A method for determining a driver's manual torque at a steering wheel of a vehicle which includes sensing a steering angle speed by a steering angle sensor, sensing a steering torque by a steering torque sensor at a steering column connected to the steering wheel, estimating a driver's manual torque applied by a driver at the steering wheel based on the sensed steering angle speed and the sensed steering torque by a Kalman filter by a controller, wherein during the estimation of the driver's manual torque a frictional torque is considered, and the frictional torque is estimated based on the steering torque which is sensed by the steering torque sensor, wherein the estimated frictional torque is taken into account as an interference factor during the estimation of the driver's manual torque in the Kalman filter. Also disclosed is an associated device.

A method for determining a driver's manual torque at a steering wheel of a vehicle which includes sensing a steering angle speed by a steering angle sensor, sensing a steering torque by a steering torque sensor at a steering column connected to the steering wheel, estimating a driver's manual torque applied by a driver at the steering wheel based on the sensed steering angle speed and the sensed steering torque by a Kalman filter by a controller, wherein during the estimation of the driver's manual torque a frictional torque is considered, and the frictional torque is estimated based on the steering torque which is sensed by the steering torque sensor, wherein the estimated frictional torque is taken into account as an interference factor during the estimation of the driver's manual torque in the Kalman filter. Also disclosed is an associated device.

Methods and devices for controlling a mechanical joining or forming process, in particular friction drilling in thin-walled materials, apply several reverse pulses acting on a process parameter to bring the course of an actual curve of the parameter more into line with the course of a predetermined nominal curve of the process parameter. The number and length of the reverse pulses and the length of the intervals between the pulses are determined as a function of at least one immediately detectable variable associated with the process parameter.

A robot controller that moves a first workpiece mounted on a robot with respect to a second workpiece, the robot having a sensor for detecting one of magnitude of force acting on the first workpiece and magnitude of torque acting on the robot, the robot controller including a calculation unit configured to calculate a force between the first workpiece and the second workpiece and a moment on the first workpiece, based on the magnitude of the force or the torque, a controller carrying out force control so that the calculated force and the moment correspond to a predetermined force and moment, and a display displaying at least one of a velocity of the first workpiece and an angular velocity, the velocity and the angular velocity occurring as a result of control by the controller, the velocity and the angular velocity being overlapped on an image of the robot.

A robot controller that moves a first workpiece mounted on a robot with respect to a second workpiece, the robot having a sensor for detecting one of magnitude of force acting on the first workpiece and magnitude of torque acting on the robot, the robot controller including a calculation unit configured to calculate a force between the first workpiece and the second workpiece and a moment on the first workpiece, based on the magnitude of the force or the torque, a controller carrying out force control so that the calculated force and the moment correspond to a predetermined force and moment, and a display displaying at least one of a velocity of the first workpiece and an angular velocity, the velocity and the angular velocity occurring as a result of control by the controller, the velocity and the angular velocity being overlapped on an image of the robot.

The system and method determines the torque applied to a rotating shaft by a load. A first sensor detects rotation of a first wheel and a second sensor detects rotation of a second wheel. A third sensor is proximate to the first sensor. A processor determines: 1) a magnitude of a phase angle (.sub.A) based on the first and second sensors and having an unknown sign; 2) a magnitude of a phase angle (.sub.B) based on the second and third sensors and having an unknown sign; and 3) a magnitude of a phase angle (.sub.C) based on the first and third sensors and having a known sign. The processor determines a sign of the phase angle (.sub.A) based on the values of the phase angles (.sub.B) and (.sub.C) and determines a torque value from the load applied to the shaft at least in part based on the magnitude and sign of the phase angle (.sub.A).

A torque measurement tool and method of use is presented which comprises a first outer shaft extending along a longitudinal axis and containing a second inner shaft positioned within the first outer shaft and extending along the longitudinal axis, A flexible coupling is positioned between the first outer shaft and the second inner shaft. A shear stress sensor is positioned within the second inner shaft, is exposed to the first outer shaft and contacts the flexible coupling.

A device includes: a micromechanical sensing structure configured to provide an electrical detection quantity as a function of a load; and a package enclosing the micromechanical sensing structure and providing a mechanical and electrical interface with respect to an external environment. The package includes a housing structure defining a cavity housing the micromechanical sensing structure; and a package coating that coats, at least in part, the housing structure, the package coating including a mechanical interface configured to transfer, in a uniform manner, the load on the housing structure and on the micromechanical sensing structure, wherein the housing structure includes a deformable layer interposed and in contact between the micromechanical sensing structure and the package coating, and wherein the deformable layer defines a mechanical-coupling interface.

A device includes: a micromechanical sensing structure configured to provide an electrical detection quantity as a function of a load; and a package enclosing the micromechanical sensing structure and providing a mechanical and electrical interface with respect to an external environment. The package includes a housing structure defining a cavity housing the micromechanical sensing structure; and a package coating that coats, at least in part, the housing structure, the package coating including a mechanical interface configured to transfer, in a uniform manner, the load on the housing structure and on the micromechanical sensing structure, wherein the housing structure includes a deformable layer interposed and in contact between the micromechanical sensing structure and the package coating, and wherein the deformable layer defines a mechanical-coupling interface.

An interactive software application on a mobile computing device is used to configure an electronic torque wrench via a wireless connection. The software application obtains torque specifications for a vehicle from a remote database. When the torque specification require that work pieces be torqued in an ordered sequence, the software application guides the technician through the sequence, but accommodates changes when the technician departs from the sequence.