Abstract: Manufacturing processes profit greatly from a close collaboration between human and machine. Whereas a human behaves flexibly and adaptively but is inclined to make mistakes during repetitive work operations, machines operate quickly and exactly but are static and not very flexible. In order to enable an improved hazard protection in the context of a safe human-machine interaction, a spatial- and time-dependent variable degree of hazard is allocated to monitored spatial areas as a function of the current position and the current movement state of a machine or a machine element, as well as of the observed person. For this purpose, a multicamera system is used to acquire image data of the person in order to obtain the most detailed information possible about the position and alignment of a person, in particular also with reference to the body parts thereof, in an industrial environment.

Abstract: In modern industrial robots which move at considerable speeds, collisions generally cause serious damage to the robots and the collision objects. This can lead to injuries and expensive production stoppages. In a method for collision-free interaction between a machine having mobile machine elements and objects in its vicinity, safety regions are established and monitored using the knowledge of the current position and the dynamic behavior. In particular, image data of the mobile machine element are recorded by means of an image acquisition system and are correlated with a database, which has been compiled in a training phase with image data of at least one mobile machine element. The database contains image data relating to a plurality of movement phases within the movement process of the machine.

Abstract: Passive methods for three-dimensional reconstruction of a scene by means of image data are generally based on the determination of spatial correspondences between a number of images of the scene recorded from various directions and distances. A method and a device are disclosed which provide a high reliability in the solution of the correspondence problem in conjunction with a low computational outlay. Image areas for determining the correspondences are determined within a plurality of images forming at least two image sequences. In preferred embodiments, a parameterized function h(u,v,t) is matched to each of the image areas in a space R(uvgt) defined by pixel position (u, v), image value g and time t. The parameters of the parameterized functions are used to form a similarity measure between the image areas.

Abstract: A method for reconstructing the profile of structures on surfaces. According to said method, at least two images of the same area of the surface that is to be analyzed are evaluated, said images being recorded from a nearly vertical perspective, for example, and the surface being illuminated from different directions at a flat angle thereto. Elevations or depressions on the surface thus cast a distinct shadow in the recorded images, the position of which varies according to the incident light. Inclined areas can be identified by means of a brighter reflection. The vertical profile of a structure on the surface can be determined, and the shape of a fin can hence be reconstructed, for example, by analyzing shadow contours and outlines of bright areas. Even flat inclination changes can be determined by integrating the shape-from-shading process so as to evaluate brightness patterns such that a 3D reconstruction of the surface can be obtained, which matches the original well.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for planning demand for a configurable product in a managed supply chain. In one implement, a method is provided in which the configurable product has a product dependent characteristic and a product independent characteristic. A data storage system may store data with respect to a plurality of product independent characteristics and product dependent characteristics. A selection of a product to be represented and a particular characteristic to be represented are received. A planning parameter is also selected. Data is loaded from the data storage system into a buffer. A calculation is performed on the data with respect to the product dependent characteristics and the product independent characteristics. A hierarchy of the represented data is modeled in accordance with the planning parameter and used to administer the buffered data.

