Abstract: A probing control apparatus for use in aligning an object comprises: a mechanism having n-degrees of freedom and adapted for controlling the object; n pieces of actuators for actuating the mechanism; detecting means for detecting change in the output from the object in response to the operation of each actuator; and control means for computing a command for each actuator in accordance with a change in the output detected by the detecting means and amount of movement of the mechanism, and for controlling each actuator in accordance with the command such that the output from the object takes the maximum value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for calibrating a transformation matrix of a force sensor, in which: a force sensor is attached between a wrist portion and a hand portion of a robot; a standard work (weight) whose weight and position of a center of gravity are known is attached or held to the hand portion; each driving source of the robot is made operative in response to commands from a control unit and thereby sequentially changing the posture of the force sensor attached to the robot; the control unit obtains a force consisting of a force and a moment due to an arithmetic operation from the posture and position information of the force sensor which is detected on the basis of signals from encoders to detect an operational amount of each operating element of the robot and from the weights and the positions of the centers of gravity of the standard work and the hand portion and the like inputted as data; the control unit receives a strain voltage detected from the force sensor; the