Abstract: A method of distributing an error correction term over four grid points used in a normalized 3D lookup routine circulates a change in output of the normalized 3D lookup routine at a given position by a fixed error correction amount at a plurality of points related in proximity to an input value point. The magnitude of change for a given one of the plurality of break points is proportional to the slope change of the grid point from a read point. The proportional reverse interpolation process is particularly well adapted for use with a proportional-integral controller as may be used in the air/fuel ratio control system generating a fuel multiplier control signal in response to variations between an exhaust gas oxygen sensor signal and a command signal for the air/fuel ratio.

Abstract: A controller for a machine capable of performing acceleration/deceleration control to which an optimal tangential acceleration within an allowable maximum acceleration for each axis is applied. A first interpolation section receives data obtained by analysis of a program by a command analysis section, an makes interpolating calculation in every first sampling period to output it into an intermediate memory. A tangential acceleration calculating section determines a tangential acceleration based on each segment and the allowable maximum acceleration for each axis to output it into the intermediate memory. A deceleration target velocity calculating section prepares an acceleration/deceleration pattern for a plurality of segments stored in the intermediate memory, to output it to the intermediate memory.

Abstract: A robot alignment system (10) includes a sensor system (12). The sensor system (12) is designed to attach to an end effector of a robot arm (14). A rough alignment target (16) is attached to a work station. A fine alignment target (22) is placed on a work surface of the work station. The sensor system (12) first determines the rough alignment target (16). The robot arm (14) is then moved to detect the fine alignment target (22).

Abstract: A method for controlling the movement of agents using local communications is provided. Generally, each agent maintains an optimal distance from other local neighbor agents by, for each agent 200, selecting a local agent 202, measuring the distance and angle to the agent 204, performing a distance maintenance calculation 218, and repeating the distance maintenance calculation 218 for each local agent. In the distance maintenance calculation 218, an attraction/repulsion map is used in order to determine whether an agent is attracted to or repelled from other agents. A motion vector is used to determine agent responses to the attraction or repulsion. Over time, the agents settle into a neutral configuration where each is optimally distanced from the other agents. Reference agents and leader agents can be designated to direct the movement of other agents, and agents can be designated as blocking beacons to repel other agents from undesirable areas.

Abstract: A control system for controlling mobile robots provides a way to control mobile robots, connected in tandem with coupling devices, to navigate across difficult terrain or in closed spaces. The mobile robots can be controlled cooperatively as a coupled system in linked mode or controlled individually as separate robots.

Abstract: When an emergency stop button 12 is pressed after a robot 1 passes a teaching point PN, and then reach a position PE, the robot 1 is stopped at a position PS diverted from the predetermined teaching route L. When the start button is pressed next, the robot 1 moves at a speed VL lower than a teaching speed Vt until it reaches a next first teaching point PN+1. Passing first teaching point PN+1, the robot 1 moves at the teaching speed Vt. The robot 1 moves at the low speed VL at a restarting time, so that an operator can check for interference between the robot 1 and the workpiece W. Passing the next first teaching point PN+1, the robot 1 moves at the teaching speed Vt, so that the reduction of the operation efficiency can be prevented.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a system for lifting objects comprises a Cartesian manipulator, a machine vision system for acquiring video images of the objects, and a control processor for processing the video images and providing position command signals to the Cartesian manipulator.

Abstract: An operation line tracking device for a robot for performing an operation with a tool mounted on the robot while tracking an operation line using a sensor wherein a detection failure of the sensor is restored by automatically changing or resetting a detecting condition of the sensor when the sensor fails in detecting the operation line. If a detection failure occurs for a cause of excessive or too small quantity of light impinged on light receiving elements of a laser sensor, a laser output intensity is automatically changed. If a detection failure occurs for a cause of basing of the quantity of the impinged light, an orientation of the laser sensor is automatically adjusted. If a detection failure occurs for a cause of biasing of position of the operation line in the visual field of the laser sensor, the position of the laser sensor is automatically adjusted.

Abstract: A system and a method for re-calibrating a robot, an end-effectuator of the robot and a fixture for holding a production part based upon measurements recorded by a sensor after contact or interception with random points along the three-dimensional contour of the end-effectuator of the robot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for control of pivoting machine members propelled by linear actuators so as to permit coordinated motion of the pivoting members with translating machine members. Position commands for the pivoting machine members are given in angular units. The propelling linear actuators are controlled by servomechanism control providing position and velocity control. Position measurements for the pivoting members measure linear displacement of the propelling actuator. Position commands for the pivoting members are compensated according to the non-linear relationship between displacement of the propelling actuator and the angular displacement of the pivoting member.

