Abstract: A robotic system and method includes at least one robot actively or passively mobile between at least first and second locations, and a first safety configuration being defined at least for said first location. A first data carrier associated to the first safety configuration is located in said first location, and the robot comprises a reader adapted to read the first data carrier when the robot is in said first location.

Abstract: A safety network for supporting one or more devices in intermittent use, the safety network being susceptible of verification and/or validation as a safety loop and including a safety controller configured to assess the integrity of the safety network, and monitor safety sensors and cause safety actuators to respond to any detected safety events in accordance with safety rules. The safety network implements safety representatives, each configured to maintain a virtual representation of an associated device in intermittent use, including at least one virtual safety sensor and/or virtual safety actuator, make the virtual representation available for integrity assessment and monitoring by the safety controller, and perform wireless data synchronization between the virtual representation and the associated device.

Abstract: A robotic system includes: at least one robot; a robot controller for controlling an operation of the at least one robot; a robot sensor system with at least one robot sensor, the robot sensor system being coupled to the robot controller to detect a presence of an object in a robot safety zone, which robot safety zone at least partially surrounds the at least one robot; and at least one automated vehicle for supplying the at least one robot. The at least one vehicle has at least one vehicle sensor for detecting a presence of an object in a vehicle safety zone, which vehicle safety zone at least partially surrounds the at least one vehicle. The robot controller determines an entry of the at least one vehicle into the robot safety zone. The robot controller adjusts at least a part of the robot safety zone.

Abstract: A robot system includes a robot, the robot including a base and an end effector that is movable relative to the base; and a processing target, the processing target being approachable by the end effector along at least one preferred direction; wherein the processing target is mounted movably relative to the base at least temporarily and at least in the preferred direction.

Abstract: A system and method for testing the padding of a robotic manipulator includes at least one sensor; a processing unit; and an output unit. The at least one sensor is configured to acquire sensor data of a robotic manipulator. The at least one sensor is configured to provide the sensor data to the processing unit. The processing unit is configured to determine information relating to padding applied to the robotic manipulator, wherein the determination comprises a comparison of the sensor data with reference data. The output unit is configured to output the information relating to the padding applied to the robotic manipulator.

Abstract: A method for controlling a robot includes the steps of: deciding whether there is a non-permanent object in a vicinity of the robot; if there is a non-permanent object, deciding whether the object qualifies for extended protection or not; and defining a safety zone around the object which the robot must not enter or in which a maximum allowed speed of the robot is less than outside the safety zone. The safety zone extends to a greater distance from the object if the object qualifies for extended protection than if it does not.

Abstract: A robotic system and method includes at least one robot actively or passively mobile between at least first and second locations, and a first safety configuration being defined at least for said first location. A first data carrier associated to the first safety configuration is located in said first location, and the robot comprises a reader adapted to read the first data carrier when the robot is in said first location.

Abstract: A method for estimating a wrench acting on a reference point of a robot includes the steps of: a) measuring at least one component, but not all components, of the wrench; and b) estimating non-measured components of the wrench based on a dynamical model of the robot while taking into account the measured components.

Abstract: A robotic system includes: at least one robot; a robot controller for controlling an operation of the at least one robot; a robot sensor system with at least one robot sensor, the robot sensor system being coupled to the robot controller to detect a presence of an object in a robot safety zone, which robot safety zone at least partially surrounds the at least one robot; and at least one automated vehicle for supplying the at least one robot. The at least one vehicle has at least one vehicle sensor for detecting a presence of an object in a vehicle safety zone, which vehicle safety zone at least partially surrounds the at least one vehicle. The robot controller determines an entry of the at least one vehicle into the robot safety zone. The robot controller adjusts at least a part of the robot safety zone.

Abstract: A method for estimating a wrench acting on a reference point of a robot includes the steps of: a) measuring at least one component, but not all components, of the wrench; and b) estimating non-measured components of the wrench based on a dynamical model of the robot while taking into account the measured components.

Abstract: A robot system includes: a robot arm having a plurality of links and joints by which one of the links is connected to another; sensors for determining, for any one of the joints, an angular velocity of the joint and a torque to which the joint is subject; a neural network connected to the sensors, the neural network receiving therefrom angular velocity and torque data, the neural network being trained to distinguish, based on the angular velocity and torque data, between a normal operation condition of the robot arm, a condition in which the robot arm collides with an outside object, and a condition where a person deliberately interacts with the robot arm; and a controller for controlling motion of the robot arm, a mode of operation of which is variable depending on an operation condition signal output by the neural network. One operation mode is a leadthrough mode.

