Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program for controlling propulsion of marine vessel. The propulsion is implemented by a foil wheel propulsion system. The method includes: receiving a wheel operation status from a wheel drive; receiving a plurality of foil operation statuses from a plurality of foil drives; receiving a command from a vessel control system; generating wheel control data for the wheel drive to control a foil pitch function of the foil wheel propulsion system based on the command in view of the wheel operation status; and generating foil control data for the plurality of the foil drives to further control the foil pitch function of the foil wheel propulsion system based on the command in view of the wheel operation status and the plurality of foil operation statuses, wherein a reference torque of the foil control data for each foil drive is generated using a foil feedforward model.

Abstract: A drive arrangement for a cycloidal marine propulsion unit including at least two electrical blade motors each associated to a respective blade for pivoting thereof, each blade motor being operationally coupled to a respective blade drive for actuating the corresponding blade motor. The at least two blade drives each include a respective blade drive power converter operationally coupled to a first common intermediate DC-link, wherein the at least two blade drives being configured to feed power from the first common intermediate DC-link to their respective blade motors, and to feed regenerative power from their respective blade motors to the first common intermediate DC-link. The disclosure also concerns a marine propulsion unit having such a drive arrangement, and a method of operating such a drive arrangement.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program for controlling propulsion of marine vessel. The propulsion is implemented by a foil wheel propulsion system. The method includes: receiving a wheel operation status from a wheel drive; receiving a plurality of foil operation statuses from a plurality of foil drives; receiving a command from a vessel control system; generating wheel control data for the wheel drive to control a foil pitch function of the foil wheel propulsion system based on the command in view of the wheel operation status; and generating foil control data for the plurality of the foil drives to further control the foil pitch function of the foil wheel propulsion system based on the command in view of the wheel operation status and the plurality of foil operation statuses, wherein a reference torque of the foil control data for each foil drive is generated using a foil feedforward model.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a robot system having a planar pick surface includes: bringing a robot gripper to a first location against the pick surface; and generating a first image of the robot gripper from below. When knowing that a certain identifiable part of the robot gripper in images always lies against the planar pick surface, the position and orientation of the pick surface in relation to a manipulator coordinate frame can be fully defined if the robot gripper's orientation in relation to the pick surface is known, or if there are images on identifiable parts of the robot gripper in at least three different positions against the pick surface.

Abstract: A drive arrangement for a cycloidal marine propulsion unit including at least two electrical blade motors each associated to a respective blade for pivoting thereof, each blade motor being operationally coupled to a respective blade drive for actuating the corresponding blade motor. The at least two blade drives each include a respective blade drive power converter operationally coupled to a first common intermediate DC-link, wherein the at least two blade drives being configured to feed power from the first common intermediate DC-link to their respective blade motors, and to feed regenerative power from their respective blade motors to the first common intermediate DC-link. The disclosure also concerns a marine propulsion unit having such a drive arrangement, and a method of operating such a drive arrangement.

Abstract: A method for teaching an industrial robot to pick parts includes the steps of: placing a reference part on a picking surface; providing a reference image including information about the reference part; placing a gripping tool of the industrial robot in relation to the reference part so that the gripping tool is in a grasp configuration in relation to the reference part; and storing the grasp configuration. The reference image is a 2D image from below. When the reference part is resting on a known plane a 2D image taken from below is enough for defining the position of the same.

Abstract: A component feeder including a stationary picking surface for receiving components to be picked, a vision system including an image unit arranged to take images of components distributed on the picking surface and a load device including one or more load sensors adapted to detect the presence of a component on the picking surface and the vision system is configured to automatically trigger the image unit to take an image upon detecting the presence of the component on the picking surface.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a robot system having a planar pick surface includes: bringing a robot gripper to a first location against the pick surface; and generating a first image of the robot gripper from below. When knowing that a certain identifiable part of the robot gripper in images always lies against the planar pick surface, the position and orientation of the pick surface in relation to a manipulator coordinate frame can be fully defined if the robot gripper's orientation in relation to the pick surface is known, or if there are images on identifiable parts of the robot gripper in at least three different positions against the pick surface.

Abstract: A method for teaching an industrial robot to pick parts includes the steps of: placing a reference part on a picking surface; providing a reference image including information about the reference part; placing a gripping tool of the industrial robot in relation to the reference part so that the gripping tool is in a grasp configuration in relation to the reference part; and storing the grasp configuration. The reference image is a 2D image from below. When the reference part is resting on a known plane a 2D image taken from below is enough for defining the position of the same.

Abstract: A component feeder including a stationary picking surface for receiving components to be picked, a vision system including an image unit arranged to take images of components distributed on the picking surface and a load device including one or more load sensors adapted to detect the presence of a component on the picking surface and the vision system is configured to automatically trigger the image unit to take an image upon detecting the presence of the component on the picking surface.

Abstract: A method performed in a control unit for opening a contactor device. The contactor device includes a carrier being movable between a closed position in which a current is allowed to flow in a current path and an open position in which the current path is broken. The control unit is configured to enable the movement of the carrier between the closed position and the open position by energizing a coil of an electromagnetic circuit. The method includes: initiating the opening of the contactor device by de-energizing the coil, wherein the de-energizing includes using a demagnetization circuit including a discharge element, the discharge element being arranged to consume energy in the coil; bypassing, at a first point of time, the discharge element; and re-energizing the coil.

Abstract: A method performed in a control unit for opening a contactor device. The contactor device includes a carrier being movable between a closed position in which a current is allowed to flow in a current path and an open position in which the current path is broken. The control unit is configured to enable the movement of the carrier between the closed position and the open position by energizing a coil of an electromagnetic circuit. The method includes: initiating the opening of the contactor device by de-energizing the coil, wherein the de-energizing includes using a demagnetization circuit including a discharge element, the discharge element being arranged to consume energy in the coil; bypassing, at a first point of time, the discharge element; and re-energizing the coil.