RAC - Method of handling a robot with 4 autonomous cables

CONTEXT

There are devices for positioning platforms suspended by gravity and movable in three-dimensional spaces with 6 degrees of freedom by means of at least 6 cables.

The cables can in particular be parallel two by two, or else distributed in the diagonals for example. A large number of cables is in this case necessary in order to control the movements of the platform according to 6 degrees of freedom. Some of these cables are needed to manage the platform movement, and some others are intended to manage the platform's balance, that is, its orientation relative to the ground.

The more the platform is mobile according to a large number of degrees of freedom, the greater the number of cables. This large number of cables implies a large number of reels and an installation that can be significantly heavy and complex.

There is therefore a need for a suspended platform with improved mobility, movable in particular in three-dimensional spaces according to 6 degrees of freedom, using a limited number of cables.

DESCRIPTION

The LCFC laboratory at the University of Lorraine has developed a device associated with a cable robot to increase the number of degrees of freedom of the robot without increasing the number of cables. The presence of at least three cables is required to control the mobility of the platform. The cables are attached on the one hand to anchor points on the environment side, and on the other hand to anchor points on the platform side.

The anchor points on the platform side can be moved over a predefined linear stroke. A winding drum with a motor is inserted on each cable, near an anchor point. Those on the environment side are static.

Thus, this positioning device, associated with a cable robot, makes it possible on the one hand to obtain finer mobility than existing systems for the same number of cables, and on the other hand to obtain mobility equivalent to existing systems for a lower number of cables.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES

• The device can be installed without taking up floor space
• The device makes it possible to control the 6 degrees of freedom of a platform using a lower number of cables by acting on the position of the attachment points
• The device makes it possible to control 6 or more degrees of freedom with a completely suspended structure
• Reduction of musculoskeletal disorders
• Improved operator safety
  
   

MARKETS AND APPLICATIONS

Logistics of parts flow in production workshops

Cable robots (indoor or outdoor)

DEVELOPMENT STAGE 

Researchers have currently made a 4-wire parallel robot. It consists of a platform of 500x500x125 mm approximately integrating the 4 motorized winches. It allows the agile handling of parts up to 10 kg by the operator. The proof of concept developed does not incorporate the patented motorization process described.

RESEARCH TEAM

LCFC Laboratory - University of Lorraine

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Patent

TARGET PARTNERSHIP

Industrial partner

Patent license transfer

CONTACT

Aurélie LEMONDE
Business Developer
+33 (0)6 66 56 11 23
aurelie.lemonde@sayens.fr