Abstract: A method for executing a process, in particular using at least one robot, includes executing a run-through of the process, detecting a value of a first process variable, and detecting an assessment of this executed process run-through. Assessment learning steps are then repeated multiple times, wherein run-throughs of the process using varied process controls are executed and additional assessments are detected. A first quality factor model of the process, which model determines a quality factor for the process on the basis on the first process variable, is machine-learned based on the detected assessments and values of the first process variable. The method further includes repeating process control optimization steps multiple times.

Abstract: A system for automatically handling components to be assembled onto a product on an assembly line includes a carriage that is movable to and between a first, retracted position spaced from the assembly line, and a second position displaced from the retracted position in a direction toward the assembly line. A manipulator on the carriage supports a component mounting tool configured to receive and support at least one component for assembly to the product. The manipulator may be arranged in a first orientation when the carriage is in the first position, and may be pivoted to a second orientation when the carriage is in the second position, such that a component on the component mounting tool is supported in a pose for processing when the carriage is in the first position, and is supported in a pose for joining to the product when the carriage is in the second position.

Abstract: A gripper includes a main gripper body and at least two gripper fingers, at least one of which is movably mounted on the main gripper body. The gripper has a switch that can be switched between a first switch position and a second switch position, wherein the first switch position, fully releases a pulling device so that by the pulling device being pulled, the gripper finger movably mounted on the main gripper body is pulled into a closed position and the kinematic chain of the finger elements of the movably mounted gripper finger is bent. In the second switch position, a pulling section of the pulling device running along the kinematic chain of the finger elements of the movably mounted gripper finger is locked, so that by the pulling device being pulled, the gripper finger is only pulled into its closed position without the kinematic chain of the finger elements of the gripper finger being bent.

Abstract: A method for controlling a telerobot using an input device having a movable control includes detecting an adjustment of the control and an external load acting on the telerobot; determining a target adjustment of a telerobot reference fixed to the robot, based on the detected adjustment of the control; detecting an actual adjustment of the telerobot reference; and controlling drives of the telerobot based on a difference between the actual adjustment and target adjustment. A first operating mode is implemented if the detected load falls in a first range, and a second operating mode is implemented if the detected load falls in a second range.

Abstract: A system for automatically handling components to be assembled onto a product on an assembly line includes a carriage that is movable to and between a first, retracted position spaced from the assembly line, and a second position displaced from the retracted position in a direction toward the assembly line. A manipulator on the carriage supports a component mounting tool configured to receive and support at least one component for assembly to the product. The manipulator may be arranged in a first orientation when the carriage is in the first position, and may be pivoted to a second orientation when the carriage is in the second position, such that a component on the component mounting tool is supported in a pose for processing when the carriage is in the first position, and is supported in a pose for joining to the product when the carriage is in the second position.

Abstract: A method, a robot, and a computer program product for detecting and evaluating a friction status in at least one joint of a robotic arm, wherein, within the scope of a brake test program, at least one motor of a plurality of electric motors is driven automatically in a first rotational direction, wherein a detection of a first motor torque in the driven motor takes place during its rotation in the first rotational direction. The at least one motor is then driven in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction, wherein a detection of a second motor torque in the driven motor takes place during its rotation in the second rotational direction. An automatic evaluation of the first motor torque and the second motor torque takes place in order to obtain the friction torque of the joint associated with the driven motor.

Abstract: A method to control a robot to perform at least one Cartesian or joint space task comprises using quadratic programming to determine joint forces, in particular joint torques, and/or joint accelerations of said robot based on at least one cost function which depends on said task.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle body having a receiving device configured to receive an object to be transported, a chassis having at least one driven wheel, and at least one sensor device having a detection region surrounding the autonomous vehicle for recognizing obstacles which enter the detection region in the immediate surroundings of the autonomous vehicle. The autonomous vehicle includes a joint arrangement configured to adjust the sensor device relative to the vehicle body such that the sensor device can be operated in a first arrangement which monitors the basic peripheral contour of the vehicle body, and in at least one second arrangement which monitors a total peripheral contour including the basic peripheral contour and an expansion contour of the autonomous vehicle that is formed when an object to be transported is received.

Abstract: A method for moving along a predetermined path with a robot in an at least a partially automated manner includes determining a deployment position on a current path section of the predetermined path for which a distance parameter satisfies a predetermined condition, and moving to the deployment position with the robot. In one aspect, the robot may be moved to the deployment position if a deployment condition is satisfied. The distance parameter may be determined on the basis of a distance of a current position of the robot relative to the current path section. The predetermined condition may be that the distance parameter has a value that is less than or equal to the values of the distance parameter of all positions in a partial area of the current path section, which is in particular complementary to the deployment position.

Abstract: In a method and system for operating a robot, at least one first direction, in which an external load acting on a reference is not reliably detectable on the basis of detected joint loads due to the vicinity to a singular position of the robot, is displayed as not being monitored on the basis of detected joint loads, and/or at least one second direction, in which an external load acting on the reference is reliably detectable on the basis of detected joint loads despite the vicinity to the singular position, is displayed as being monitorable on the basis of detected joint loads.