Abstract: A method of teaching a robot a desired operating path and a lead-through teach handle assembly are disclosed. A mounting mechanism mounts the entire handle assembly to an arm of the robot. The handle assembly also includes a handle that is supported by the mounting mechanism. A robot operator utilizes the handle assembly and grasps the handle to apply an external force to move the robot arm, or the operator, without the handle assembly, directly holds a tool connected to the robot arm to apply the external force at the tool. The handle assembly is characterized by a universal joint that interconnects the handle and the mounting mechanism and that accommodates orientation changes of the handle relative to the mounting mechanism that result from translational and rotational movement of the robot arm as the user is teaching the robot. The external force applied at the tool is estimated with either a force sensor disposed on the handle assembly or by monitoring the torque of motors used to move the robot.

Abstract: Process for the automatic determination of an optimal movement program of a robot comprising at least one moving member, a motor associated with the moving member and a control unit capable of activating the motor according to a movement program to move the moving member along a trajectory with a predetermined movement parameter. The process comprises the steps of: acquiring data indicating the load state of the motor and the precision of movement of the robot during the execution of a movement program, comparing the information on the load state and on the precision of movement with predetermined limit values, repeatedly executing the movement program while progressively varying the movement parameter until a measured value of the load state and/or of the precision of movement exceeds a corresponding limit value, and storing as the optimal movement program the last movement program which has been executed without exceeding the limit values.

Abstract: A method for cell alignment, identification and calibration of part of a robot tool, preferably a part of the robot tool, is positioned close to a detector, whereupon it is moved repeatedly past the limit of the area of detection of the detector. During the movement, the pose of the robot is registered each time the surface of said robot tool comes into tangential contact with the area of detection, and an over determined system of equations is formed, consisting of a correlation between the registered poses and unknown parameters regarding the detection area of the detector and the location of the robot part in space. An error vector is introduced into the system of equations, which is then solved while minimizing the error vector, preferably in the least square sense, in order to thus identify said unknown parameters and the error vector.

Abstract: An object oriented motion system for controlling the movement of a robotic manipulator is presented. The motion system includes a trajectory generator object for producing a stream of machine joint commands. A kinematics object is operable to provide a set of robotic arm specific functions for the trajectory generator object. A servo object provides an interface to the servo system. The stream of machine motor commands are converted by the servo object to a stream of signals that drive the servo system, thereby controlling the trajectory of the robot arm.

Abstract: A system for calibrating a robot used for inspecting a workpiece to maintain the accuracy of the robot during inspection of workpieces on a production basis, the system including means for storing a mathematical model of the robot, means for measuring the position of a target and then calibrating the robot based upon input from the mathematical model and the position of the target.

Abstract: An operation line searching method in which an operation start position is automatically approached and a robot/sensor system having such function of detecting the operation line. A robot having a laser sensor and an operation tool attached to a distal end thereof approaches an operation start position Q1 using various searching motion path patterns (a) to (d). Pattern (a) is determined to avoid an obstacle F or an obstructively-shaped portion G. The path thereof, for example, can be determined by specifying a coordinate axis of a coordinate system w. Patterns (b) and (c) are carried out by teaching, to the robot, data for determining the paths thereof in order. Pattern (d) is carried out in the following manner: an initial parameter <V1>, an angle of rotation and a norm increase factor are specified as parameters, and at the time when incremental travel quantity of a (i+1)th occurrence (i=0, 1, 2, . . .

Abstract: Several methods and subsystems are provided for aligning a workpiece as it is being loaded into a die space of a bending apparatus, and for performing sensor-based control of a robot as it moves a workpiece from one location to another within a bending apparatus environment. A backgaging mechanism is provided with finger gaging mechanisms having force sensors for sensing forces in directions perpendicular to and parallel to a die. In addition, a robot gripper sensor is provided for sensing either or both of shear forces and normal forces created by movement of a workpiece being held by the gripper.

Abstract: The posture inclination of the robot is detected, a moment of compensating total floor reaction force about a desired total floor reaction force central point is determined therefrom to be distributed to each foot such that the position/posture of the feet are rotated by predetermined amounts about the desired total floor reaction force central point and a desired foot floor reaction force central points respectively. And by parallel-translating the feet in phase, the force component of the actual total floor reaction force is also controlled. In addition, the internal force components (which do not influence on the actual total floor reaction force) generated by the actual foot floor reaction force are controlled independently.

