Abstract: A method for virtual machining and inspection of a three-dimensional virtual workpiece representative of an actual workpiece comprising: creating a three-dimensional tool model; defining a tool path through the virtual workpiece; creating a plurality of two-dimensional slices from the three-dimensional tool model; and passing each of said plurality of two-dimensional slices along the tool path and through the virtual workpiece; wherein material from the virtual workpiece coming into contact with each of said plurality of two-dimensional slices passed there through is subtracted from the virtual workpiece; and conducting a virtual inspection of the virtual work piece.

Abstract: An error signal is obtained from a reference value and a value indicating a detected state in machining, a first controlled variable is obtained by adding a value obtained by multiplying the error signal by a proportion gain to a value obtained by multiplying the error signal by a first integration gain, a second controlled variable is obtained by multiplying an instruction value by a second integration gain for integration, and a value obtained by adding the first controlled variable to the second controlled variable and multiplying the sum by a machining trajectory vector is used as a controlled variable for a driving unit for adjusting a distance between an electrode and a workpiece in discharge machining. Therefore, it is possible to realize a discharge machining control method and apparatus in which the machining speed can be improved by always maintaining the discharge machining process in an optimal state.

Abstract: A system for controlling locomotion of a legged mobile robot walking in a working space. The system is provided with optical detects which are disposed in a line array at the both sides of a foot member of the robot. On the other hand, a landmark is provided in the working space. The landmark comprises of a line or an arc which divides the space into two regions with different attributes, i.e. different in brightness. The optical detectors generate different signals depending on the brightness. With the generated signals, a relative position of the robot to the landmark is detected. Moreover, when the landmark is an arc, its center is located in line with a work for the robot. a relative direction of the robot to the landmark or the work is detected. Based on the detection, locomotion of the robot is controlled in such a manner that the robot can stably ascend/descent stairs or spiral staircases.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the distribution of computer software products stored at a file server provide for requesting the identity of the user and the user's secret key prior to enabling access to a requested program product. The program product, upon proper verification of the user identify, is encoded using a second key which is known to the user, and preferably an identification of the user is embedded in the encoding program. Various methods are employed for tracking user access to particular programs, including storing the identify of the user either camouflaged in a commonly found program in non-volatile memory or hidden in a typically overlooked portion of non-volatile memory. In addition, the encoded program can have embedded therein one, and preferably two identifications of the user which can be used to track the program as well as to ensure that the program, when executed has not been tampered with.

Abstract: A data processing system comprises a plurality of processing elements being operative to process data and being coupled in parallel to a bus via a control means that governs data communication. The control means comprises a plurality of buffer means, and each respective one of the buffer means includes a respective plurality of parallel buffer segments. The control means is operative to selectively connect a single one of the buffer segments in respective ones of the buffer means to respective ones of the processing elements. This effectively permits distributing of the data in an arbitrary manner over the elements by the sorting the data in advance in the segments according to destination. The system is highly suitable to handle video and graphics data in image synthesis.

Abstract: Elongated thin strip stock is blanked to form interlocking laminas for electric motor or generator rotors or stators at successive blanking stations. At a final assembly station the laminas are stacked and pressed into interlocking relationship. In response to an operator input a predetermined number of reversals, or half turns about the stack axis of the previously stacked lamina are provided in order to compensate for nonuniform strip thickness to obtain a rotor or stator of substantially uniform height. Alternatively the thickness of the strip stock is gauged at transversely spaced points on the strip to determine cross feed thickness variation in the strip whereupon the stacked laminas are automatically provided with a number of reversals about the stack axis in response to a thickness differential that would result in a parallelism error in the stack that exceeds a predetermined amount.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for controlling transport of racks in a manufacturing line which includes a series of processes and has buffers associated with the respective processes for temporarily keeping racks carrying semimanufactured articles to be transported to the respective processes. The apparatus includes a host computer having a memory and being in communication with the processes and with the buffers, and a carry-out request table stored in the memory for recording rack carry-out requests from the processes. The host computer includes request monitoring means for monitoring the carry-out request table. The request monitoring means operates in response to detection of a carry-out request to output a transport command to transport a rack corresponding to the carry-out request to a next process only when the number of racks kept in a buffer associated with a second next process of the rack is smaller than a predetermined value.