A system for reconfiguring a factory having equipment at different workstations throughout the factory and a plurality of sensors disposed throughout the factory includes a factory configuration module configured to store a plurality of predetermined factory configurations and a plurality of mobile transporters configured to engage and transport the equipment to the different workstations throughout the factory based on the predetermined factory configurations and dynamic inputs, where the dynamic inputs include a status of the equipment, a status of the plurality of mobile transporters, sensor data output by the plurality of sensors, or a combination thereof.

Disclosed is a method for machining a component including: a first processing step of machining a workpiece material into a workpiece in which a needed portion is connected to an unneeded portion via a connecting portion by action of a tool supported by a tool supporting portion on the workpiece material supported by a workpiece material supporting portion in a processing space covered with a cover member; and a second processing step of cutting the connecting portion to separate the needed portion from the unneeded portion by using the tool supported by the tool supporting portion in a state in which a door that divides the processing space is opened for a workpiece material transport mechanism to move into the processing space and at least the needed portion of the workpiece obtained through machining in the first processing step is supported by the workpiece material transport mechanism.

A system includes one or more movers configured to move along a track of an industrial automation system and a computing device. The computing device receives data associated with the movers as the movers move around the track. The data includes a first amount of time for at least one of the movers to move between two stations disposed along the track, a second amount of time for the at least one mover to settle at a station, a third amount of time for a respective robot at the station to prepare to perform a process, and a fourth amount of time for the respective robot to perform the process. The computing device identifies throughput degradation based on the first amount of time, the second amount of time, the third amount of time, or the fourth amount of time, or any combination thereof.

A motion control system for an independent cart system provides for an improved system for controlling operation of movers in areas of high traffic. A controller monitors operation of the movers to detect heavy traffic. In heavy traffic, the controller may bring a mover to a stop to avoid collisions. Once a mover is stopped, the segment controller will look at the present location of the mover and determine whether it is at the desired position set in the motion command. If the mover is not at the desired position, the stop was a result of heavy traffic. After detecting heavy traffic, the controller commands the mover to resume travel using a modified motion command. The modified motion command will command the first mover to its desired position but will command the move at a reduced rate or using a reduced response in the controller.

In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided that include interconnected conveyors including multiple sensors configured to detect identifying characteristics and physical characteristics of the products traveling on the conveyors. The product-associated information that is detected by the sensors is analyzed relative to predefined product-associated identifying characteristics and physical characteristics stored in a database, and an error signal is generated if the actual, sensor-obtained product identifying characteristics and/or physical characteristics, do not correspond to the predefined, database-stored product identifying characteristics and/or physical characteristics.

Provided is a technique which performs an RF initialization setting process using a data input/output terminal in an unmanned transporting device without providing a separate terminal to build an RF communication based automated material handling system while minimizing a structural change of an optical communication based unmanned transporting device which has been already provided.

System for controlling a conveyor system in a wallboard production line, including a computer processor and a deadband tuning module for controlling at least one of a line speed of a conveyor belt, a foam air amount for a slurry, and an amount of water deposited into a mixer. The deadband tuning module calibrates and sets a hysteresis threshold value based on input data of at least one of the line speed, the foam air amount, and the amount of water. The input data is collected over a predetermined period. A database is provided for storing at least one statistical information of the input data during the predetermined period. The deadband tuning module determines a deadband range based on the hysteresis threshold value and the at least one statistical information using the processor.

A transport system comprising linear motor modules utilized both straight and curved track modules, with movers displaced on the track modules by control of power applied to coils of the modules. Curved track modules have modified spline geometries to provide desired acceleration and jerk characteristics. The modified spline geometries may be defined by more than one generators, such as an equation generator and a spline fit between the equation-generated segment and one or more constrained points or locations. The curved track modules may be divided into 180 degree modules, or may be reduced to 90 degree, 45 degree or other fractional arcs to provide for modular assembly, mirror-image geometries and motion profiles, and the like. The system may be adapted to provide improved motion characteristics based on modification of a conventional spline geometry.

An example method is carried out in a warehouse environment having a plurality of inventory items located therein, each having a corresponding on-item identifier. The method involves determining a target inventory item having a target on-item identifier. The method also involves determining that a first inventory item having a first on-item identifier is loaded onto a first robotic device. The method further involves transmitting a request to verify the first on-item identifier. The method still further involves receiving data captured by a sensor of the second robotic device. The method yet further involves (i) analyzing the received data to determine the first on-item identifier, (ii) comparing the first on-item identifier and the target on-item identifier, and (iii) responsive to comparing the first on-item identifier and the target on-item identifier, performing an action.

Provided is a production module for processing or handling a product in a production system, which production module has a product detection module for reading in product parameters associated to the product, and an interaction module for assigning an adjacent production module to a transfer port. Furthermore, a local assignment table is provided, in which non-adjacent conveying objectives in the production system are in each case assigned to one of the transfer ports. A balancing module serves for iterative reading of first assignment information of a corresponding assignment table of a first adjacent production module, for iterative formation of the local assignment table with the aid of the read-in first assignment information, and for iterative transfer of second assignment information of the local assignment table to a second adjacent production module.