Abstract: A vehicle combination and a method for forming and operating a vehicle combination that includes at least first and second autonomous vehicles. Each of the autonomous vehicles is configured to automatically control its motions in a state wherein the first and second autonomous vehicles do not form the vehicle combination. When the vehicle combination is formed, the two autonomous vehicles are connected via a communications connection and the first autonomous vehicle automatically controls the motion of the second autonomous vehicle via the communication connection.

Abstract: A surgical instrument according to the invention, particularly a robot-guided surgical instrument, has a shaft end (1), a tool holder (2), which is mounted on the shaft end so as to be able to rotate about a yaw axis (G), and a tool (3) with a main lever (3A), in particular a blade and/or jaw, which is mounted on the tool holder so as to rotate about a pitch axis (N), and a gear transmission with a drive wheel (31), which is mounted on the tool holder so as to be rotatable about an input gear axis (G) by a driving means (200), and, in force-fit and/or form-fit connection therewith, an output wheel (30), which is mounted on the tool holder so as to rotate about an output gear axis (N) and by means of which the tool is rotatable about the pitch axis, or a wraparound transmission with a drive wheel, which is mounted on the tool holder so as to be rotatable about an input gear axis by a driving means, an output wheel, which is mounted on the tool holder so as to be able to rotate about an output gear axis and by

Abstract: A method is provided for the alignment of a multiaxial manipulator with an input device, which serves to control the manipulator, which method includes the steps of execution of one or more reference movements with the input device, execution of one or more reference movements with the manipulator, recording of the executed reference movements, calculation of a transformation matrix based on the recorded reference movements, and use of the calculated transformation matrix for the alignment of the movements of the input device with the manipulator.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a kinematically redundant robot includes detecting joint forces acting in the joints of the robot, determining an external work force between a robot-permanent reference point and an environment based on the detected joint forces, determining a further monitoring variable that is at least substantially independent of an external force acting on the robot-permanent reference point based on the detected joint forces, and monitoring the determined external work force and the determined further monitoring variable.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a speed and a distance of at least one object with respect to a receiver of a reception signal. The apparatus has at least one interface for reading in at least one in-phase component and one quadrature component of a plurality of temporally successive reception signals each representing a signal which is reflected to the receiver at the object and was emitted at a predefined transmission frequency. The apparatus also has a unit for forming a first detection value and a unit for determining a second detection value and a unit for determining a speed, corresponding to a reference speed, of the object with respect to the receiver and the reference distance as the distance of the object with respect to the receiver using the first and second detection values.

Abstract: A method for aligning a measuring device installed alongside a roadway at an unknown installation height, the measuring device including a laser scanner, a camera and a display. A camera image generated by the camera is inserted into the display and superimposed by a road model, formed from a multiplicity of straight lines running towards an intersection point. The measuring device is subsequently rotated and tilted, as a result of which the camera image is rotated and shifted on the display, until the images of the roadway margins and edges running parallel thereto are in alignment at the intersection point.

Abstract: A torque sensor (10), in particular for detecting torques occurring on or in a joint of an articulated-arm robot. The sensor has several measuring spokes (1, 2, 3, 4) that are designed to deform under the effects of torque; and several strain gauges (DR11, DR12, DR21, DR22, DR31, DR32, DR41, DR42), with two strain gauges being arranged on two opposite sides of the several measuring spokes (1, 2, 3, 4). The several strain gauges are each connected in one of at least two bridge circuits (A, B). The at least two bridge circuits (A, B) are each configured to generate a bridge voltage (Ua, Ub). By detecting and comparing differences in the bridge voltage signals (U2, Ub) generated by the at least two bridge circuits (A, B); a reliability of the detected bridge voltage signals is determined.

Abstract: A modular low-floor transport system comprises at least one drive module and at least one carrier module. The drive module includes a drive base and a drive chassis connected to the drive base. The drive chassis includes at least one driven wheel coupled to a drive. The carrier module includes a carrier base and a carrier chassis connected to the carrier base. The carrier chassis includes at least one non-driven carrier wheel. The drive base and the carrier base are rigidly connected to each other with respect to a stroke direction, and the drive chassis is movably mounted in the stroke direction to the drive base.

