Abstract: A system and method monitor and/or diagnose the operation of a production line of an industrial plant which is controlled by an automation system. The system includes a remote data processing server, which is installed outside of the industrial plant. The remote data processing server is configured to receive a digital input signal reflecting at least one control input signal and a digital output signal reflecting a second operational state, to determine at least first and second modeled states corresponding to the at least first and second operational states, respectively, by inputting the digital input and the digital output signals to a digital observer model of the production line and the automation system and by processing the digital observer model, and to forward the first and second modeled states to an output interface from where they can be accessed by modeling and/or diagnosing modules.

Abstract: A system and method monitor and/or diagnose the operation of a production line of an industrial plant which is controlled by an automation system. The system includes a remote data processing server, which is installed outside of the industrial plant. The remote data processing server is configured to receive a digital input signal reflecting at least one control input signal and a digital output signal reflecting a second operational state, to determine at least first and second modeled states corresponding to the at least first and second operational states, respectively, by inputting the digital input and the digital output signals to a digital observer model of the production line and the automation system and by processing the digital observer model, and to forward the first and second modeled states to an output interface from where they can be accessed by modeling and/or diagnosing modules.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to an exemplary robot manipulator system having a robot manipulator with a kinematic chain of stiff robot manipulator segments, which are linked together by hinged joints. A robot controller controls execution of a robot program. At least one temperature sensor provides measured temperature values. At least one heatable cover is attached onto at least one manipulator segment for applying heat energy thereon, with an amount of heat energy being controlled dependent on measured temperature values of the at least one temperature sensor.

Abstract: A production line for manipulating objects is provided. The production line has working stations for performing consecutive working steps on the objects by a stationary operator. At least one working station is arranged to be operated by a stationary operator that is a human and at least one working station is operated by a stationary operator that is a robot. The at least one working station being arranged for a stationary operator that is a human and the at least one working station being operated by a stationary operator that is a robot are arranged such that transfer of objects from one working station to the other working station is performed by one or both of the stationary operators. The robot has at least two arms. A method for operating a production line applying a corresponding concept is also provided.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for heating of robots in cold environments, whereby the robot possesses permanent magnet brushless or three-phase synchronous motors with three motor phases including three stator coils (L1, L2, L3) connected to an inverter controllable by a control-unit and with a rotor with permanent magnet excitation. A current can be applied to at least one phase of the stator coil (L1, L2, L3) of the motor such that, if the motor stands still, a directed magnetic flux (?) is created which interacts with the permanent magnets of the rotor in such a way that the resulting torque will be close to zero.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to an exemplary robot manipulator system having a robot manipulator with a kinematic chain of stiff robot manipulator segments, which are linked together by hinged joints. A robot controller controls execution of a robot program. At least one temperature sensor provides measured temperature values. At least one heatable cover is attached onto at least one manipulator segment for applying heat energy thereon, with an amount of heat energy being controlled dependent on measured temperature values of the at least one temperature sensor.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for heating of robots in cold environments, whereby the robot possesses permanent magnet brushless or three-phase synchronous motors with three motor phases including three stator coils (L1, L2, L3) connected to an inverter controllable by a control-unit and with a rotor with permanent magnet excitation. A current can be applied to at least one phase of the stator coil (L1, L2, L3) of the motor such that, if the motor stands still, a directed magnetic flux (?) is created which interacts with the permanent magnets of the rotor in such a way that the resulting torque will be close to zero.

Abstract: A harmonic motor with a circular and internally geared stator, a flex spline coaxially arranged within the stator which comprises both external and internal gears, and a geared output shaft coaxially arranged within the flex spline. A drive assembly that includes a motor with a motor housing, a rotor, a rotor shaft, and a rear bearing for supporting the rotor shaft in the motor housing at a rear side of the rotor; and a strain wave gearing including a circular spline secured to the motor housing, a flex spline engaging the circular spline, a wave generator engaging the flex spline and secured to a drive end of the rotor shaft, and a wave generator bearing between the circular spline and the wave generator. The wave generator bearing serves as an exclusive drive end bearing for supporting the rotor shaft in the motor housing at a front side of the rotor.

Abstract: A defect detection system identifies defects in weld seams. An exemplary system includes a scanner device, mounted on a displacement device of a processing unit and which can be displaced by the unit over at least one weld seam that is to be examined. The scanner unit scans the weld seam using a predefinable frequency, each scanning sweep being correlated with a time signal. The time signal is used to record the point in time when at least one location containing defects is scanned. An analysis module determines the co-ordinates of the defects from the signals that are obtained by the scanning sweeps and stores the co-ordinates of the defects and transmits them to a localisation module. The localisation module determines the spatial arrangement of the defects of the weld seam by evaluating a speed profile of the displacement device during the scanning sweeps, the time signal and the co-ordinates.

