Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating articles in which a multiaxial industrial robot is arranged on a travel unit and the industrial robot and the travel unit can be supplied with electrical energy via an energy storage unit. The travel unit has a control unit and at least three wheels having at least one drive unit, with the control unit being configured to rotate at least one of the wheels by the drive unit about an axis of rotation standing perpendicular on a symmetrical axis of rotation of the wheel and to rotate it about the symmetrical axis of rotation by the respective drive unit so that the apparatus can be moved in any direction by the travel unit. In addition, area monitoring sensors are arranged on at least two sides of the travel unit to monitor a virtual surface located at a predefined spacing next to and not intersecting the travel unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for manipulating articles in which a multiaxial industrial robot (1) is arranged on a travel unit (2) and the industrial robot (1) and the travel unit (2) can be supplied with electrical energy via an energy storage unit (4). The travel unit (2) has a control unit (23) and at least three wheels (5) having at least one drive unit (6), wherein the control unit (23) is configured to rotate at least one of the wheels (5) by the drive unit (6) about an axis of rotation standing perpendicular on a symmetrical axis of rotation (7) of the wheel (5) and to rotate it about the symmetrical axis of rotation (7) by the respective drive unit (6) so that the apparatus is travelable in any directions by the travel unit (2). In addition, area monitoring sensors (11) are arranged at at least two sides of the travel unit (2).