Abstract: A robot structure and a rehabilitation device have multiple elements and joints connecting the elements. At least one of the elements includes a first tubular piece with a first outer lateral surface wall, and a second tubular piece with a second outer lateral surface wall. The second tubular piece is arranged such that the length thereof is at an angle to the length of the first tubular piece so that the second tubular piece is inserted into two opposing tubular sections of the first tubular piece, and the second tubular piece passes through the first outer lateral surface wall of the first tubular piece at opposite sides. The second tubular piece is rigidly connected to the first tubular piece by a first connection element and a second connection element.

Abstract: A method for evaluating and/or monitoring a process, in particular a robotic process, includes detecting at least one data time series that describes at least one parameter of the process, and wherein the data time series is created by the process, which executes a process program with process commands, and wherein the at least one data time series is assigned to a part of the process program, in particular a process command or a part of the process commands of the process program. The method further includes determining a result using a first algorithm or at least a part of an algorithm based on the at least one data time series, wherein the result describes a state of the process, and wherein the result can be assigned, in particular is assigned, to the part of the process program, in particular the process command or the part of the process commands of the process program.

Abstract: A robot arm includes multiple joints and multiple links which can be adjusted relative to one another by movements of the joints of the robot arm. Each driven joint is paired with a drive device, and each drive device is designed to adjust the robot arm joint paired therewith, namely by automatic actuation of a motor of the respective drive device. The robot arm has a distal end link designed in the form of a tool flange, a hand link arranged directly upstream of the distal end link in the kinematic chain of the joints and links and on which the distal end link is rotatably mounted about a flange rotational axis. An additional output link is rotatably mounted on the hand link about a rotational axis that is parallel to the flange rotational axis and which is arranged on the hand link so as to lie opposite the distal end link.

Abstract: A method and a laser-optical detection system including a laser projector, a camera, a control device which is designed and configured to actuate the laser projector and the camera in order to determine features of the object, and a sensor unit. The control device is configured such that, as a function of the characterizing signal obtained by the sensor unit relating to an approach or the presence of a person in a critical spatial proximity to the laser projector, the exposure parameters of the camera are adjusted as a function of the reduced maximum irradiation intensity of the laser projector in relation to the current irradiation intensity of the laser projector. A robotic workstation includes a laser optical detection system of this type.

Abstract: A method for analyzing an operation of a robot includes performing a training phase by obtaining a first dataset containing at least one temporal characteristic of at least one state parameter of a first robot and training an artificial neural network. The artificial neural network includes a first autoencoder having an encoder that maps the first dataset onto temporal characteristic patterns and the activation thereof, and a decoder that uses these temporal characteristic patterns to reconstruct the first dataset; and a second autoencoder having an encoder that maps the temporal characteristic patterns and the activation thereof onto pattern groups, and a decoder that uses these pattern groups to reconstruct the temporal characteristic patterns and the activation thereof.

Abstract: A method and an automation system for assigning an emergency-stop device to at least one robot system that includes at least one robot and/or machine, wherein the assigned robot system is stopped upon actuation of the emergency-stop device. The assignment of the emergency-stop device can be removed from a first assigned robot system and assigned to a second robot system, e.g., if the emergency-stop device is moved between the robot systems (hand-held operating apparatus vehicle. In the method, the emergency-stop device is assigned to a selected range of effectiveness of a robot system, and the emergency-stop device is integrated into the relevant safety circuit of that robot system which is within the selected range of effectiveness.

Abstract: A modular robot-operated handheld device includes a safety base control device arranged in a housing with an emergency-stop trigger and an approval device, as well as a first mechanical coupling formed on one end wall of the housing. A second mechanical coupling, identical to the first mechanical coupling is formed on the other end wall of the housing in such a way that a connection module to be mechanically coupled to the modular robot-operated handheld device can be optionally coupled to the first mechanical coupling on the right-hand side of the modular robot-operated handheld device, or to the second mechanical coupling on the left-hand side of the modular robot-operated handheld device. Associated connection modules can be optionally coupled to the modular robot-operated handheld device.

Abstract: A control housing system includes at least one control sub-housing having at least one housing rear wall, which supports at least one electrical connector; a slide-in module support; and an interface chamber, which is mechanically connected to the slide-in module support and which has at least one cable feedthrough device. When the control sub-housing is in a position coupled to the slide-in module support, the at least one electrical connector is connected to a corresponding mating electrical connector of the interface chamber. The housing rear wall of the control sub-housing is seated sealingly against a peripheral seal device of a coupling wall of the interface chamber.

Abstract: An annular heat sink for fastening to an outer shell wall of a heat-emitting electric motor includes at least one guide wall portion which is arranged on the annular heat sink and covers portions of at least one flow duct, delimited laterally by peripheral cooling fins, from the outside, in such a way that an air flow which has entered into a flow duct in a first region of a side of the annular heat sink which faces the incoming air is deflected into a second region of a side of the annular heat sink which faces away from the incoming air. The heat sink may be used in an electric motor, which may in turn be used in a drive arrangement.

Abstract: A robot includes a robot arm having a plurality of motor-driven joints and a plurality of links, each of which interconnect two adjacent joints. At least one of the links has a supporting structural component configured to transmit forces and/or torques from an adjacent joint to the other adjacent joint. The structural component is provided with at least one covering that at least partially covers the structural component and at least one contact sensor. The at least one contact sensor is configured as a switching strip arranged between the structural component and the covering. Movable mounting of the covering on the structural component, which mounting is spring-preloaded into the basic position of the covering, is adjusted by an inherent elasticity of the switching strip.