A method includes generating a workspace model having one or more digital robots, one or more digital sensors, and a digital transport system. The method includes simulating, for a task of the one or more digital robots, a sensor operation of the one or more digital sensors within the workspace model based on sensor characteristics of the one or more digital sensors. The method includes identifying, for the task of the one or more digital robots, an undetectable area within the workspace model based on the simulated sensor operation. The method includes selectively positioning, by a transport system, a set of sensors from among the one or more sensors based on the undetectable areas associated with the task.

A robot system including a robot, an image capturing device, and a controller. The controller and the image capturing device have clocks, the controller conducts transmission of, to the image capturing device, an image-capturing instruction including a predetermined waiting time, the predetermined waiting time being a time between a time of the transmission and an image capturing time, or a required time obtained by subtracting, from the waiting time, a difference time between the time of the transmission and receiving time of the image-capturing instruction, the image capturing device conducts image capturing of an image of the workpiece at time when the required time elapses from the receiving time and transmits image data, and the controller controls the robot based on position information of the robot at time when the waiting time elapses from the time of the transmission and the image data.

A control device comprises a plurality of command application units, a plurality of platform units, and a shared memory. The command application units are each provided with a command mediation method designation unit that outputs, to the platform unit, identification information pertaining to a platform unit to be subject to cooperative control and a mediation method classification. The platform units are each provided with: an inter-platform communication unit that transmits a command value, the identification information, and the mediation method classification between the platform units via the shared memory; and a command mediation unit that acquires the command value, the identification information, and the mediation method classification from all platform units to be subject to cooperative control, mediates the command values on the basis of the identification information and the mediation method classification, and outputs the mediated command values to the shared memory.

A method of inverting workpieces in a mass production process includes: advancing an end effector in electronic synchronization with advancement of a carrier to synchronize arrival of the carrier at a stop position with arrival of the end effector at an unloading position, in which the end effector is in alignment with a workpiece held by the carrier for engaging the workpiece; while the end effector is in engagement with the workpiece, retracting the end effector away from the carrier to unload the workpiece from the carrier and advancing the end effector back toward the carrier to load the workpiece back into the carrier; and rotating the end effector relative to the carrier to invert the workpiece in electronic synchronization with the retracting and advancing of the end effector for loading the workpiece back into the carrier when inverted.

A device that dispenses spacer material is disclosed. The device may be implemented in connection with a robotic palletization/depalletization system. The device may include a mounting hardware configured to mount the device on or adjacent to an end effector of a robotic arm, a communication interface configured to receive a control signal, and an actuator configured to dispense a quantity of spacer material from a supply of spacer material in response to the control signal.

A method of controlling a robot that performs work using an end effector on an object transported by a handler includes calculating a target position of the end effector based on a position of the object, calculating a tracking correction amount for correction of the target position in correspondence with a transport amount of the object, controlling the end effector to follow the object based on the target position and the tracking correction amount, acquiring an acting force acting on the end effector from the object using a force sensor, calculating a force control correction amount for correction of the target position to set the acting force to a target force, and controlling the acting force to be the predetermined target force by driving the manipulator based on the force control correction amount.

A robotic line kitting system is disclosed. In various embodiments, a signal associated with an unsafe condition is received via a communication interface. In response to the signal, a controlled operation to reduce a speed of movement of a robotic instrumentality is performed prior to a safety stop of the robotic instrumentality being triggered.

A following robot including an arm, at least one visual sensor, a feature-value storage unit that stores, as target data for causing the visual sensor to follow a follow target, first feature values related to at least the position and the orientation of the follow target, a feature-value detecting unit for detecting, by using an image acquired by the visual sensor, second feature values related to at least current position and orientation of the follow target, a movement-amount computing unit computing a movement instruction based on differences between the second feature values and the first feature values and adjusting the movement instruction by using at least feedforward control, a movement instructing unit which moves the arm based on the movement instruction, and an input-value storage unit that stores a signal acquired when a specific motion of the follow target is started and an input value for the feedforward control.

A processing line includes a conveyor for conveying product from upstream processing equipment to downstream processing equipment. Data structures stored in a memory of a controller comprise a backlog set point for a product type to be processed. A product sensor for the conveyor is enabled to generate signals representative of a number of the products moving on the conveyor from the upstream processing equipment for delivery to the downstream processing equipment. A conveyor speed sensor for the conveyor is enabled to generate signals representative of a speed of the conveyor. A backlog measurement based upon the product sensor signals and the conveyor speed sensor signals is determined. The backlog measurement is compared to the backlog set point to determine a difference in backlog. The controller is enabled to generate signals for controlling the processing line based upon the difference in backlog and additional information related to the product type.

[Solving Means] A production processing apparatus according to the present technology includes a first robot arm and a plurality of first tilt tables. The first robot arm is capable of conveying a work. On each of the plurality of first tilt tables, the work conveyed by the first robot arm can be mounted. The plurality of first tilt tables are tilted a predetermined angle from a horizontal surface at positions on a circumference of a circle with the first robot arm being a center, and the work is subjected to production processing in a state where the work is mounted on one of the plurality of first tilt tables.