Abstract: An object of the device according to the present invention is to enable small-volume, high-diversity production to be conducted efficiently, in the same way as in the conventional FMS, whilst at the same time overcoming problems associated with the conventional techniques, such as the complexity of creating programs for manufacturing processes, work interruptions due to robot breakdown, and `deadlock` incidents arising during operation. When seed data indicating an objective task (for example, the task of completing a particular product) is input to a computer, by communicating with hardware robots via a communications network, the computer selects a plurality of hardware robots, which are capable of implementing cooperatively the objective task indicated by the input seed data, and which are not engaged in any task based on other seed data. A software robot is created by inputting the seed data to at least one of the selected plurality of hardware robots.

Abstract: The ambulatory robot is provided with front legs and rear legs that are constituted so that the lengths from the origins of the front legs and the rear legs to their terminal portions can be varied. In walking, the front legs and the rear legs are rotated and the lengths of the front legs and the rear legs are changed so that the front legs are raised from the ground surface while the rear legs are maintained in contact with the ground. Then, the front legs and the rear legs are rotated and the lengths of the legs are changed so that the front legs raised from the ground surface are replaced on the ground in the direction of ambulation and the rear legs that were maintained in contact with the ground are raised from the ground surface. Then, the front legs and the rear legs rotate and the lengths of the legs change so that the rear legs so raised from the ground surface are replaced on the ground in the direction of ambulation.

Abstract: This invention relates to the controlling of the travel of a crawler vehicle and aims at resolving the issue of making a crawler vehicle travel on an ungraded land with the crawlers effectively gripping the road surface. According to the present invention, the loads imparted to crawlers (12FL, 12FR, 12RL, 12RR) are detected, and, on the basis of the results of this detection, the sum of the loads on a pair of crawlers (12FL, 12RR) at the front left and rear right sides of the vehicle and the sum of the loads on another pair of crawlers (12FR, 12RL) at the front right and rear left sides thereof are computed. When a difference between the sums thus computed has become higher than a predetermined level, it means that a diagonal stuck has occurred.

Abstract: A disaster relief robot can be prevented from falling over a precipice or the like while safety for the operator can be ensured during outdoor field transportation of relief supplies such as rescue apparatus and materials, medicines or food stuffs in the case of a wide-area disaster caused by an earthquake, a heavy rainfall, a landslide or the like. Accordingly, track frames (16) for crawlers (12) are pivotably attached to a robot body (10), respectively, at its front and rear ends, the distance L between the pivot shafts of the front and rear crawlers (12F, 12R) is set so that maximum pivoting loci (CF, CR) of the crawlers do not interfere with each other, and further, the gravitational center (G) of the robot body is set at a position intermediate of the distance (L) between the pivot shafts of the front and rear crawlers. Several kinds of operation controllers are also provided.

Abstract: A method of an unmanned vehicle comprises the steps of placing a certain number of ground marks each of which comprises a plurality of line segments on a passage of the vehicle measuring amount of movement of the vehicle between the adjacent line segments when the vehicle moves across each of the ground marks, and obtaining a relative positional relation between the ground mark and the vehicle with reference to the amount of movement thereof whereby movement of the vehicle is properly guided in accordance with the thus obtained positional relation. In the case of a navigational guiding method typically employed in aircraft or ship, an estimated position of the vehicle is corrected with reference to the aforesaid relative positional relation.

Abstract: The data input device comprises a tablet portion made of a two-dimensional position-sensitive photodetector and a planar display element laid one on the other, and a light emitting pen forming a light spot on a light-receiving surface of the position-sensitive photodetector. The locus of the movement of the light emitting pen is displayed on the surface of the planar display element at correspond positions in accordance with the output of the two-dimensional position-sensitive photodetector, and the contents of the display provided on the planar displaying element are allowed to be delivered for subsequent processings.