Abstract: Methods for controlling at least two robots having respective working spaces, including at least one region in common are disclosed. The working space of each robot is modelled by defining one or more interference regions each constituted by an elementary geometrical figure. The interference regions are classified as: prohibited interference regions, defined as regions of space where the presence of the robot must without fail always be inhibited; monitored interference regions, defined as regions of space where the presence of the robot is accepted, but controlled, the robot being pre-arranged for sending a signal to the central control unit whenever it enters a monitored region and whenever it exits from a monitored region; and hybrid interference regions that are able to change between a status of monitored region and a status of prohibited region as a function of an input signal to the robot sent by said central control unit.

Abstract: Methods for controlling at least two robots having respective working spaces, including at least one region in common are disclosed. The working space of each robot is modelled by defining one or more interference regions each constituted by an elementary geometrical figure. The interference regions are classified as: prohibited interference regions, defined as regions of space where the presence of the robot must without fail always be inhibited; monitored interference regions, defined as regions of space where the presence of the robot is accepted, but controlled, the robot being pre-arranged for sending a signal to the central control unit whenever it enters a monitored region and whenever it exits from a monitored region; and hybrid interference regions that are able to change between a status of monitored region and a status of prohibited region as a function of an input signal to the robot sent by said central control unit.

Abstract: A robot system having a manual guide device connected to the robot in wireless data communication with a portable terminal for use in programming the robot.

Abstract: A robot system having a manual guide device connected to the robot in wireless data communication with a portable terminal for use in programming the robot.

Abstract: A programming system for a robot or similar apparatus comprises a portable programming terminal (6) having a display device (D), a plurality of jog keys (14) for controlling the robot movements and a plurality of teaching keys (15–24, 26). The body of the terminal (6) comprises a first portion (11), wherein the jog keys (14) and the teaching keys (15–24, 26) are arranged, having a width which progressively decreasing until reaching the area of union with a second portion (10) of the body, wherein the display device (D) is positioned; the jog keys (14) comprises two series of keys (14) being positioned in a substantially symmetrical fashion to each other, each series being along a respective longitudinal side of the first portion (11), whereas the teaching keys (15–24, 26) are positioned within or close to the restricted zone of the body, bridging the first and the second portion (11, 10).

Abstract: A programming system for a robot includes a portable programming terminal (6) having a series of jog keys (14) for controlling the motions of the robot, a key (18) for selecting one among a plurality of possible co-ordinate systems for the jog keys (14) and a key (21) for storing the position reached by a predefined point of a tool supported by the robot, as a result of a motion thereof. The terminal (6) includes additional control keys (40, 41), able to be operated manually instead of the jog keys (14), to cause, independently from the co-ordinate system selected with the selection key (18), a Cartesian and/or angular displacement of the predefined point of the tool relative to a reference point that may be varied at will, which corresponds to the position of the operator who uses the terminal (6).

Abstract: A programming system for a robot or similar apparatus comprises a portable programming terminal (6) having a display device (D), a plurality of jog keys (14) for controlling the robot movements and a plurality of teaching keys (15-24, 26). The body of the terminal (6) comprises a first portion (11), wherein the jog keys (14) and the teaching keys (15-24, 26) are arranged, having a width which progressively decreasing until reaching the area of union with a second portion (10) of the body, wherein the display device (D) is positioned; the jog keys (14) comprises two series of keys (14) being positioned in a substantially symmetrical fashion to each other, each series being along a respective longitudinal side of the first portion (11), whereas the teaching keys (15-24, 26) are positioned within or close to the restricted zone of the body, bridging the first and the second portion (11, 10).

Abstract: A programming system for a robot comprises a portable programming terminal (6) having a series of jog keys (14) for controlling the motions of the robot, a key (18) for selecting one among a plurality of possible co-ordinate system for the jog keys (14) and a key (21) for storing the position reached by a predefined point of a tool supported by the robot, as a result of a motion thereof. The terminal (6) comprises additional control keys (40, 41), able to be operated manually instead of the jog keys (14), to cause, independently from the co-ordinate system selected with the selection key (18), a Cartesian and/or angular displacement of the predefined point of the tool relative to a reference point that may be varied at will, which corresponds to the position of the operator who uses the terminal (6).