Apparatus and method for optimizing an assembly process with local positioning using inertial guidance capabilities

• Main Authors: HADAGALI VIJAYENDRA SRINIVAS, LOOS, JR. HENRY ARTHUR, STENCEL JOHN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 01.11.2011
• Subjects: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION ORPROCESSING OF GOODS; CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; CONTROLLING; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS ORELEMENTS; PHYSICS; REGULATING; SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE

An apparatus includes a handheld tool for executing an assembly process within a confined work space. A local positioning module (LPM) is connected to the tool to collect raw data describing motion of the LPM and tool within the work space. A control unit communicates with a host machine and the tool, and updates an assembly setting of the tool. The host executes a control action when a position determined using the raw data is not equal to a corresponding position in a predetermined sequence. A method calculates the present position of a handheld torque wrench using three gyroscopes and three accelerometers, and calculating a present position of a fastener using the present position of the tool. The present position of the fastener is compared to a corresponding position in the predetermined sequence, and the torque wrench is disabled when the fastener position is not equal to the corresponding position.