Abstract: The invention relates to a camera for generating digital images with an image sensor that is configured to convert an image formed by a lens into electronic signals. The digital camera is characterized by that the image sensor is attached to a movement element with a controllable drive, the movement element rendering the image sensor tiltable so that an angle between the axis of the lens and a plane of the image sensor is modifiable.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of automatically modelling a relationship between a configurable product and a plurality of components of the configurable product as a bill of materials, wherein the configurable product and the plurality of components are related to one another by a plurality of selection conditions. The method comprising: providing a processor device; generating in demand planning a plurality of characteristic value combinations representing the plurality of selection conditions, modelling the bill of materials using the characteristic value combinations, and using the bill of material to control the supply of the product.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of modelling a bill of materials for a configurable product in a managed supply chain and a modeller apparatus for modelling a bill of materials for a configurable product in a managed supply chain. The method comprises: storing data relating to the product, wherein the data includes at least one product characteristic specifying a plurality of component products of the product and an additional characteristic specifying a selection condition relating to the at least one product characteristic, combining the at least one product characteristic and the additional characteristic to generate a characteristic value combination, using the characteristic value combination to model the bill of materials, and using the bill of materials to control the supply of the product. The invention further relates to a computer system, a user terminal and a program storage device readable by a processing apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of automatically modelling a relationship between a configurable product and a plurality of components of the configurable product as a bill of materials, wherein the configurable product and the plurality of components are related to one another by a plurality of selection conditions. The method comprising: providing a processor device; generating in demand planning a plurality of characteristic value combinations representing the plurality of selection conditions, modelling the bill of materials using the characteristic value combinations, and using the bill of material to control the supply of the product.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of modelling a bill of materials for a configurable product in a managed supply chain and a modeller apparatus for modelling a bill of materials for a configurable product in a managed supply chain. The method comprises: storing data relating to the product, wherein the data includes at least one product characteristic specifying a plurality of component products of the product and an additional characteristic specifying a selection condition relating to the at least one product characteristic, combining the at least one product characteristic and the additional characteristic to generate a characteristic value combination, using the characteristic value combination to model the bill of materials, and using the bill of materials to control the supply of the product. The invention further relates to a computer system, a user terminal and a program storage device readable by a processing apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of performing an availability check for a product to determine whether the product is available for a customer at a predetermined time. The method comprises providing a processor device; storing an original forecast for a period of time up to and including the predetermined time; determining a time integrated forecast value for the original forecast; using the time integrated forecast values in the availability check.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of generating a demand plan for a configurable product in a managed supply chain using a computer, wherein the product comprises an assembled component. The method comprising: providing a processor device; accessing master data in a primary profile planning table for the configurable product, wherein the table includes data relating to the product, accessing master data in a secondary profile planning table for an assembled component of the configurable product including a header characteristic identifying the configurable product of which the assembled component is a component and data relating to the assembled component, processing the data in the primary profile planning table and the secondary profile planning table to generate transactional data as the demand plan taking into account the assembled component and controlling the supply of the product in accordance with the demand plan.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for planning demand of products, such as configurable products. In one embodiment, a method is provided for planning demand for a configurable product in a managed supply chain. In another embodiment, a demand planner is provided for planning demand for a configurable product in a managed supply chain. The method may comprise the steps of: storing master data defining a set of characteristic value combinations relating to the product dependent characteristics of each product; inputting transactional data defining a demand plan with respect to a product or component; specifying at least one product dependent characteristic of one or more products for which an additional characteristic value is to be assigned; automatically generating the additional characteristic value identifying the specified characteristics; and storing the additional characteristic value to the characteristic value combinations in the master data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for planning demand of a product, such as a configurable product. In one embodiment, a method is provided for planning demand for a configurable product in a managed supply chain. In another embodiment, a demand planner is provided for planning demand for a configurable product in a managed supply chain.

Abstract: A process for the processing of signals by which signal S is optimally verified for association with objects of a desired class Zk (wherein (with 1<=k<=number of different classes) and differentiated from undesired objects. One or more classes ZA of undesired objects, and beyond this, as an additional class, a rejection class R is defined, to which all signals are assigned which are not clearly assignable to one of classes Zk or ZA. Herein the decision criteria under which a signal S is assigned to the reject class R is the comparison of the output value Preject with the adjustable threshold value t, which is provided by a classification algorithm.

Abstract: A method for improving the definition of a digital image whose pixels are memorized light intensity values which are arranged in rows and columns in the form of a starting matrix Axy. A matrix section Aij is enlarged by reflection and subjected to a fast Fourier transform. The transformed matrix Bij is converted by elementary multiplication with an aberration correction matrix Cij to give a correct transformed matrix B′ij. This is transformed back into an intensity matrix A′ij from which a core section is set to a corrected intensity matrix A′xy. Following this, one matrix section after another is stagger-processed until a completely corrected intensity matrix A′xy has been obtained. The correcting function can be determined in different ways, in particular from an MFT of the imaging lens.