Abstract: A method of determining a joint torque in a joint of an articulated industrial robot, the robot having a first arm and a second arm which are coupled to each other by the joint and which are movable relative to each other by an electric drive unit coupled to the first and second arm, includes: controlling the electric drive unit by an electronic control device; assigning a measuring device to the electric drive unit, the measuring device measuring an electric current supplied to the drive unit; determining an actual value of the torque which is applied to the second arm from the measured electric current; and comparing, using the electronic control device, the determined actual torque value with a predetermined desired torque value for the joint.

Abstract: A distance measuring system includes: at least one emitter, which emits a frequency-variable scanning signal; at least one receiver; and an analysis unit for computing a distance to an object reflecting the scanning signal on the basis of a difference between the frequencies of the emitted and the received scanning signal. The rate of change of the frequency of the scanning signal in a first operating mode of the distance measuring system has a first finite value. The rate of change of the frequency in a second operating mode has a second finite value. The analysis unit is configured to compute a first distance on the basis of a frequency difference ascertained in the first operating mode, to compute a second distance on the basis of a frequency difference ascertained in the second operating mode, and to evaluate the correspondence between first and second computed distance.

Abstract: A method for controlling a robot includes the steps of: deciding whether there is a non-permanent object in a vicinity of the robot; if there is a non-permanent object, deciding whether the object qualifies for extended protection or not; and defining a safety zone around the object which the robot must not enter or in which a maximum allowed speed of the robot is less than outside the safety zone. The safety zone extends to a greater distance from the object if the object qualifies for extended protection than if it does not.

Abstract: A method of determining a joint torque in a joint of an articulated industrial robot, the robot having a first arm and a second arm which are coupled to each other by the joint and which are movable relative to each other by an electric drive unit coupled to the first and second arm, includes: controlling the electric drive unit by an electronic control device; assigning a measuring device to the electric drive unit, the measuring device measuring an electric current supplied to the drive unit; determining an actual value of the torque which is applied to the second arm from the measured electric current; and comparing, using the electronic control device, the determined actual torque value with a predetermined desired torque value for the joint.

Abstract: A safety control system has a control unit with safety control logic, a safety sensor arrangement, a machine arrangement operable in different operation modes, each operation mode having a different productivity, the control unit receiving and evaluating input from the safety sensor arrangement, and, in reaction to evaluation result(s), activating an operation mode determined by the safety control logic, the safety sensor arrangement having at least two functionally redundant subsystems, control unit input including information indicating availability of the functionally redundant subsystems, the control logic being configured to activate normal operation mode with normal productivity if input indicates availability of all subsystems, activate fail-stop operation mode with zero productivity if input indicates unavailability of all subsystems, activate fail-operate operation mode with productivity less than normal but above zero if input indicates at least temporary unavailability of at least one and availabil

Abstract: A distance measuring system includes: at least one emitter, which emits a frequency-variable scanning signal; at least one receiver; and an analysis unit for computing a distance to an object reflecting the scanning signal on the basis of a difference between the frequencies of the emitted and the received scanning signal. The rate of change of the frequency of the scanning signal in a first operating mode of the distance measuring system has a first finite value. The rate of change of the frequency in a second operating mode has a second finite value. The analysis unit is configured to compute a first distance on the basis of a frequency difference ascertained in the first operating mode, to compute a second distance on the basis of a frequency difference ascertained in the second operating mode, and to evaluate the correspondence between first and second computed distance.

Abstract: A robot system, and method for controlling it, for collaborative robot applications has a movable robot arm and a controller, wherein the controller is provided to control the movement of the distal end of the robot arm along a movement path according to at least a sequence of coordinate data and respective commands of a robot program and wherein the controller is provided to determine exact movement speed and course of the movement path between consecutive coordinates according to a set of parameters. At least two alternatively selectable sets of parameters are provided which both are related to a respective individual comfort level of a respective collaborative human worker.

Abstract: A safety control system has a control unit with safety control logic, a safety sensor arrangement, a machine arrangement operable in different operation modes, each operation mode having a different productivity, the control unit receiving and evaluating input from the safety sensor arrangement, and, in reaction to evaluation result(s), activating an operation mode determined by the safety control logic, the safety sensor arrangement having at least two functionally redundant subsystems, control unit input including information indicating availability of the functionally redundant subsystems, the control logic being configured to activate normal operation mode with normal productivity if input indicates availability of all subsystems, activate fail-stop operation mode with zero productivity if input indicates unavailability of all subsystems, activate fail-operate operation mode with productivity less than normal but above zero if input indicates at least temporary unavailability of at least one and availabil

Abstract: A robot system, and method for controlling it, for collaborative robot applications has a movable robot arm and a controller, wherein the controller is provided to control the movement of the distal end of the robot arm along a movement path according to at least a sequence of coordinate data and respective commands of a robot program and wherein the controller is provided to determine exact movement speed and course of the movement path between consecutive coordinates according to a set of parameters. At least two alternatively selectable sets of parameters are provided which both are related to a respective individual comfort level of a respective collaborative human worker.