unit that composes a display unit portion 9a, 92 denotes a controller for controlling the status display unit 91, 93 denotes a driver unit for motors, which controls groups 82 and 101 of motors, 94 denotes a hydraulic servo valve unit for controlling a group 102 of hydraulic motors and a group 103 of cylinders, 95 denotes a controller for controlling the engine 104, 105 denotes a hydraulic pump driven by the engine 104, 106 denotes a generator driven by the engine 95, 107 is a battery charged by the generator 106, 108 denotes a hydraulic tank, and 109 denotes a group of sensors.
In
Reference numeral 22 denotes an image/sound unit at the remote control side, which composes the robot remote control apparatus 1, 23 denotes an image/sound unit at the robot side, which composes the robot apparatus 2, 111 and 151 denote central processing units (CPU), 112, 112a through 112c, 152, and 152a through 152c denote interface portions, 113 and 153 denote data transmission cards, 114 and 154 denote mobile transmission units.
Herein, the CPU 111, interface portion 112, data transmission card 113, and mobile transmission unit 114 compose the image/sound remote control portion 11, and the CPU 151, interface portion 152, data transmission card 153, and mobile transmission unit 154 compose the image/sound processing portion 15.
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By operating the steering arms 141 and 142 and 161 and 162 of the heavy-load working arms and light-load working arms depicted in
Table 1 describes the steering arms 142 and 162 of the left and right light-load working arms, Table 2 describes the steering arms 142 and 162 of the left and right light-load working arms and the steering arms 141 and 161 of the left and right heavy-load working arms, and Table 3 describes the steering arms 141 and 161 of the left and right heavy-load working arms, left and right crawlers 2b, upper equipment base 2a and excavation blade 120C.
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As depicted in
Next, a description is given of activities of the robot remote control apparatus 1 and the robot apparatus 2, which are thus composed, with reference to
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With reference to
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Where it is determined in Step S41 that no remote control is valid, the CPU 71 starts the on-board instruction unit 8 (S50), determines whether operation prohibition is valid (S51), and determines whether a position instruction is valid (S52). Where the operation prohibition is valid or no position instruction is valid, the processing ends. Where the operation is not prohibited, and a position instruction is valid, the CPU 71 next determines whether the deviation is positive or negative (S53). If the deviation is positive, the CPU 71 instructs POSITIVE (clockwise rotation of motor, and cylinder movement in the positive direction) to the driver unit for motors 93 and hydraulic servo valve unit 94 (S54), and if the deviation is negative, the CPU 71 instructs NEGATIVE (counterclockwise rotation of the motor, and cylinder movement in the negative direction) (S55) thereto. Next, the CPU 71 determines whether a speed instruction is valid (S56), and if the speed instruction is valid, a speed responsive to the deviation is instructed (S57).
Using
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Where the CPU 71 determines in Step S61 that no remote control is valid, the CPU 71 starts the on-board instruction unit 8 depicted in
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the robot remote control apparatus 1 includes a remote instruction unit 4 for generating control data for the robot apparatus 2, the first computer unit 30, into which the control data is inputted, for processing the same, and the first mobile transmission unit 35 for transmitting the control data to the base station 19 connected to the public transmission network 20. The robot apparatus 2 includes the second mobile transmission unit 75 for receiving control data transmitted from the base station 21 connected to the public transmission network 20 and the second computer unit 70 for processing the control data and controlling the mechanism portion 10. The mechanism portion 10 includes one or two heavy-load working arms 120A, one or two light-load working arms 120B and travelling system, which are controlled by the second computer unit 70. By the second computer unit 70 controlling one or two heavy-load working arms 120A, one or two light-load working arms 120B and travelling system on the basis of the control data for the robot apparatus 2, the control data from the robot remote control apparatus 1 are transmitted via the first mobile transmission unit 35, the robot apparatus 2 can be controlled even if the robot apparatus 2 being an object to be controlled is located at least anywhere in Japan, and since the robot apparatus 2 includes one or two heavy-load working arms 120A and one or two light-load working arms 120B, one or two heavy-load working arms 120A are caused to carry out a removal activity of a heavy load, and one or two light-load working arms 120B are caused to carry out skillful activities, wherein such an advantageous effect is brought about, by which a quick rescue activity can be carried out.
In addition, since the robot apparatus 2 is provided with one or two heavy-load working arms 120A and one or two light-load working arms 120B disposed inside one or two heavy-load working arms 120A, which are provided with the basal arms 121 and 125, branch arms 122 and 128, wrist portion (wrist portion) 123 and 129 and finger portions 124 and 130, respectively, the heavy-load working arms 120A disposed outside are caused to carry out powerful activities such as removal of heavy loads, and one or two light-load working arms 120B disposed inside are caused to carry out skillful activities not requiring any great power. Therefore, quick rescue activities can be securely carried out.
