Abstract: Various embodiments of a laser scanner apparatus and a method of operating a laser scanner apparatus, as disclosed herein, include the use of a variably blocked aperture or a controlled defocusing in relation to receiving backscattered light. One or more embodiments combine both variable blocking and defocusing and may use a lens design that complements the blocking and defocusing. Among the various advantages offered by one or more embodiments disclosed herein is a laser scanner apparatus that exhibits a flatter response curve to backscattered light over a defined range of distances. That is, among other advantages of the configurations and operating methods disclosed herein, a laser scanner apparatus experiences less variation in the optical power delivered to its photodetector arrangement, in relation to detecting an object at different distances within a defined range.

Abstract: A laser scanner apparatus emits a laser pulse and monitors for pulse reflections, with the relative timing of a reflected pulse detected by the apparatus being translated into an object distance according to Time-of-Flight (ToF) measurements performed by the apparatus. According to an example configurations or an example method of operation, the apparatus adjusts its ToF determination for reflected pulses that are characterized as merged pulses formed by two or more overlapping reflected pulses. Among other advantages, the adjusted ToF determination yields a more accurate distance determination with respect to the earliest-arriving one(s) among the overlapping reflected pulses.

Abstract: Provided is a highly safe robot system. A robot system includes: an arm operation control unit that controls operations of an arm; and a storage unit that records hazardous part information related to at least any one of a grip unit of the arm and a work target gripped with the grip unit, and the arm operation control unit causes the arm to operate such that the hazardous direction of the hazardous part is different from a moving direction of the grip unit on the basis of the hazardous part information.

Abstract: An industrial robot having high operability for a user is provided. An industrial robot includes a manipulator, a controller which controls an operation of the manipulator, and a detection device attached to the manipulator and detecting a gesture input. The controller executes a process corresponding to the detected gesture input.

Abstract: A safety control device, a method of controlling safety control device, and a recording medium are provided. A detection zone in which the safety of an operator can be secured and a decrease in an operation rate of a machine can be minimized is set. A safety controller sets a detection zone for executing a safety operation when it is determined that an operator has entered for each operator.

Abstract: A monitoring system, a monitoring device, and a monitoring method are provided. The monitoring system includes a detection part that detects a position of a worker intruded into a work area, a first specifying part that specifies a worker movable area on the basis of a position of the worker, an image capturing part that captures an image of an area including at least the worker movable area and a predetermined robot occupied area, a second specifying part that specifies a robot movable area from the image of the area, a third specifying part that specifies a human body area of the worker from the image of the area, a measuring part that measures the distance between the robot movable area and the human body area, and a restricting part that restricts movement of the robot when the distance is equal to or less than a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A monitoring system, a monitoring device, and a monitoring method that can facilitate designing of a working environment are provided. Positions of a worker and a robot in a three-dimensional space are specified, at least one protection area to secure safe work of the worker and the robot is set, whether at least one of the worker and the robot intrudes into the protection area is determined, the motion of the robot is limited when at least one of the worker and the robot intrudes into the protection area, a protection area for executing the determination is being switched from multiple set protection areas, and it is possible to set the protection area when the worker works in a common area in which a work area of the worker and a work area of the robot overlap and set the protection area when the robot works in the common area.

Abstract: Provided is an intrusion detection method that achieves both safety of the worker and high work productivity of the robot. A safety monitoring system includes: a light projector in which a plurality of first light emitting elements that emit light of a first wavelength and a plurality of second light emitting elements that emit light of a second wavelength different from the first wavelength are arranged; an imaging part capturing an image of the light projector; an imaging processing part performing intrusion detection of an object based on the image captured by the imaging part; and a robot control part generating a signal for controlling movement of a robot from a result of performing the intrusion detection. The light projector is arranged on a boundary line of danger prediction for the movement of the robot. The first wavelength is visible light.

Abstract: Provided is a technology which secures safety of a moving body and prevents collision between a robot and the moving body. A detection unit detects a relative positional relationship between a robot arm which is able to move about a support pointy and a moving body by a sensor attached to the robot arm. A control unit generates a drive control signal of an actuator which causes the robot arm to be able to move on the basis of a change in the relative positional relationship between the robot arm and the moving body detected by a detecting unit. An output unit outputs the drive control signal generated by the control unit to the actuator. The control unit generates the drive control signal which changes a speed at which the robot arm is able to move in accordance with the change in the relative positional relationship with the moving body.

Abstract: A safety control device, a method of controlling safety control device, and a recording medium are provided. A detection zone in which the safety of an operator can be secured and a decrease in an operation rate of a machine can be minimized is set. A safety controller sets a detection zone for executing a safety operation when it is determined that an operator has entered for each operator.

