Abstract: An occupancy sensor includes a passive infrared sensor (PIR sensor) and an infrared sensor (IR sensor). The occupancy sensor is configured to confirm occupancy or non-occupancy in dependence on signals measured by both the PIR sensor and the IR sensor.

Abstract: An occupancy sensor includes a passive infrared sensor (PIR sensor) and an infrared sensor (IR sensor). The occupancy sensor is configured to confirm occupancy or non-occupancy in dependence on signals measured by both the PIR sensor and the IR sensor.

Abstract: An energy usage monitoring system includes at least one sensing device operatively connected to a building visualization/control unit. The sensing device is arranged for attachment to a window or door and includes a sensor, which is arranged to sense whether the window or door is open or closed and to sense the degree of opening of the window or door, and wireless communication device for transmitting a signal dependent on the sensor output. The sensor includes an accelerometer and/or a gyroscope.

Abstract: A monitoring unit having at least one interface to receive information from at least one device to be monitored, the monitoring unit further having a data transmitter operable wirelessly to communicate information relating to the at least one device to a remote server, accessible by a user remote from the server.

Abstract: A robot manufacturing facility, for example for use in automobile manufacture, includes at least one robot for acting on a workpiece or intermediate product of a pre-calculated shape and dimensions at a pre-calculated position and orientation relative to a reference frame. The robot includes a body or base structure, at least one end effector movable with respect to the body or base structure for acting on workpieces, means for moving the end effector and sensing means for sensing the position of the each effector. The sensing means preferably includes a laser light source carried by the robot and means for detecting laser light, from said source, reflected from the workpiece. The movement of the end effector is controlled according to a predetermined program, modified in accordance with signals from the sending means, so that the robot is able to compensate for departures from pre-calculated values of the position and orientation and/or shape and/or dimensions of the workpiece.

Abstract: A method of programming a robot for operation in a robot manufacturing facility, for example for automobile manufacture, comprises firstly, establishing sets of design data including data relating to dimensions and relative positions of parts of a robot, positions of a robot base and of product handling and transporting equipment in a manufacturing cell and design data relating to dimensions and positions of parts of the proposed product, and secondly establishing a robot program by processing that data. The robot program established comprises data and instructions for movement of defined parts of the robot for manufacturing or assembly tasks to be carried out by the robot in that manufacturing cell. The method further comprises, thirdly, operating a virtual model of the robot in a virtual model of the manufacturing cell to check operability and fourthly, after such adjustment as may be necessary to secure operability at the virtual level, operating the corresponding real robot in the corresponding real cell.

Abstract: A method of is disclosed of checking the feasibility or other properties of a process involving movement and/or assembly of items or components. The method comprises setting up, within a computer, in terms of corresponding sets of data, a virtual three-dimensional space and, in such space, virtual versions of the items or components concerned, represented by corresponding sets of data, and operating a program in the computer so as to manipulate the virtual items or components in that virtual space. The method makes it possible to determine, by operation of the computer, potential difficulties in manipulating corresponding real items or components in real space.