Further, one or two heavy-load working arms 120A and the travelling system are driven by hydraulic power, and one or two light-load working arms 120B are driven by electric power, wherein the heavy-load working arms 120A which are hydraulically driven are caused to securely carry out powerful activities such as removal of heavy loads, and one or two light-load working arms 120B which are electrically driven are caused to carry out skillful activities at high accuracy. Therefore, quick rescue activities can be securely carried out at high accuracy.
Further, since the travelling system is composed of crawlers 2b, which are hydraulically driven, the robot apparatus 2 is capable of easily travelling at a high speed even if the site is an uneven road or steeply inclined, or its topographic features are hard to travel.
Still further, the robot apparatus 2 includes a carriage base driven by the travelling system and a cabin on the carriage base, and the cabin is provided with an on-board instruction unit 8 for controlling one or two heavy-load working arms 120A, one or two light-load working arms 120B and travelling system. Therefore, it is possible to easily control the robot apparatus not only at a remote place but also at the vicinity of the site, which is on board the robot apparatus.
In addition, the mechanism portion 10 is provided with a plurality of cameras 131 through 138 for picking up an object and converting the same into image signals, and a plurality of microphones for converting the surrounding sound and noise into sound signals. The second computer unit 70 transmits the image signals and sound signals via the second mobile transmission unit 75, and the robot remote control apparatus 1 receives signals transmitted from the second mobile transmission unit 75, displays the image signals on the monitor display 12, and sends the sound signals via the speaker 14 as sound. Accordingly, even at a place remote from the site, it is possible to know the status of the robot apparatus 2 by means of images and sound, wherein the robot apparatus 2 can be accurately and quickly controlled.
Also, the remote instruction unit 4 is provided with rotatable and movable steering arms 141 and 142, a plurality of sensors disposed in the steering arms, and a plurality of instruction switches for generating ON/OFF instructions, wherein, by generating control data for the robot apparatus 2 on the basis of values of rotation and movement detected by a plurality of sensors and ON/OFF statuses of a plurality of instruction switches, the control data for the robot apparatus can be generated by a plurality of sensors and a plurality of instruction switches when operating the steering arms 141 and 142 and turning on and off the instruction switches. Accordingly, the robot apparatus 2 can be easily controlled.
Further, the on-board instruction unit 8 is provided with rotatable and movable steering arms 161 and 162, a plurality of sensors disposed in the steering arms, and a plurality of instruction switches for generating ON/OFF instructions, wherein, by generating control data for the robot apparatus 2 on the basis of values of rotation and movement detected by a plurality of sensors and ON/OFF statuses of a plurality of instruction switches, the control data for the robot apparatus 2 can be generated by a plurality of sensors and a plurality of instruction switches when operating the steering arms 161 and 162 and turning on and off the instruction switches. Accordingly, the robot apparatus 2 can be easily controlled.
In addition, the rotatable and movable steering arms 141 and 142 and 161 and 162 are turned into fixed state or released state by a fixing mechanism such as disk pad brake having a disk portion 226 driven by the actuator 224, wherein, since the steering arms 141 and 142 and 161 and 162 of the heavy-load working arms and the light-load working arms can be easily set to a fixed state or released state, operation for controlling the robot apparatus can be facilitated.
As described above, according to the remote control system for robot as set forth in the first aspect of the invention, the remote control system for robot includes a robot remote control apparatus for remotely controlling a robot and a robot apparatus controlled based on data from the remote control apparatus; wherein the robot remote control apparatus includes a remote instruction unit for generating control data for the robot apparatus, a first computer unit for inputting and processing the control data, and a first mobile transmission unit for transmitting the control data to a base station connected to a public transmission network; the robot apparatus includes a second mobile transmission unit for receiving the control data transmitted from the base station connected to the public transmission network, and a second computer unit for processing the control data and controlling a mechanism portion; the mechanism portion includes one or two heavy-load working arms, one or two light-load working arms, and a travelling system, all of which are controlled by the second computer unit; and the second computer unit controls one or two heavy-load working arms, one or two light-load working arms, and the travelling system on the basis of the control data for the robot apparatus. Therefore, since control data from the robot remote control apparatus is transmitted via the first mobile transmission unit, it is possible to control a robot apparatus even if the robot apparatus operating as an object to be controlled is installed at least anywhere in Japan, and at the same time, since the robot apparatus includes one or two heavy-load working arms and one or two light-load working arms, the heavy-load working arms are caused to carry out activities for removing a heavy load, and the light-load working arms are caused to carry out skillful activities. Accordingly, such an advantageous effect is brought about, by which the remote control system for robot can carry out quick rescue activities.
