Abstract: A method of controlling a multilevel converter, a computer program and a controller for a converter is provided. The method includes determining a transition voltage from a control period to a following control period, analyzing the switching cells of each phase leg, selecting capacitors to provide the transition voltage and synthesize the output voltage for the following control period, and connecting the selected capacitors during the following control period. The analyzing of each switching cell includes analyzing a first switching leg and a second switching leg of the switching cell. The method includes determining whether a change of state of the first switching leg would contribute to the direction of the transition voltage, and determining whether a change of state of the second switching leg would contribute to the direction of the transition voltage, and determining the internal conditions of each of the first and the second switching leg that are determined as contributing to the transition.

Abstract: The drive inverter units that power the traction motors and steering motors of a manned or unmanned vehicle such as a mobile robot or automated guided vehicles (AGVs), industrial trucks or remote controlled vehicles that are equipped with a robot arm or other actuated mechanisms are also used to power the axes of the robot arms or other additional high power actuators (e.g. a lift table). The traction and steering motors can be disconnected from the drive and the motors of a robot arm or actuator can be connected to the drive and vice versa. The prerequisite is that driving and robot arm/actuator motion do not take place at the same time.

Abstract: A differential cylinder for a hydromechanical drive for actuating an electrical switch, for example a high-voltage switch, is disclosed which includes a first pressure region for applying a working pressure, a second pressure region, and a piston which is capable of moving in a movement region and which is movable depending on a pressure difference between the first and second pressure region. A damping device is provided which, in the event of a movement of the piston in the direction of the second pressure region, provides damping with respect to the movement of the piston in a section of the movement region, wherein the damping is adjustable.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing and connecting a first sub power system with a second sub power system with an intelligent electronic device (IED) by use of at least one switching device between the first sub power system and the second sub power system in an electrical power system is provided. The IED monitors power supply parameters such as voltage magnitude, phase and other derived parameters such as voltage and phase differences in the first sub power system and the second sub power system to identify at least one instance for fast bus transfer where the two sub systems have acceptable differences in magnitude and phase. The IED performs phase shifting and voltage magnitude correction in anticipation for synchronizing power supplies on connection at the identified instance.

Abstract: A dummy tool is used to teach a robot the path the robot will follow to perform work on a workpiece to eliminate the possibility of damaging an actual tool during the training. The dummy tool provides the robot programmer an indication of potential collisions between the tool and the workpiece and other objects in the work cell when path is being taught. The dummy tool can have a detachable input/output device with a graphic user interface (GUI) that can communicate wirelessly with the robot controller. The dummy tool can also have a moveable camera attached thereto to track the relationship of the tool to objects in the work area.

Abstract: Included are a transfer unit for receiving blanks outputted from the blanking shear or press; at least one stacking support for stacking blanks thereon; one or more stacking robots to pick blanks from the transfer unit and place them on the stacking support, and at least one handling robot configured to position one or more centering pins for assisting the placement of the blanks on the stacking support.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for controlling data transfer between a client device and auxiliary robot cell functions of a robot cell as well as to an interface arrangement for the robot cell. The arrangement includes a reverse proxy providing connectivity for a client device to auxiliary robot cell functions accessible via a local addressing space, where the reverse proxy receives, in a first message having a destination address belonging to the interface device and being a first global address in a global addressing space, a request intended for an auxiliary robot cell function, converts the first address to a first local address of the auxiliary robot cell function in the local addressing space and sends the request to a web server associated with the auxiliary robot cell function using the first local address.

Abstract: A cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy instrument has an optical cavity with two or more cavity mirrors, one mirror of which having a hole or other aperture for injecting a light beam, and the same or another mirror of which being partially transmissive to allow exit of light to a detector. A spherical-spherical configuration with at least one astigmatic mirror or a spherical-cylindrical configuration where the spherical mirror could also be astigmatic prevents a reentrant condition wherein the injected beam would prematurely exit the cavity through the aperture. This combination substantially increases the number of passes of the injected beam through a sample volume for sensitive detection of chemical species even in less than ideal conditions including low power laser or LED sources, poor mirror reflectivity or detector noise at the wavelengths of interest, or cavity alignment issues such as vibration or temperature and pressure changes.

Abstract: A method of controlling a plurality of DC/AC converters in cascade configuration, each being arranged to receive an input direct current and voltage from a respective photovoltaic panel and to deliver an electric output. The method includes receiving information representing at least one of frequency, phase, amplitude and harmonics of a required AC, and receiving information on the input direct current and voltage to each one of the plurality of DC/AC converters. Based on the received information, each one of the plurality of DC/AC converters is individually controlled in such manner that the combined output from the plurality of DC/AC converters produces an AC matching the required AC.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining a rotor position of an electrically excited electrical machine by injecting voltage test signals at a plurality of space vector angles with a fundamental frequency which lies in a frequency range in which there is a difference in admittance in space vector angles; calculating resulting values of an excitation current indicator variable as Fourier coefficients of the excitation current resulting from the voltage test signal with reference to the fundamental frequency of the voltage test signal at the corresponding space vector angles; and determining the rotor position on the basis of the profile of the excitation current indicator variable.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for storing electric energy in the form of thermal energy. A thermoelectric energy storage system includes a working fluid circuit for circulating a working fluid through a heat exchanger, and a thermal storage medium circuit for circulating a thermal storage medium. The thermal storage medium circuit includes at least one hot storage tank, an intermediate temperature storage tank, and a cold storage tank connected together via the heat exchanger. A proportion of the storage medium is redirected to or from the intermediate storage tank from or to the hot or cold storage tank, joining another proportion which flows directly between the cold and hot storage tank.

Abstract: A machine has at least one actuated mechanism is remotely located from a control station. A two way real-time communication link connects the machine location with the control station. A controller at the machine location has program code that is configured to determine from data from one or more sensors at the machine location if an actual fault has occurred in the machine when the machine is performing its predetermined function and to determine for an actual fault one or more types for the fault and transmit the one or more fault types to the control station for analysis. The code in the controller is configured to be a preprogrammed trap routine specific to the machine function that is automatically executed when an error in machine operation is detected at the machine location. The controller also has a default trap routine that is executed when the specific routine does not exist.

Abstract: For controlling a robot in a safe way, a highest voltage required for a desired robot movement is calculated. A voltage level in a DC-bus is set on the basis of the highest voltage, and current is supplied to a motor at a robot axis from the DC-bus. By limiting the voltage level in the DC-bus to correspond to an actual need for a desired robot movement at each instant unnecessary fast robot movements are prevented even in the event that an inverter controlling motor currents would by mistake attempt to drive the motor faster than desired by the operator.

Abstract: An inspection device for use in a fluid container includes at least one thrust device, at least one ballast device and a cage which carries the at least one thrust device and the at least one ballast device. The cage includes at least two bars. Each bar provides an opening, the openings forming a cage cavity to carry the at least one thrust device and the at least one ballast device.