A manufacturing system having a master controller for monitoring and controlling a master axis of a manufacturing line and one or more individual robotic apparatus with an end point capable of performing two dimensional or three dimensional movements and a robotic control system that interacts with the master controller such that standard motion commands from the master controller are used to modify the end points in response to changes in the master axis.

Drilling apparatus and method, the apparatus comprising: a first robot (10); a first member (30) (e.g. a pressure foot) and a drilling tool (38) both coupled to the first robot (10); a second robot (12); and a second member (52) coupled to the second robot (12); wherein the apparatus is arranged to press the members (30, 52) against opposite sides of a part to be drilled (2, 100) (e.g. an aircraft panel) so as to hold the part (2, 100) and prevent deflection of at least a portion of the part (2, 100); and the first member (30) and the drilling tool (38) are arranged such that the drilling tool (38) may drill into the portion of the part (2, 100) of which deflection is opposed from the side of the part (2, 100) pressed against by the first member (30). The robots (10, 12) may be robotic arms.

A machine tool system includes: a machine tool that machines a workpiece by using a tool attached to a spindle; and a plurality of robots installed inside a machining space of the machine tool and adapted to grip the workpiece and move the workpiece in conformity with the machining performed by the machine tool.

The control system includes a first controller, a second controller, and a third controller. The third controller includes a first communication module, a second communication module, and a control processing module configured to output a first operation command for operating the first controlled object to the first controller via the first communication module, configured to output a second operation command for operating the second controlled object to the second controller via the second communication module, configured to acquire information on a current position of the first controlled object from the first controller via the first communication module, and configured to correct the second operation command on a basis of information on the current position of the first controlled object.

An image processing device includes a processor that specifies a template, based on first distance information obtained by causing an imaging unit to image a calibration plate disposed at a first position inside a work region where a robot carries out work, and that performs matching between the specified template and an image obtained by causing the imaging unit to image an object disposed inside the work region.

A cable robot comprises a platform supporting an effector and cables. Each cable is connected on one end to an attachment point on the platform and extends from this attachment point to an anchoring point attached to a supporting structure. The anchoring points being contained in more than one plane. The cables include a set of driving cables whose ends are connected to a winch. The cables include a set of reconfigurable cables, whose anchoring points are movable relative to the supporting structure. The supporting structure is beared by a set of independent mobile bases having anchorings to fix the mobile bases to the ground.

A control apparatus that controls a first robot arm provided with a first force detection part and a second robot arm provided with a second force detection part, includes a processor that configured to move the first robot arm until a target force is detected by the first force detection part and performs impedance control on the second robot arm based on output of the second force detection part in at least a part of a movement period in which the first robot arm is moved.

A method of manipulating a construction object on a construction site using a construction robot system is disclosed wherein the construction robot system comprises at least two robotic arms, wherein a controller virtually manipulates a virtual representation of the construction object, and a control unit of the construction robot system controls the robotic arms such that the construction object is manipulated according to the virtual manipulation of the virtual representation of the construction object. Furthermore, a construction robot system and a computer program product is provided.

A robotic system to control multiple robots to perform a task cooperatively is disclosed. A first robot determines to perform a task cooperatively with a second robot, moves independently to a first grasp position to grasp an object associated with the task, receives an indication that the second robot is prepared to perform the task cooperatively, and moves the object independently of the second robot in a leader mode along a trajectory determined by the first robot. The second robot assists the first robot in performing the task cooperatively, at least in part by moving independently to a second grasp position, grasping the object, and cooperating with the first robot to move the object, at least in part by operating in a follower mode of operation to maintain engagement with the object as the first robot moves the object along the trajectory.

An inventive programming means for programming a movement of a robot axis arrangement and a movement of at least one further robot axis arrangement is adapted to synchronize the pair of positions of the movement of the robot axis arrangement and the pairs of positions of the movement of at least one more robot axis arrangement, and while maintaining this synchronization, to specify at least another position between either one of these pairs of positions, which is not synchronized with another position of the hereby synchronized pair of positions.