Keywords
Citation
(2003), "US patent office awards Robotic Workspace Technologies, Inc. (RWT) a patent for its versatile robot control system", Industrial Robot, Vol. 30 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2003.04930aab.007
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2003, MCB UP Limited
US patent office awards Robotic Workspace Technologies, Inc. (RWT) a patent for its versatile robot control system
US patent office awards Robotic Workspace Technologies, Inc. (RWT™) a patent for its versatile robot control system
Keywords: Robots, Standards, Control
Robotic Workspace Technologies, Inc. (RWT™), a leading provider of control systems for robots and other articulated or multi-axis automated manufacturing equipment has announced that it has received a patent for its open architecture, versatile robot control system.
“This patent confirms RWT’s leadership in developing and providing an open architecture robot control solution,” said Walter K. Weisel, CEO of RWT.
Patent number 6442451 was awarded to RWT for its versatile robot control system suitable for controlling robots of various electromechanical configurations. RWT’s robot control system includes a commercially available computer (PC) and operating system (Microsoft® Windows®) linked in electronic communication to the robot’s mechanical actuator(s) and the position feedback sensor(s) to process robot move commands.
The robot user community has been awaiting industry standardization of robotic hardware and software to minimize the complexity of training, operation, and maintenance. In addition, standardization can reduce the cost associated with spare parts and service, and the frequently long lead times needed to receive proprietary parts and/or software updates. The award of this patent will bring open standards to the user community. Today, there are over 100,000 robots in use in the United States and over 1,000,000 worldwide.
“We look forward to using this patent to provide robot users with the standards they have demanded for years,” said Mr. Weisel. “From the open control platform, users can expect additional standards for a common robot programming language, user interface, communications protocols and operator conventions to also evolve. The robot user community is the real benefactor of this patent.”
The patent award also affords licensing opportunities to robot suppliers. Thus far, the robot control system covered by this patent has been applied to certain models of ABB, Cincinnati Milacron, Fanuc, Kawasaki, and Yaskawa Motoman robot models, with others currently under development.
For more information, please contact: Sheri Aws, Robotic Workspace Technologies, Inc., 16266, San Carlos Boulevard, Fort Myers, FL 33908, USA. Tel: 239-466-0488; Fax: 239-466-7270; E-mail: aws@rwt.com