The invention relates t a safety device (5) and a safety method for a production station (2) for vehicle body parts (4), and for a conveying means (18) moving into and out of the production station (2) for transporting the workpieces into and out of the production station (2). The production station (2) and the conveying means (18) each have their own controller (13, 21) and their own security circuit (22, 23), wherein the security device (5) connects the security circuits (22, 23) of the production station (2) and of the conveying means (18) located in the production station (2). The security device (5) influences and thereby changes a protection region (29) of a protection device (27) of an intrinsically secure conveying means (18) when moving in and out and within the production station (2).

Exercise system test station systems and methods are provided. The test station may include a frame and a trolley movably coupled to the frame. The trolley may include at least one deployable test assembly configured to perform one or more tests on an exercise system when the exercise system is positioned within the frame. The test station may include a workstation and/or a safety light curtain. The at least one deployable test assembly may include a spinner assembly configured to drive a portion of the drivetrain of the exercise system, a knob tester mechanism, a sound and vibration test module, or any combination thereof. The test station may be provided as part of a production line. The product line may include an AGV configured to carry the exercise system through production. Associated methods of testing the exercise system using the test station are also provided.

Described in detail herein is an autonomous fulfillment system. The system includes the first computing system, with an interactive display. The first computing system can transmit a request for physical objects from a facility. A second computing system can transmit instructions autonomous robot devices to retrieve the physical objects from the facility. The second computing system can control the image capturing device of the autonomous robot device to capture a live image feed of the at least one physical object picked up by the at least autonomous robot device. The second computing system can switch an input feed of the first computing system to display the live image feed on the display of the first computing system. The second computing system, instruct the autonomous device to discard the physical objects picked up by the at least one autonomous robot device and to pick up a replacement physical object.

Systems and methods for flexible conveyance in an assembly-line or manufacturing process are disclosed. A fleet of self-driving vehicles and a fleet-management system can be used to convey workpieces through a sequence of workstations at which operations are performed in order to produce a finished assembly. An assembly can be transported to a first workstation using a self-driving vehicle, where an operation is performed on the assembly. Subsequently, the assembly can be transported to a second workstation using the self-driving vehicle. The operation can be performed on the assembly while it is being conveyed by the self-driving vehicle.

A method and system for automatically supplying parts for an assembly line is provided. The method includes generating and executing an action plan specifying movements associated with a robotic apparatus associated with the assembly line, items required for the assembly line, and a vehicle associated with providing the items for the robotic apparatus. The vehicle is directed to a location comprising the items and a first item is selected and retrieved upon arriving at the location. A measured weight of the first item is compared to a predetermined maximum weight threshold for delivery by the vehicle and a resulting delivery process with respect to the vehicle, first item, and robotic apparatus is executed. A notification indicating details associated with the delivery process is transmitted to the robotic apparatus.

Systems and methods for flexible conveyance in an assembly-line or manufacturing process are disclosed. A fleet of self-driving vehicles and a fleet-management system can be used to convey workpieces through a sequence of workstations at which operations are performed in order to produce a finished assembly. An assembly can be transported to a first workstation using a self-driving vehicle, where an operation is performed on the assembly. Subsequently, the assembly can be transported to a second workstation using the self-driving vehicle. The operation can be performed on the assembly while it is being conveyed by the self-driving vehicle.

Circuitry and a method of operating a clock monitoring circuit for monitoring a clock signal is disclosed. The method comprises generating a train of pulses corresponding to a duration of respective phases of a clock signal, counting a number of pulses in respective generated pulse trains, determining (using the number of pulses) when durations of subsequent phases of the clock signal lengthen, determining (using the number of pulses) when durations of the subsequent phases of the clock signal shorten, and providing a clock abnormality detect (CAD) signal when the clock signal either lengthens or shortens. The number of pulses in each respective pulse train is indicative of the duration of the respective phases of the clock signal.

A method and system for automatically supplying parts for an assembly line is provided. The method includes generating and executing an action plan specifying movements associated with a robotic apparatus associated with the assembly line, items required for the assembly line, and a vehicle associated with providing the items for the robotic apparatus. The vehicle is directed to a location comprising the items and a first item is selected and retrieved upon arriving at the location. A measured weight of the first item is compared to a predetermined maximum weight threshold for delivery by the vehicle and a resulting delivery process with respect to the vehicle, first item, and robotic apparatus is executed. A notification indicating details associated with the delivery process is transmitted to the robotic apparatus.

Described in detail herein is an autonomous fulfillment system. The system includes the first computing system, with an interactive display. The first computing system can transmit a request for physical objects from a facility. A second computing system can transmit instructions autonomous robot devices to retrieve the physical objects from the facility. The second computing system can control the image capturing device of the autonomous robot device to capture a live image feed of the at least one physical object picked up by the at least autonomous robot device. The second computing system can switch an input feed of the first computing system to display the live image feed on the display of the first computing system. The second computing system, instruct the autonomous device to discard the physical objects picked up by the at least one autonomous robot device and to pick up a replacement physical object.

The present disclosure relates to a manufacturing system, method and control circuitry for quality assured manufacturing of at least two biopharmaceutical products. The manufacturing system (100) comprises a warehouse facility (210), a hydration facility (220), and at least two biopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, wherein the warehouse facility (210) and hydration facility (220) are comprised in the macro structure (200). Each biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility is comprised in a respective micro node (300), and a control facility (230) in the macro structure (200) is configured to control interoperability of the macro structure (200) and the micro nodes (300) by means of a network spine interconnecting the macro structure (200) with each micro node (300).