A scanner includes a marked reference plate in which a mark is made on a reference plate, and a non-volatile memory that stores reference data, which is a result of the reference plate disposed facing an image reading sensor being read by the image reading sensor, in which read data is acquired a result of the marked reference plate being read by the image reading sensor, and shading data is calculated by comparing the read data and the reference data.

A control system includes a controller that controls machining of a workpiece, and a photographing device that photographs an image of the workpiece under machining operation. The controller generates a three-dimensional model of the workpiece under machining operation based on the acquired image, compares the generated three-dimensional model and a three-dimensional model generated by a machining simulation with each other, and determines a presence or absence of a machining defect based on a result of the comparison. When the machining defect is present and re-machining is possible, a setting is modified depending on a cause of the machining defect and additional machining is executed based on the modified setting.

Disclosed are various embodiments for using fluorescent coatings to aid in robotic handling of items. In one embodiment, an image is captured. An item in the image is recognized from the image based at least in part on a fluorescence of the item relative to its surrounding environment caused by exposure of a fluorescent marking of the item to a radiation source. A robotic arm is operated relative to the item in response to recognizing the item.

Methods and apparatuses for controlling a projector are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes: controlling the light source to emit point structured light to a reflector; and adjusting a tilt angle of the reflector to change the tilt angle of the reflector, and to enable the point structured light reflected from the reflector to an optical conversion device to deflect towards a preset scanning direction. The optical conversion device is used for converting the point structured light incident onto the optical conversion device into line structured light. The line structured light is used for forming a pattern that is projected onto a surface of a target object and extends along a direction intersecting with the preset scanning direction. Improved efficiency in three-dimensional scanning of a target object can be achieved.

A position detection apparatus that illuminates light from a light source unit onto an object and that receives reflected light from the object on a light receiver to detect position information of the object, includes a detector (10) and a signal processor (102), the detector includes a first grating (15) in an optical path between the light source unit and the object, a second grating (16) in an optical path between the object and the light receiver, and a third grating (17) in an optical path between the second grating and the light receiver, the signal processor acquires the position information of the object based on a phase variation of the second periodic image detected by the light receiver, and the position information of the object is information related to a distance from the detector to the object.

An automated hand tool sharpening and cleaning system for sharpening the two opposed cutting edges of domestic, industrial, sport, or hobby hand tool like a knife blade is provided by the invention. The apparatus comprises a six-axis robotic arm, a pneumatic gripper, a vision sensor camera for profiling the blade edges, a robotic controller, and sequentially-arranged grinding, coarse sharpening, fine sharpening, and buffing rotating wheel assemblies used to grind, sharpen, and buff or polish the cutting edges of the knife blade. The blade cutting edges are profiled by the camera image that is processed by associated software to define the blade by multiple points defined along its edge, followed by a set of algorithms that are used to clean up any discrepancies in the profile data. The resulting corrected profile data is then translated into a set of machine control commands fed to the robotic arm and pneumatic gripper via the robot controller for manipulating the knife blade edges via the robotic arm with respect to each of the grinding, coarse sharpening, fine sharpening, and buffing/polishing wheels and an associated wash station for remove bits of metal and other residue resulting from the sharpened knife blade.

Systems, methods, and software products that provide enhanced efficiency in automated and semi-automated manufacturing processes by employing process intelligence to verify that a user-selected manufacturing process to be applied to a workpiece corresponds to the manufacturing process actually designated for that workpiece, thereby avoiding potentially costly manufacturing errors.

A method for automatically calibrating a device for generatively producing a three-dimensional object (8) comprises the following steps: irradiating an applied layer of a material (3) or a target by means of a first scanner (14) in order to produce a first test pattern (33) in the material (3) or the target; irradiating the applied layer of the material (3) or the target by means of a second scanner (15) in order to produce a second test pattern (34) in the material (3) or the target; detecting the first and second test patterns (33, 34) by means of a camera (24) and assigning the first and second test patterns (33, 34) to the first and second scanners (14, 15), respectively; comparing the first and/or the second test pattern (33, 34) with a reference pattern and/or comparing the first and second test patterns (33, 34) with one another; determining a first deviation of the first test pattern (33) from the reference pattern and/or a second deviation of the second test pattern (34) from the reference pattern and/or a relative deviation between the first test pattern (33) and the second test pattern (34); and calibrating the first and/or the second scanner (14, 15) in such a way that the first and/or the second deviation from the reference pattern and/or the relative deviation between the first test pattern (33) and the second test pattern (34) falls below a setpoint value.

To generate link information containing association between machining information and/or machine information in a machining program, and an optical feature in a workpiece image. A link information generation device 1 comprises: a machining information acquisition unit 111 that acquires machining information in a machining program for a machine tool that executes machining on a workpiece W; a machine information acquisition unit 112 that acquires machine information about the machining state of the machine tool; a workpiece image acquisition unit 13 that acquires image information about the workpiece W; an optical feature setting unit 14 that sets an image area having an optical feature in the image information about the workpiece W; and a link information generation unit 15 that generates link information containing association between the image area having the optical feature, and the machining information and/or the machine information about a workpiece area associated with the image area.

A method of acquiring sensor data on a construction site by at least one sensor of a construction robot system comprising at least one construction robot is provided, wherein a sensor is controlled using a trainable agent, thus improving the quality of acquired sensor data. A construction robot system, a computer program product, and a training method are also provided.