Abstract: A method for teaching movements to a robot (12) is disclosed. The robot (12) includes a fixture (14) for cooperating with a workpiece (16), at least one sensor (18) for sensing a spatial relationship of the robot fixture (14) relative to the workpiece (16), at least one motor (20), and a microprocessor (22) for controlling motion of the robot (12) relative to the workpiece (16).

Abstract: A computationally efficient method for calculating near-optimal solutions to the three-objective, linear control allocation problem is disclosed. The control allocation problem is that of distributing the effort of redundant control effectors to achieve some desired set of objectives. The problem is deemed linear if control effectiveness is affine with respect to the individual control effectors. The optimal solution is that which exploits the collective maximum capability of the effectors within their individual physical limits. Computational efficiency is measured by the number of floating-point operations required for solution. The method presented returned optimal solutions in more than 90% of the cases examined; non-optimal solutions returned by the method were typically much less than 1% different from optimal and the errors tended to become smaller than 0.01% as the number of controls was increased.

Abstract: A modular object handling system has a multi-level control architecture, which includes a system controller that coordinates the functions and/or operations of individual module controllers, that in turn control corresponding actuators, to provide a desired system function. The system controller performs the overall trajectory planning by taking the constraints of each of the module actuators into account. The system controller may compensate for deviations of objects from their planned trajectories by contemporaneously redetermining trajectories and trajectory envelopes to encode the various combinations of the system constraints and task requirements. The trajectory envelopes can denote regions around other trajectories to indicate control criteria of interest, such as control and collision boundaries.

Abstract: A method of setting a coordinate system to an automatic machine with a stable accuracy in a non-contact manner. The desired coordinate system can be set even if it exists outside a moving range of the automatic machine. The operator operates a robot control device to move a robot to a first position A1 where a coordinate system setting jig is within the field of view of a camera supported by the robot. Matrix data [A1] representing the robot position A1 is stored and the jig is photographed by the camera. The image of a group of dots on the jig are analyzed by an image processor to obtain picture element values of the individual points. Based on the picture element values of the individual points and jig data (data of distances between and number of the points), matrix data [D1] representing a position and a posture of a coordinate system &Sgr;c to be set with respect to a sensor coordinate system &Sgr;s is obtained.

Abstract: A legged moving robot has a plurality of movable legs for repeatedly touching and leaving a floor. A force sensor is mounted on each of the movable legs at a position spaced from a foot sole thereof toward a proximal end thereof, and detects at least a force and a moment based on a reactive force applied from the floor to the foot when the foot is landed on the floor. The foot is tilted along a ridge on the floor by actuators when the foot is landed on the ridge such as the edge of a stair. A position of the center of the reactive force applied from the floor to the foot is recognized on the basis of the force and the moment detected by the force sensor, in a plurality of tilted attitudes of the foot when the foot is tilted. A landed direction and/or a landed position of the foot with respect to the ridge is recognized on the basis of the position of the center of the reactive force recognized in the plurality of tilted attitudes of the foot.

Abstract: When a robot language is to be displayed and edited, a teaching apparatus or a programming pendant heretofore displays intermediate code of the robot language as expressed by characters. The operator cannot intuitively recognize motions of the robot, needs time to master the robot language, and is required to actually move the robot to confirm the correctness of the program after the robot has been taught. According to the present invention, a robot language processing apparatus includes a display device for graphically displaying a picture and designating a position in the displayed picture with a pointing device, a memory for storing a robot program, a graphical language processor for displaying an operation interval and an air-cut interval as successive lines on the display device by referring to the robot program, and controlling the display device to display the type of an operation detail at either one of the lines when the either one of the displayed lines is designated by the pointing device.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for computing the speed of a robot. Specifically, the method and apparatus relate to calculating the speed of a robot based on the rated maximum speed of a joint of the robot and one of the current position and joint information. There are further aspects of the invention to calculate the speed of a scalar robot, a scalar robot with two degrees of freedom within a horizontal plane, a scalar robot with two degrees of freedom within a horizontal plane plus a front end shaft, a cylindrical robot having two degrees of freedom within a horizontal plane, and other configurations.

Abstract: In a trajectory control method for an intra-planar multifreedom SCARA type of robot, a positional increment for an arm tip is computed for a linear interpolating operation through the expression described below. Namely, the expression is Vn=L.sub.1 .multidot.sin(.theta..sub.2).multidot.J.sub.1, wherein Vn indicates a positional increment of an arm tip; L.sub.1 indicates a length of a first arm; .theta..sub.2 indicates an angle of a second joint; and J.sub.1 indicates an angular velocity of a first joint (instructed angular velocity) specified by a user.