A medical observation device includes an imaging unit configured to photograph an image of an operation site, and a holding unit configured to be connected with the imaging unit and have rotary shafts which are operable with at least six degrees of freedom. Among the rotary shafts, at least two shafts are active shafts whose driving is controlled based on states of the rotary shafts, and at least one shaft is a passive shaft which is rotated according to direct external manipulation accompanying contact.

The present invention relates to a robot system, a device, and a method for applying a process force (F.sub.P) to an object within the scope of a task to be performed by a robot in relation to the object, the robot system allowing an amplification of the input force (F.sub.EIN) input by a user with simultaneous feedback control, so as to thus enable a sensitive control of tasks.

The present invention relates to a robot system, a device, and a method for applying a process force (F.sub.P) to an object within the scope of a task to be performed by a robot in relation to the object, the robot system allowing an amplification of the input force (F.sub.EIN) input by a user with simultaneous feedback control, so as to thus enable a sensitive control of tasks.

By repeating for each control axis, that an axis angle of each control axis of an arm is detected during a direct teaching of a robot, a current position of a standard point defined on the arm or a tool is obtained based on the axis angle, a position instruction value that uses a position obtained by projecting the current position on a given movement route (moving direction) is generated as a target position, and each control axis is driven based on the position instruction value, until a deviation of an instruction angle corresponding to the position instruction value and the detected axis angle, or a deviation of the position instruction value and the current position of the standard point corresponding to the detected axis angle reaches a given value or below, the robot is taught, after the deviation becomes the given value or below, positional information on the arm.

By repeating for each control axis, that an axis angle of each control axis of an arm is detected during a direct teaching of a robot, a current position of a standard point defined on the arm or a tool is obtained based on the axis angle, a position instruction value that uses a position obtained by projecting the current position on a given movement route (moving direction) is generated as a target position, and each control axis is driven based on the position instruction value, until a deviation of an instruction angle corresponding to the position instruction value and the detected axis angle, or a deviation of the position instruction value and the current position of the standard point corresponding to the detected axis angle reaches a given value or below, the robot is taught, after the deviation becomes the given value or below, positional information on the arm.

A teaching device capable of teaching not only movement work but also more detailed working content. The teaching device is provided with input section for inputting work information such as work of pinching workpieces which is carried out by a robot arm at a working position. When carrying out motion capture by moving jig (an object which mimics the robot arm) which is provided with marker section, a user manipulate input section at an appropriate timing to input the working content to be performed by the robot arm as work information, and thus it is possible to set fine working content of the robot arm in teaching device. Accordingly, teaching device is capable of linking positional information of jig and the like and work information generating control information for controlling the robot arm.

A teaching device capable of teaching not only movement work but also more detailed working content. The teaching device is provided with input section for inputting work information such as work of pinching workpieces which is carried out by a robot arm at a working position. When carrying out motion capture by moving jig (an object which mimics the robot arm) which is provided with marker section, a user manipulate input section at an appropriate timing to input the working content to be performed by the robot arm as work information, and thus it is possible to set fine working content of the robot arm in teaching device. Accordingly, teaching device is capable of linking positional information of jig and the like and work information generating control information for controlling the robot arm.

A dummy tool is used to teach a robot the path the robot will follow to perform work on a workpiece to eliminate the possibility of damaging an actual tool during the training. The dummy tool provides the robot programmer an indication of potential collisions between the tool and the workpiece and other objects in the work cell when path is being taught. The dummy tool can have a detachable input/output device with a graphic user interface (GUI) that can communicate wirelessly with the robot controller. The dummy tool can also have a moveable camera attached thereto to track the relationship of the tool to objects in the work area.

A dummy tool is used to teach a robot the path the robot will follow to perform work on a workpiece to eliminate the possibility of damaging an actual tool during the training. The dummy tool provides the robot programmer an indication of potential collisions between the tool and the workpiece and other objects in the work cell when path is being taught. The dummy tool can have a detachable input/output device with a graphic user interface (GUI) that can communicate wirelessly with the robot controller. The dummy tool can also have a moveable camera attached thereto to track the relationship of the tool to objects in the work area.

One variation of a method for manipulating a multi-link robotic arm includes: accessing a virtual model of the target object; extracting an object feature representing the target object from the virtual model; at the robotic arm, scanning a field of view of an optical sensor for the object feature, the optical sensor arranged on a distal end of the robotic arm proximal an end effector; in response to detecting the object feature in the field of view of the optical sensor, calculating a physical offset between the target object and the end effector based on a position of the object feature in the field of view of the optical sensor and a known offset between the optical sensor and the end effector; and driving a set of actuators in the robotic arm to reduce the physical offset.