Abstract: A method for error recognition in a control system of a medical treatment and/or diagnosis device includes processing, by the control system, data in a regular operating mode and supplying, by the control system, test data of a test data record to a safety-critical component of the control system in a test mode of the control system. The safety-critical component of the control system is also checked in the test mode of the control system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for controlling a robot, which has at least one redundant degree of freedom. The method according to the invention prevents the robot from colliding with its surrounding environment and/or from getting into an inconvenient position as a result of its redundancy, and does so without causing any disadvantageous displacement of the tool center point.

Abstract: According to a method according to the invention for operating an additional tool axis (Z) of a tool (2) guided by a manipulator, in particular a robot (1), a position and/or an orientation of the tool in space are defined by axis positions (q1-q6) of the manipulator axes and a position value (f) of the tool axis, are saved and/or displayed, with an automatic conversion being carried out between the position value (f) and an axis position (e) of the tool axis which brings it about.

Abstract: A method in accordance with the invention for modification of a robot path which has a plurality of path points comprises the following steps of specifying a modification region which has at least two path points of the robot path, specifying a modification of a reference point of the modification region, and automated modification of the modification region, in particular of path points of the modification region, on the basis of the specified modification.

Abstract: According to a method according to the invention for controlling a robot, in particular a human-collaborating robot, a robot- or task-specific redundancy of the robot is resolved, wherein, in order to resolve the redundancy, a pose-dependent inertia variable of the robot is minimized.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of programming an industrial robot, exhibiting the steps of selecting a program command, the assigned rigidity parameter of which is to be verified, changed and/or saved in the program mode; moving the manipulator arm into a test pose, in which the industrial robot is configured and/or arranged to manually touch and/or move the manipulator arm; and the automatic actuation of the manipulator arm by the control device such that the manipulator arm in the test pose exhibits the rigidity corresponding to the assigned rigidity parameter of the selected program command. The invention further concerns an industrial robot, exhibiting a control device designed and/or configured to execute such a method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a robot and a method for controlling a robot. The distance between an object and the robot and/or the derivative thereof or a first motion of the object is detected by means of a non-contact distance sensor arranged in or on a robot arm of the robot and/or on or in an end effector fastened on the robot arm. The robot arm is moved based on the first motion detected by means of the distance sensor, a target force or a target torque to be applied by the robot is determined based on the distance detected between the object and the robot, and/or a function of the robot or a parameterization of a function of the robot is triggered based on the first motion detected and/or a target distance between the object and the robot and/or the derivative thereof detected by means of the distance sensor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for adjusting and controlling a robotic manipulator based on a dynamic manipulator model. A model for gear mechanism friction torque is determined for at least one axis, based on driven axis speeds and accelerations, and on a motor temperature on the drive side of one of the motors that is associated with the axis. The model is used to determine target values, such as motor position or current. The gear mechanism friction torque that complies with the model is determined in accordance with a gear mechanism temperature.

Abstract: A system for controlling an industrial robot includes an industrial robot and a control apparatus. The control apparatus includes a multi-core processor having at least one first processor core and at least one second processor core. An operating system, which is configured to be executed by the multi-core processor, is configured to assign hard real-time tasks to the at least one first processor core and assign other tasks to the at least one second processor core. The hard real-time tasks control at least a component of the industrial robot.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automated guided vehicle, a system having a computer and an automated guided vehicle, and a method for operating an automated guided vehicle. The automated guided vehicle is to travel along track sections automatically from a start point to an end point.

Abstract: A device for a system for traffic monitoring of vehicles in road traffic, the device having a first mounting frame and a second mounting frame, which can be secured relative to each other by inner fixing elements. At least the first mounting frame has a cylindrical, especially cuboidal, shape. At least one device for recording a traffic situation can be disposed or is disposed in the first mounting frame and wherein at least the first mounting frame is accessible from four sides.

Abstract: A method for designating and/or controlling a manipulator process for a manipulator configuration having at least one manipulator, in particular, an industrial robot, wherein the manipulator process includes a given oriented manipulator path for the manipulator configuration. The method includes designating or executing at least one action by the manipulator configuration, in particular, differently, in response to a reverse movement running counter to the oriented manipulator path, and/or a return movement running in the same direction as the oriented manipulator path.