A method having the steps of obtaining temporal information communicated to a first device; carrying out one or more of the following tests: a test to determine whether the first device is in a state following an initial operation, a battery replacement or other power outage, or a reset, a test to determine whether a deviation between temporal information of the clock and the communicated temporal information is less than or equal to a threshold which is specified, and a test to determine whether the communicated temporal information has the same date as the temporal information of the clock; and synchronizing the clock using the communicated temporal information if all of one or more defined conditions are satisfied, wherein one of the one or more conditions requires that at least one of the one or more tests carried out has a positive result.

Methods and apparatus to implement communications via a remote terminal unit are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a first central processing unit module to be in communication with a host of a process control system. The example apparatus also includes a first rack including a backplane and a plurality of slots. The plurality of slots includes a master slot to receive the first central processing unit module. The backplane communicatively couples the first central processing unit module to at least one of a first communication module or a first input/output (I/O) module inserted in a second one of the slots. The backplane includes a first communication bus for communication of I/O data and a second communication bus for communication of at least one of maintenance data, pass-through data, product information data, archival data, diagnostic data, or setup data. The first communication bus is independent of the second communication bus.

A robot system with a robot that has a camera and a remote control station that can connect to the robot. The connection can include a plurality of privileges. The system further includes a server that controls which privileges are provided to the remote control station. The privileges may include the ability to control the robot, joint in a multi-cast session and the reception of audio/video from the robot. The privileges can be established and edited through a manager control station. The server may contain a database that defines groups of remote control station that can be connected to groups of robots. The database can be edited to vary the stations and robots within a group. The system may also allow for connectivity between a remote control station at a user programmable time window.

A detection sensor including an alternating current (AC) permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) housed in a casing, a motherboard and an AC servo controller with a permanent memory in electronic communication with the PMSM, and a shaft extending from the PMSM configured to rotate a sensing needle wherein the sensing needle is configured to sense an object in its rotation.

A connecting device (27) has a first connection input (28), a second connection input (29), and a connection output (30). The two connection inputs (28, 29) are configured for connection to a bus coupling device (20, 21). The connection output is configured for connection to a subscriber (13). The first connection input (28) is connected without switches to the connection output (30) via a first connecting branch (31). The second connection input (29) is connected without switches to the connection output (30) via a second connecting branch (32). The connecting device (27) includes a diagnostic unit (39), which generates a diagnostic signal (D) depending on the first input voltage (U1) and/or the first input current (I1) at the first connection input (28) and/or on the second input voltage (U2) and/or the second input current (I2) at the second connection input (29).

A connecting device (27) has a first connection input (28), a second connection input (29), and a connection output (30). The two connection inputs (28, 29) are configured for connection to a bus coupling device (20, 21). The connection output is configured for connection to a subscriber (13). The first connection input (28) is connected without switches to the connection output (30) via a first connecting branch (31). The second connection input (29) is connected without switches to the connection output (30) via a second connecting branch (32). The connecting device (27) includes a diagnostic unit (39), which generates a diagnostic signal (D) depending on the first input voltage (U1) and/or the first input current (I1) at the first connection input (28) and/or on the second input voltage (U2) and/or the second input current (I2) at the second connection input (29).

A semiconductor device including an abnormality detection section that detects an abnormality occurring in a moving body that moves along a specific path on a surface of a specific object; a position detection section that detects a position of the moving body as an abnormality occurrence position, in a case in which the abnormality detection section has detected an abnormality, and that stores abnormality occurrence position information expressing the abnormality occurrence position in a storage section; and a moving body controller that controls an adjusting section to adjust at least one of a force with which the moving body presses against the specific object, or a position of the moving body in a direction intersecting the surface of the specific object, based on a detection result detected by the abnormality detection section and the abnormality occurrence position information.

A semiconductor device including an abnormality detection section that detects an abnormality occurring in a moving body that moves along a specific path on a surface of a specific object; a position detection section that detects a position of the moving body as an abnormality occurrence position, in a case in which the abnormality detection section has detected an abnormality, and that stores abnormality occurrence position information expressing the abnormality occurrence position in a storage section; and a moving body controller that controls an adjusting section to adjust at least one of a force with which the moving body presses against the specific object, or a position of the moving body in a direction intersecting the surface of the specific object, based on a detection result detected by the abnormality detection section and the abnormality occurrence position information.

A system using one or more robots to assist a human in order fulfillment includes: a server configured to receive an order comprising an order item; inventory storage operationally connected to the server, the inventory storage comprising inventory items; an order robot operationally connected to the server, the order robot configured to assist a human to pick an order item from the inventory items; and a human-operated device operably connected to one or more of the server, the inventory storage, and the order robot, the human-operated device configured to assist the human to pick the order item.

Data driven indoor farming optimization may provide autonomous decision making that maximizes crop yield. One or more specifications and one or more constraints on resources for a crop being monitored may be received at computing devices. The computing devices may generate a simulation using a machine learning algorithm to determine whether the one or more specifications and the one or more constraints result in a grow solution for the crop. The simulation may be constrained by historical data on one or more variables that affect crop production. The computing devices may receive a modification to a constraint in the event that the simulation failed to generate a grow solution for the crop. On the other hand, if the simulation generates a grow solution for the crop, the simulation may be run to predict growth of the crop at specific time intervals of a grow cycle for the crop.