Abstract: A robot comprises at least one articulate arm having members including a base, an end effector and a plurality of links, wherein each link is movably connected to two others of said members by respective joints, at least one sensor for detecting an external force acting on any one of the members, and a controller for controlling movements of the joints, so as to move the end effector along a pre-programmed path. In case of the sensor detecting an external force, the controller is adapted to adopt a first release strategy for escaping from the external force, to evaluate whether the first strategy is successful, and if not, to adopt a second release strategy.

Abstract: A defect detection system identifies defects in weld seams. An exemplary system includes a scanner device, mounted on a displacement device of a processing unit and which can be displaced by the unit over at least one weld seam that is to be examined. The scanner unit scans the weld seam using a predefinable frequency, each scanning sweep being correlated with a time signal. The time signal is used to record the point in time when at least one location containing defects is scanned. An analysis module determines the co-ordinates of the defects from the signals that are obtained by the scanning sweeps and stores the co-ordinates of the defects and transmits them to a localisation module. The localisation module determines the spatial arrangement of the defects of the weld seam by evaluating a speed profile of the displacement device during the scanning sweeps, the time signal and the co-ordinates.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for protection of a machine-controlled handling appliance having moving parts, having a safety sensor system for detection of objects in the working area of the handling appliance, having a safety controller which interacts with the handling appliance controller and in the process controls safety-relevant handling appliance functions as a function of signals from the safety sensor system. The safety sensor system has non-contacting proximity sensors so that a safety-relevant part of the working area of the handling appliance is covered by the detection areas of the proximity sensors.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for controlling a robot, with a robot control unit, and with a robot sensor such as a digital camera, which can be fitted on the robot and whose output signals can be supplied to an image recording unit. The output signals from the image recording unit connected to the camera can be supplied to an image processing device which is connected to the image recording unit. A coordinate transformation device is provided, in which the signals originating from the image processing unit and the robot control unit are processed and transformed into robot control signals, and the signals can be supplied back to the robot control unit.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a defect detection system for identifying defects in weld seams. An exemplary system comprises a scanner device, which is mounted on a displacement device of a processing unit and which can be displaced by said unit over at least one weld seam that is to be examined. The scanner unit scans the weld seam using a predefinable frequency, each scanning sweep being correlated with a time signal and the time signal being used to record the point in time when at least one location containing defects is scanned. The system is equipped with an analysis module to determine the co-ordinates of the defects from the signals that are obtained by means of the scanning sweeps. The analysis module also stores the co-ordinates of the defects and transmits them to a localisation module.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for protection of a machine-controlled handling appliance having moving parts, having a safety sensor system for detection of objects in the working area of the handling appliance, having a safety controller which interacts with the handling appliance controller and in the process controls safety-relevant handling appliance functions as a function of signals from the safety sensor system. The safety sensor system has non-contacting proximity sensors so that a safety-relevant part of the working area of the handling appliance is covered by the detection areas of the proximity sensors.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasonic standing-wave atomizer arrangement 10, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 for producing a paint spray mist for painting a workpiece, with a sonotrode 12, 48 and with a component 14, 46 arranged lying opposite the sonotrode 12, 48. A standing ultrasonic field is formed in the intermediate space between the sonotrode 12, 48 and the component 14 in the case of operation. A paint-feeding device 29, by means of which paint can be fed into the vicinity of a maximum of the sound particle velocity of the ultrasonic field, is provided. The paint-feeding device has in the region of the standing ultrasonic field at least two pieces of pipe 30, 31, 32; 42, 43, 44 for discharging paint, at least two of the pieces of pipe 30, 31, 32; 42, 43, 44 being arranged in the region of a selected maximum of the sound particle velocity of the standing ultrasonic field.