According to a remote control system for robot as set forth in the second aspect of the invention, in the remote control system for robot according to the first aspect, one or two heavy-load working arms and one or two light-load working arms, respectively, include a basal arm, a branch arm, a wrist portion and a finger portion. Since the robot apparatus is provided with one or two heavy-load working arms and one or two light-load working arms disposed inside one or two heavy-load working arms, the heavy-load working arms disposed outside are caused to carry out powerful activities such as removal of a heavy load, and the light-load working arms disposed inwardly are caused to carry out skillful activities not requiring great power. Therefore, such an advantageous effect is brought about, by which quick rescue activities can be securely carried out.
According to a remote control system for robot as set forth in the third aspect of the invention, in the remote control system for robot according to the first aspect or the second aspect, one or two heavy-load working arms and the travelling system are driven by hydraulic power, and one or two light-load working arms are driven by electric power. Since the heavy-load working arms are caused to carry out powerful activities such as removal of a heavy load, and the light-load working arms driven by electric power are caused to carry out highly precise and skillful activities, such an advantageous effect is brought about, by which it becomes possible to quickly and securely carry out a rescue activity at high accuracy.
According to a remote control system for robot as set forth in the fourth aspect of the invention, in the remote control system for robot according to anyone of the first aspect through the third aspect, the travelling system is composed of crawlers driven by hydraulic power. Such an advantageous effect is brought about, by which the robot apparatus can easily move at a high speed even if the site is a hard-to-travel place such as an uneven road and steeply inclined topographic features.
According to a remote control system for robot as set forth in the fifth aspect, in the remote control system for robot according to any one of the first aspect through the fourth aspect, the robot apparatus includes a carriage base driven by the travelling system, a cabin on the carriage base, and further includes an on-board instruction unit for controlling one or two heavy-load working arms, one or two light-load working arms and the travelling system in the cabin. Therefore, such an advantageous effect is brought about, by which the robot apparatus can be easily controlled not only at a place remote from the site but also at the vicinity of the site, which is on board the cabin.
According to a remote control system for robot as set forth in the sixth aspect, in the remote control system for robot according to any one of the first aspect through the fifth aspect, the mechanism portion includes a plurality of cameras for picking up an object and converting the same into image signals, and a plurality of microphones for converting sound and noise generated in the surroundings into sound signals, the second computer unit transmits the image signals and sound signals via the second mobile transmission unit, and the robot remote control apparatus receives signals transmitted from the second mobile transmission unit, displays the image signal on a monitor display and sends out the sound signals through a speaker as sound. Therefore, such an advantageous effect is brought about, by which, since it is possible to know the status of the robot apparatus through images and sound even if it is installed at a remote place, the robot apparatus can be quickly controlled at high accuracy.
According to a remote control system for robot as set forth in the seventh aspect, in the remote control system for robot according to any one of the first aspect through the sixth aspect, a remote instruction unit includes rotatable and movable working arms, a plurality of sensors disposed in the working arms, and a plurality of instruction switches for carrying out ON/OFF instructions, wherein control data for the robot apparatus is generated on the basis of values of rotation and movement detected by a plurality of sensors and ON/OFF of a plurality of instruction switches. Therefore, since control data for the robot apparatus can be generated by means of a plurality of sensors and a plurality of instruction switches by operating the steering arms and turning on and off the instruction switches, such an advantageous effect is brought about, by which the robot apparatus can be easily controlled.
According to a remote control system for robot as set forth in the eighth aspect of the invention, in the remote control system for robot according to any one of the fifth aspect through the seventh aspect, the on-board instruction unit includes rotatable and movable working arms, a plurality of sensors disposed in the working arms, and a plurality of instruction switches for carrying out ON/OFF instructions, wherein control data for the robot apparatus is generated on the basis of values of rotation and movement detected by a plurality of sensors and ON/OFF of a plurality of instruction switches. Therefore, since control data for the robot apparatus can be generated by means of a plurality of sensors and a plurality of instruction switches by operating the steering arms and turning on and off the instruction switches, such an advantageous effect is brought about, by which the robot apparatus can be easily controlled.
According to a remote control system for robot as set forth in the ninth aspect, in the remote control system for robot according to the seventh aspect or the eighth aspect, the rotatable and movable steering arms are turned into a fixed state or a released state by a fixing mechanism such as a disk pad brake having a disk portion driven by an actuator. Therefore, since the steering arms of the heavy-load working arms and the light-load working arms can be easily set to a fixed state or a released state, such an advantageous effect is brought about, by which operation for controlling the robot apparatus can be facilitated.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/JP03/07451 | 6/12/2003 | WO | 9/21/2005 |