Abstract: The invention relates to a method of monitoring a wear of a gearbox in a power station, such as a windmill, water-wheel or tidal power station, the gearbox comprising at least two shafts, cogwheels and bearings as components of the gearbox. The method comprises sensing an angular position at the shafts by a rotational shaft encoder and monitoring the wear of the transmission-unit according to differences of the sensed angular positions and generating a condition signal representative of the wear of the gearbox according to the monitored differences. The monitoring comprises an additional sensing of at least one additional degree of freedom, in particular an axial and/or eccentric displacement, of at least one of the shafts caused by wear of at least one of the components of the gearbox, and generating the condition signal according to the displacement and differences in the at least two degrees of freedom.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the position of a hand-held power tool on a wall including measuring distances within a plane perpendicular to a tooling axis in at least two directions, comprising at least the direction to one side wall and the direction to the floor or the ceiling. At least one non-contact measurement sensor module measures distances in a multitude of angles in an angular range of at least 1° around the at least two directions. From the distance sequence measured by the at least one measurement sensor module a calculation and storing unit automatically calculates a function, wherein extrema represent shortest distances to walls, floor and/or ceiling adjacent to the wall. From said function the calculation and storing unit deduces the shortest distances, and output means provide information about the shortest distances so as to allow positioning relative to the shortest distances.

Abstract: A coordinate measurement machine with a first frame element, a second frame element, a linear drive unit with a motor for moving the second frame element relative to the first frame element and a position measurement instrument, for determining a drive position of the second frame element relative to the first frame element. The drive unit has limited stiffness and dynamic deflections on movement. The machine comprises a mechanical coupler from the drive unit to the second frame element, which coupler comprises a first part fixed to the drive unit and a second part fixed to the second frame element, which parts are movable relative to each other by an active compensation actuator. The active compensation actuator is built in such a way to shift the second frame element against the drive unit to introduce a counter-displacement in such a way that the dynamic deflections are at least partially compensated.

Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine for determination of at least one spatial coordinate of a measurement point on an object to be measured. The coordinate measuring machine comprises a stationary base, a probe head for approaching the measurement point and a frame structure for linking the probe head to the base. At least a first mechanical reference element extending along a first part of the frame structure is fastened fixedly to the frame structure in a substantially unloaded way, and at least one displacement sensor is assigned to the first reference element, wherein the first reference element and the displacement sensor are designed and arranged in such a way, that a distance from the first reference element to the frame structure in the region of the first part is measurable, the distance indicating a displacement and/or deformation of the frame structure in the region of the first part.

Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine for determination of at least one spatial coordinate of a measurement point on an object to be measured. The coordinate measuring machine comprises a stationary base, a probe head for approaching the measurement point and a frame structure for linking the probe head to the base. A first reference path is provided by an optical reference beam, wherein the reference beam extends along a guide of a linear drive mechanism so that the reference path is parallel to a first direction. Furthermore, at least one displacement sensor is assigned to the reference beam, the reference beam and the displacement sensor being designed and arranged in such a way, that a displacement of the movable member of the linear drive mechanism relative to the first reference path is measurable being indicative of a translational and/or rotational displacement of the movable member from its ordinary bearing position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for marking or processing a surface at a predeterminable position, comprising: a marking or processing tool that is operable by hand; a manually operable articulated arm with at least two arm parts that are pivotably connected by a joint; a fitting at one end of the arm for releasably mounting the tool; and a sensor for measuring a setting of the joint; and a position indication unit for computing and indicating a position for the tool using the output signal of the sensor. The invention further relates to a tool and an articulated arm for the device for marking or processing a surface.

Abstract: A method and a device for the accurate measurement of objects, where, according to the invention, a camera (4) is arranged on a manually operated portable jointed arm (1) in order to take two-dimensional images of the object that is to be measured and where the measurements are carried out based on the two-dimensional images taken with the camera (4) and based on the displacements that are carried out by the jointed arm (1) during the measurements.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for guiding a mobile transportation means of a set of transportation means to a selected reconditioning station of a set of reconditioning stations, comprising determining a position of the battery, determining a condition of the battery, forecasting a consumption characteristic of the transportation means, evaluating an achievable range of mobility of the transportation means, assigning the selected reconditioning station of the set of reconditioning stations, which is located within the range of mobility of the transportation means along a path to a desired target and guiding the transportation means to the selected reconditioning station, an optimization of the assignment and/or the path is executed by a search algorithm for assigning the set of transportation means to the set of reconditioning stations and batteries, based on actual and/or forecasted information about multiple entities of the sets of transportation means, stations and batteries as well as their conditions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for the high-precision positioning of at least one object in a final location in space. An object (12) is gripped and held by the industrial robot (11) within a gripping tolerance. A compensating variable, which corrects the gripping tolerance, is determined for the industrial robot (11).

Abstract: A modular calibration method for a CMM, comprising preliminary calibration steps of several components prior to its mounting. The preliminary calibration steps yield specific mapping information for each calibrated component, which are then stored into map files generated and associated to the calibrated components. A final alignment takes place after once the CMM is mounted, which processes mapping information gathered during the preliminary calibration steps.

Abstract: Noncontact coordinate measurement. With a 3D image recording unit, a first three-dimensional image of a first area section of the object surface is electronically recorded in a first position and first orientation, the first three-dimensional image being composed of a multiplicity of first pixels, with which in each case a piece of depth information is coordinated. First 3D image coordinates in an image coordinate system are coordinated with the first pixels. The first position and first orientation of the 3D image recording unit in the object coordinate system are determined by a measuring apparatus coupled to the object coordinate system by means of an optical reference stereocamera measuring system. First 3D object coordinates in the object coordinate system are coordinated with the first pixels from the knowledge of the first 3D image coordinates and of the first position and first orientation of the 3D image recording unit.

