Abstract: A method for creating machining conditions and/or machining condition series capable of meeting a plurality of the required machining specifications, in which the method designates at least one of ranges of the machining specifications, ranges of satisfaction degrees the required specifications and functions indicating satisfaction degrees to the required specifications. The method determines a compromise between the required machining specifications The required machining specifications includes surface roughness, consumption rate of the electrode and machining time.

Abstract: There are determined by measurements: the maximum -A of the positional displacement, which is caused by a deflection when a machining point is moved in a +X direction; and a movement command D in effect until the machining point is reversed to a -X direction while the maximum deflection -A is maintained and the deflection A in the reverse direction is produced. It is assumed that the deflection proportionally changes from -A to +A while the movement command is outputted by D, that is, while the actual position of the machining point is moved by (D-2A). The correction amount is determined on the bases of the proportion of two times the deflection A with respect to (D-2A) and the movement command value after the reversal of the moving direction, and is added to the movement command value so that the resultant sum is outputted as the movement command value.

Abstract: A control system regulates a controlled process. A first controller receives at least a first input variable and a second input variable and produces at least a first control variable and a second control variable. A delay unifier associated with the first controller introduces a first delay to one of the first and second control variables, the first delay being determined as a function of a second delay associated with another of the first and second control variables. A processor models effects of the controlled process. The processor receives the delayed first and second control variables output by the first controller and produces estimates of the process output variables. A second controller processes a difference between measured process output variables and the estimated process output variables to correct for disturbances.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for managing and distributing design and manufacturing information throughout a factory in order to facilitate the production of components, such as bent sheet metal components. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the management and distribution of critical design and manufacturing information is achieved by storing and distributing the design and manufacturing information associated with each job. By replacing the traditional paper job set-up or work sheet with, for example, an electronically stored job sheet that can be accessed instantaneously from any location in the factory, the present invention improves the overall efficiency of the factory. In addition, through the various aspects and features of the invention, the organization and accessibility of part information and stored expert knowledge is improved.

Abstract: A computer assisted method for conducting library research from a first location which is remote from the printed work storage location includes identifying at the first location a book to be viewed and delivering the request through computers and telecommunications apparatus to the book storage location followed by delivering the book to a book viewing station and remotely reviewing digital images of at least portions of the book created by a digital imaging system. The computer is programmed to permit a user at the first location to adjust the digital imaging system at the second location and to identify pages of the book to be viewed. Robots may be employed to deliver the book to the book viewing station from the book storage area and to return the book from the book viewing station to the book storage area. Hard copies of the digital image of one or more pages of the book may be made at the first location.

Abstract: A manufacturing control system, having a data base storing a procedure table for managing the sequence of manufacturing processes and manufacturing conditions in industrial products to be manufactured, and for controlling a manufacturing line of industrial products on the basis of the contents of the procedure table. The system includes a modify instruction classifying unit for receiving a data modify instruction for modifying the data managed in the data base and classifying the data modify instruction by an instruction pattern. A data modifying unit searches for the data to be modified by the data modify instruction from the data base depending on the classification by said modify instruction classifying unit and automatically modifying all the data to be modified according to the data modify instruction.

Abstract: A control system for control of components in mobile hydraulic equipment, the control system being in the form of a CAN system and comprising modules controlling the components and a bus connection. A signal mirroring unit is provided via which the modules are connected to the bus connection. The signal mirroring unit reflects signals generated internally in the module back to the module and prevents the signals from appearing on the bus connection, at least during an activation phase. This allows the control system to operate disruption free.

Abstract: An electronic controller is operated according to a method which efficiently generates output signals to a relatively large number of output devices, yet which utilizes only a relatively small amount of programming code to accomplish this. The electronic controller is responsive to various input signals for generating output signals on a bus line to a plurality of latches, each of which contains a plurality of output lines which are connected to operate the output devices. The electronic controller initially inputs the number of output lines per latch contained in the electronic control system as a variable B. Then, the number of a selected output device (designated as a variable A) is divided by the number of output lines per latch B. The result of this division is expressed in the form of an integer C plus a remainder D. The integer C designates the latch which controls the operation of the selected output device, while the remainder D designates the specific selected output device within that latch.

Abstract: According to a sliding mode control method, a hyperplane for a sliding mode control process is established with a linear function having as variables a plurality of state quantities of an object to be controlled. The state quantities are converged onto the hyperplane, and also converged toward a balanced point on the hyperplane while the state quantities are being converged onto the hyperplane, thereby to control the state quantities at target state quantities represented by the balanced point. The hyperplane are variably established depending on the manner in which the state quantities are converged onto the hyperplane.

Abstract: A method for computer-aided design. The method includes the steps of representing a computer-aided design activity as a design cycle and defining a goal of the design activity. The method also includes the steps of defining alternate design steps toward achieving the goal. According to one embodiment, the design activity is represented as a graph containing the alternate design steps. According to this embodiment, a cost metric is assigned for each of the alternate design steps that includes elements representing relative costs of taking each of a plurality of paths in the graph. Element values and bounds on the cost metric are the determined by searching the graph to project costs incurred upon execution of each of the alternate design steps to achieve the goal. The cost of achieving the goal is then optimized by selecting one of the alternate design steps associated with a smallest cost metric.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the creation of a electronic domain geometric modeling data file containing internal and external features of an object of interest by first successively removing contours of material forming the object to form exposed surfaces and thereby reveal the internal and external features contour by contour and second by subsequently, successively acquiring data relative to the exposed surfaces is provided. The geometry of each exposed surface is obtained, processed and recorded after each contour is removed. The processing is converted to perimeter data to define the internal and external features and surfaces of the object and the perimeter data is combined to yield a three dimensional electronic domain representation of the object. If desired this representation can be displayed on a computer monitor or printed onto paper.