Abstract: A method for controlling a multi-axis industrial robot or manipulator arranged with a robot control unit. The robot or the control unit includes at least one first computer running a servo controller. A motion limit is configured for at least one axis of the robot arm. A reference signal for a robot position is sent to a robot controller together with a measurement of a position of the robot arm. The reference position is processed and the measured position and the processed reference position are then compared in an evaluator for the purpose of limiting the motion of an arm of the robot.

Abstract: An apparatus, a method and a control system for controlling an industrial robot with at least one axis of rotation and/or translation. The robot includes at least one actuator or motor at each of the axes for driving a movement of an arm of the robot and at least one sensor at each of the rotatable shafts. A dither-signal generator for generation of a periodic signal is used to provide a varying dither signal to a servo of the actuator. Automatic adaption of the dither signal is provided. A computer program for carrying out the method and a graphical user interface.

Abstract: A production line for manipulating objects is provided. The production line has working stations for performing consecutive working steps on the objects by a stationary operator. At least one working station is arranged to be operated by a stationary operator that is a human and at least one working station is operated by a stationary operator that is a robot. The at least one working station being arranged for a stationary operator that is a human and the at least one working station being operated by a stationary operator that is a robot are arranged such that transfer of objects from one working station to the other working station is performed by one or both of the stationary operators. The robot has at least two arms. A method for operating a production line applying a corresponding concept is also provided.

Abstract: A method for controlling a multi-axis industrial robot or manipulator arranged with a robot control unit. The robot or the control unit includes at least one first computer running a servo controller. A motion limit is configured for at least one axis of the robot arm. A reference signal for a robot position is sent to a robot controller together with a measurement of a position of the robot arm. The reference position is processed and the measured position and the processed reference position are then compared in an evaluator for the purpose of limiting the motion of an arm of the robot.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for protection of a machine-controlled handling appliance having moving parts, having a safety sensor system for detection of objects in the working area of the handling appliance, having a safety controller which interacts with the handling appliance controller and in the process controls safety-relevant handling appliance functions as a function of signals from the safety sensor system. The safety sensor system has non-contacting proximity sensors so that a safety-relevant part of the working area of the handling appliance is covered by the detection areas of the proximity sensors.

Abstract: An industrial robot including a parallel kinematic manipulator of an object in space. The manipulator includes a stationary platform, a movable platform for carrying the object, and at least three arms connecting the platforms. Each arm includes a first arm part connected to the stationary platform for manipulating the movable platform.

Abstract: A method for simulating a movement zone of a robot having at least one data processing installation, simulating at least one movement path of the robot, comprises providing a number of selectable points on the at least one movement path of the robot, calculating a braking path for each of the selectable points, calculating a virtual movement zone based on the braking paths and a maximum position reachable by the robot for the respective at least one movement path, and carrying out the simulation of functions of the robot off-line using a software module.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a defect detection system for identifying defects in weld seams. An exemplary system comprises a scanner device, which is mounted on a displacement device of a processing unit and which can be displaced by said unit over at least one weld seam that is to be examined. The scanner unit scans the weld seam using a predefinable frequency, each scanning sweep being correlated with a time signal and the time signal being used to record the point in time when at least one location containing defects is scanned. The system is equipped with an analysis module to determine the co-ordinates of the defects from the signals that are obtained by means of the scanning sweeps. The analysis module also stores the co-ordinates of the defects and transmits them to a localisation module.

Abstract: A system for controlling a movement device is disclosed. The system includes a movement device with a tool provided on the movement device, a movement device controller, a safety controller, a tool maintenance station and a movement detection unit for calculating a position of the movement device in the safety controller. The system includes a position detection module for generating a signal corresponding to a positioning of the tool in the tool maintenance station, which signal is made available to the safety controller by a transmission unit for the signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a system for aligning and controlling the position of a robot tool, wherein a monitoring device is equipped with a detection unit and processing unit which co-operates with the control device of the robot and automatically determines the alignment of the robot tool by means of the detection unit by taking into account at least one pre-determined reference direction of the robot tool, in addition to at least one predetermined tolerance angle which defines a tolerance range for the at least one reference direction of the robot tool. The processing unit compares the determined alignment to the predetermined reference direction and/or to the tolerance values predetermined by the defined tolerance range and/or of the at least one tolerance range is not respected, the respective robot tool is disconnected and/or deactivated in co-operation with the control device of the robot.

Abstract: A positioning device includes a supporting structure, a work carrier, at least six length-adjustable struts arranged in strut pairs, each strut being moveably mounted to the supporting structure and to the work carrier and at least one drive configured to adjust a length of at least one of the struts. The struts of each strut pair are disposed parallel to each other and each strut pair has a pivot bearing disposed at a first end of each strut and a second bearing disposed at a second end of each strut.