Abstract: A graphical application system, with a surface spattering device, with at least one nozzle for expelling a spattering material onto a target surface, a nozzle control mechanism controls expelling of the nozzle. A spatial referencing unit references the spattering device in space and a computation means automatically controls the nozzle according to information from the spatial referencing unit and according to predefined desired spattering data as a digital image or a CAD-model of a desired pattern to be spattered onto the target surface. A communication means for establishing a communication link from the spatial referencing unit to the computation means to supply the position and orientation to the computation means. The spatial referencing unit is located remote from the spattering device and comprises at least two optical 2D cameras arranged with a stereobasis, for determining the position and orientation of images taken by the cameras.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a surveying system for noncontact coordinate measurement on the object surface of an object to be surveyed in an object coordinate system. With a 3D image recording unit, a first three-dimensional image of a first area section of the object surface is electronically recorded in a first position and first orientation, the first three-dimensional image being composed of a multiplicity of first pixels, with which in each case a piece of depth information is coordinated. The first position and first orientation of the 3D image recording unit in the object coordinate system are determined by a measuring apparatus coupled to the object coordinate system. First 3D object coordinates in the object coordinate system are coordinated with the first pixels from the knowledge of the first 3D image coordinates and of the first position and first orientation of the 3D image recording unit.

Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine for determination of at least one spatial coordinate of a measurement point on an object to be measured. The coordinate measuring machine comprises a stationary base, a probe head for approaching the measurement point and a frame structure for linking the probe head to the base. A first reference path is provided by an optical reference beam, wherein the reference beam extends along a guide of a linear drive mechanism so that the reference path is parallel to a first direction. Furthermore, at least one displacement sensor is assigned to the reference beam, the reference beam and the displacement sensor being designed and arranged in such a way, that a displacement of the movable member of the linear drive mechanism relative to the first reference path is measurable being indicative of a translational and/or rotational displacement of the movable member from its ordinary bearing position.

Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine for determination of at least one spatial coordinate of a measurement point on an object to be measured. The coordinate measuring machine comprises a stationary base, a probe head for approaching the measurement point and a frame structure for linking the probe head to the base. At least a first mechanical reference element extending along a first part of the frame structure is fastened fixedly to the frame structure in a substantially unloaded way, and at least one displacement sensor is assigned to the first reference element, wherein the first reference element and the displacement sensor are designed and arranged in such a way, that a distance from the first reference element to the frame structure in the region of the first part is measurable, the distance indicating a displacement and/or deformation of the frame structure in the region of the first part.

Abstract: An object is highly precisely moved by an industrial robot to an end position by the following steps, which are repeated until the end position is reached within a specified tolerance: Recording a three-dimensional image by means of a 3-D image recording device. Determining the present position of the object in the spatial coordinate system from the position of the 3-D image recording device the angular orientation of the 3-D image recording device detected by an angle measuring unit, the three-dimensional image, and the knowledge of features on the object. Calculating the position difference between the present position of the object and the end position. Calculating a new target position of the industrial robot while taking into consideration the compensation value from the present position of the industrial robot and a value linked to the position difference. Moving the industrial robot to the new target position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coordinate measuring machine comprising a stationary base, a probe head, at least one linear drive mechanism for moving in a first direction, the linear drive mechanism having a linear guide and a movable member being supported for movement along the guide by bearings. The linear drive mechanism further comprises at least a first pre-calibrated integral sensor-package having at least two displacement sensors each for measuring a distance from the movable member to the guide in a direction being non-parallel with respect to the first direction, wherein the sensed distances indicate a translational displacement of the movable member from an ordinary bearing position in a direction perpendicular to the first direction and a rotational displacement of the movable member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a surveying system for noncontact coordinate measurement on the object surface of an object to be surveyed in an object coordinate system. With a 3D image recording unit, a first three-dimensional image of a first area section of the object surface is electronically recorded in a first position and first orientation, the first three-dimensional image being composed of a multiplicity of first pixels, with which in each case a piece of depth information is coordinated. The first position and first orientation of the 3D image recording unit in the object coordinate system are determined by a measuring apparatus coupled to the object coordinate system. First 3D object coordinates in the object coordinate system are coordinated with the first pixels from the knowledge of the first 3D image coordinates and of the first position and first orientation of the 3D image recording unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a surveying system for noncontact coordinate measurement on the object surface (2) of an object (1) to be surveyed in an object coordinate system (O). With a 3D image recording unit (3), a first three-dimensional image (P1) of a first area section (S1) of the object surface (2) is electronically recorded in a first position (x1, y1, z1) and first orientation (?1, ?1, ?1), the first three-dimensional image (P1) being composed of a multiplicity of first pixels (i1), with which in each case a piece of depth information is coordinated. First 3D image coordinates (u1i, v1i, w1i) in an image coordinate system (B) of the 3D image recording unit (3) are coordinated with the first pixels (i1). The first position (x1, y1, z1) and first orientation (100 1, ?1, ?1) of the 3D image recording unit (3) in the object coordinate system (O) are determined by a measuring apparatus (4a, 4b) coupled to the object coordinate system (O).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for marking or processing a surface at a predeterminable position, comprising: a marking or processing tool that is operable by hand; a manually operable articulated arm with at least two arm parts that are pivotably connected by a joint; a fitting at one end of the arm for releasably mounting the tool; and a sensor for measuring a setting of the joint; and a position indication unit for computing and indicating a position for the tool using the output signal of the sensor. The invention further relates to a tool and an articulated arm for the device for marking or processing a surface.