Abstract: Provided is a highly safe robot system. A robot system includes: an arm operation control unit that controls operations of an arm; and a storage unit that records hazardous part information related to at least any one of a grip unit of the arm and a work target gripped with the grip unit, and the arm operation control unit causes the arm to operate such that the hazardous direction of the hazardous part is different from a moving direction of the grip unit on the basis of the hazardous part information.

Abstract: An industrial robot having high operability for a user is provided. An industrial robot includes a manipulator, a controller which controls an operation of the manipulator, and a detection device attached to the manipulator and detecting a gesture input. The controller executes a process corresponding to the detected gesture input.

Abstract: There is provided a robot system that maintains productivity with high safety and with high operation efficiency. A robot system includes an arm operation control unit configured to control an operation of an arm and a moving subject detection unit configured to detect whether a moving subject is present in an operation direction region of the arm. When the moving subject detection unit has detected the moving subject, the arm operation control unit operates the arm at an operation speed that is different from an operation speed of the arm when no moving subject has been detected.

Abstract: A monitoring system, a monitoring device, and a monitoring method are provided. The monitoring system includes a detection part that detects a position of a worker intruded into a work area, a first specifying part that specifies a worker movable area on the basis of a position of the worker, an image capturing part that captures an image of an area including at least the worker movable area and a predetermined robot occupied area, a second specifying part that specifies a robot movable area from the image of the area, a third specifying part that specifies a human body area of the worker from the image of the area, a measuring part that measures the distance between the robot movable area and the human body area, and a restricting part that restricts movement of the robot when the distance is equal to or less than a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A monitoring system, a monitoring device, and a monitoring method that can facilitate designing of a working environment are provided. Positions of a worker and a robot in a three-dimensional space are specified, at least one protection area to secure safe work of the worker and the robot is set, whether at least one of the worker and the robot intrudes into the protection area is determined, the motion of the robot is limited when at least one of the worker and the robot intrudes into the protection area, a protection area for executing the determination is being switched from multiple set protection areas, and it is possible to set the protection area when the worker works in a common area in which a work area of the worker and a work area of the robot overlap and set the protection area when the robot works in the common area.

Abstract: The teachings herein provide a method and apparatus for detecting erroneous pixel addressing in an imaging sensor. The method and apparatus advantageously leverage the characteristic “fixed pattern noise” of the sensor to detect addressing errors. Broadly, pixel addressing errors are detected based on comparing the pattern noise seen in data read outs from a targeted address of the sensor with characteristic fixed pattern noise known for the sensor.

Abstract: The teachings herein provide a method and apparatus for detecting erroneous pixel addressing in an imaging sensor. The method and apparatus advantageously leverage the characteristic “fixed pattern noise” of the sensor to detect addressing errors. Broadly, pixel addressing errors are detected based on comparing the pattern noise seen in data read outs from a targeted address of the sensor with characteristic fixed pattern noise known for the sensor.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the teachings presented herein, a machine vision system includes one or more sensor units that are each advantageously configured to use different pairings among a set of spaced-apart image sensors, to provide redundant object detection for a primary monitoring zone, while simultaneously providing for the detection of objects that may shadow the primary monitoring zone. Further, a plurality of “mitigations” and enhancements provide safety-of-design and robust operation. Such mitigations and enhancements include, for example, bad-pixel detection and mapping, cluster-based pixel processing for improved object detection, test-image injection for fault detection, dual-channel, redundant processing for safety-critical object detection, temporal filtering to reduce false detections, and the use of high dynamic range (HDR) images, for improved operation over variable ambient lighting conditions.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the teachings presented herein, a projective volume monitoring apparatus is configured to detect objects intruding into a monitoring zone. The projective volume monitoring apparatus is configured to detect the intrusion of objects of a minimum object size relative to a protection boundary, based on an advantageous processing technique that represents range pixels obtained from stereo correlation processing in spherical coordinates and maps those range pixels to a two-dimensional histogram that is defined over the projective coordinate space associated with capturing the stereo images used in correlation processing. The histogram quantizes the horizontal and vertical solid angle ranges of the projective coordinate space into a grid of cells. The apparatus flags range pixels that are within the protection boundary and accumulates them into corresponding cells of the histogram, and then performs clustering on the histogram cells to detect object intrusions.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the teachings presented herein, a projective volume monitoring apparatus is configured to protect against the intrusion of crawling and walking persons into a monitoring zone. The apparatus acquires stereo images of a first monitoring zone that begins at a defined height above a floor and of a second monitoring zone that lies below the first monitoring zone and extends downward to a floor or other surface on which persons may walk or crawl, and processes the stereo images to obtain range pixels. The apparatus detects object intrusions within the first monitoring zone by processing the corresponding range pixels using first object detection parameters that are tuned for the detection of walking or running persons, and detects object intrusions within the second monitoring zone by processing the corresponding range pixels using second object detection parameters that are tuned for the detection of crawling or prone persons.