Abstract: An actuator moves a signal reproducing element based on an applied control input. An error detector detects a difference in relative position between a desired track and the signal reproducing element. A drive circuit computes the input valuable applied to the actuator based on an output from the error detector and applies it to an adder. On the other hand, the actuator simulation circuit for electrically simulating the characteristics of the actuator estimates the position of the actuator from the control input. Furthermore, a target follow-up estimator estimates a track bend based on outputs from the actuator simulation circuit and the error detector and are fed forward to the adder via a feedforward gain. The Adder applies the computed control input to the actuator. As a result, a control system which offers an improved precision over a wide band can be achieved while maintaining the stability.

Abstract: A system for generating or determining a desired height of a biped mobile robot having a body and two articulated legs each connected to the body through a hip joint and each including a knee joint, an ankle joint and a foot. In the system, body trajectory of body displacement including desired horizontal body position and orientation, except for a desired body height in the direction of gravity and leg trajectory of foot displacement including a desired position and orientation are predetermined on an off-line computer. Based on the parameters, a body height in the direction of gravity is determined by solving an equation comprised of a continuous function of the body height. Then, desired angles of said hip joints, said knee joint and said ankle joint are determined, through an inverse kinematic solution, based on said determined body trajectory, said leg trajectory and said determined desired body height.

Abstract: An improved stereolithography system for generating a three-dimensional object by creating a cross-sectional pattern of the object to be formed at a selected surface of a fluid medium capable of altering its physical state in response to appropriate synergistic stimulation by impinging radiation, particle bombardment or chemical reaction, information defining the object being specially processed to reduce curl and distortion, and increase resolution, strength, accuracy, speed and economy of reproduction even for rather difficult object shapes, the successive adjacent laminae, representing corresponding successive adjacent cross-sections of the object, being automatically formed and integrated together to provide a step-wise laminar buildup of the desired object, whereby a three-dimensional object is formed and drawn from a substantially planar surface of the fluid medium during the forming process.

Abstract: An automatic main distributing frame (MDF) apparatus for connecting and disconnecting an exchange and a user terminal includes a first-staged matrix board having a plurality of input/output lines, the input/output lines being disposed in a matrix pattern. The MDF apparatus also includes second-staged and third-staged matrix boards having a plurality of input/output lines, the input/output lines also being disposed in matrix patterns. The second-staged matrix board is disposed perpendicular to the first matrix board and the third-staged matrix board is disposed perpendicular to the second matrix board. A center board is disposed between the first-staged matrix board and the second-staged matrix board and between the second-staged matrix board and the third-staged matrix board. The center board, the first-staged matrix board, the second-staged matrix board, and the third-staged matrix board are mutually connected through connectors.

Abstract: A system and method for using evapotranspiration (ET) and/or predicted precipitation data in controlling automated and semi-automated irrigation systems. In accordance with the present invention, meteorological data is monitored and used to adjust watering schedules for an irrigation site. A central computer uses the meteorological data and ET data to compute a watering factor. The watering factor represents the difference between a reference watering schedule (which can be stored at the irrigation site) and a new watering schedule. The new watering schedule can be based on similar climatic conditions of a geographic area in which the irrigation site is located. The watering factor is then sent to the irrigation site, which uses the watering factor to modify the reference watering schedule, if appropriate.

Abstract: Maneuvers of a vehicle, in the presence of obstacles, are planned using a three-dimensional configuration space. Axes of the configuration space correspond to x and y coordinate locations of the rear differential of the vehicle and angle of the vehicle. The configuration space is filled with cost to goal and direction arrows values using an exhaustive search strategy. The direction arrows values point to a least cost path to a goal for the vehicle. The exhaustive search strategy involves searching a bow-tie shaped neighborhood of a goal state, and then a bow-tie shaped neighborhood of each state in the first neighborhood, iterating until all reachable states are searched. A precedence order is established so that states which are blocked are not searched.

Abstract: A method of sizing and distributing automotive seat covers. The method includes creating a data base of different seat configurations installed as original equipment by the manufacturer in each model of various vehicle makes and developing a minimum number of seat cover patterns with a seat cover fabricated from each pattern designated as a predetermined size and designed to fit a plurality of the different seat configurations.A selection data base is created assigning each of the seat configurations to a predetermined size of seat cover and a plurality of seat covers are fabricated in each predetermined size in an array of different colors and fabrics. A screen display is presented on a monitor portraying the various seat configurations installed as original equipment by the manufacturer and requesting a selection of one of the various seat configurations portrayed on the monitor.

Abstract: In a programmable logic controller data is exchanged between a data communication section and a sequential control section. Within the sequential control section a communication task is activated for a given period during each PLC cycle. Subsequently, inter alia a user task is activated; this user task controls a machine or a process inter alia on the basis of the data exchanged. By making the ratio of the period in which the communication task is active to that in which the user task is active adjustable, very time-critical processes with a very short response time can be controlled as well as large amounts of data can be exchanged in few PLC cycles during less time-critical phases of operation of the machine or process to be controlled.

Abstract: A system (10) is provided for monitoring services or products. The system (10) includes an interface (12, 18) which can receive criteria information (14) specifying an unacceptable level for services or products. The interface (12, 18) can also receive services or products information (20) relating to the services or products. A database (16), which is coupled to the interface (12, 18), stores the criteria information (14). A processor (22, 27) is coupled to the database (16) and the interface (12, 18). The processor (22, 27) can identify non-random patterns in a predefined danger zone in order to determine when the services or products are approaching the unacceptable level specified in the criteria information (14), thereby monitoring the services or products.