A distance-measuring system includes: a first ranging sensor; a second ranging sensor that covers a detection range more limited than a detection range covered by the first ranging sensor and has resolution higher than resolution of the first ranging sensor; and an image processing device. The image processing device includes: a machine detector that detects a position of a mobile machine, based on a first sensed result obtained by the first ranging sensor; a sensor controller that controls a detection position to be detected by the second ranging sensor to detect the position of the mobile machine which has been detected; and a safety determiner that controls the mobile machine, based on a second sensed result obtained by the second ranging sensor.

A safety sensor system and method is provided. The method includes projecting from a projector a pattern of light to a first position. The pattern of light being generated by a shape control element with each of the first pattern of light having a pattern pose. A first image is captured with a camera of the first pattern of light. The pose or shape of the pattern of light is changed using the shape control element. A pattern pose or shape information is determined from both images. It is determined that the second image is valid based on the pattern pose or shape information differing by more than predetermined measurement errors or the pattern pose or shape information differing less than predetermined measurement errors from values that are based on the control values transmitted to the pattern pose and shape control element.

Disclosed is an electronic device. The electronic device includes a display; a camera; a sensor; a storage configured to store position information and work information of a smart machine; and a processor configured to identify a smart machine which is located within a peripheral area of the electronic device based on position information of the electronic device sensed through the sensor and position information of the smart machine stored in the storage, to obtain work information of the identified smart machine from the storage, and to indicate a work area of the smart machine on an image photographed through the camera based on the obtained work information of the smart machine and provide the image including the work area on the display.

A robotic system is disclosed that includes an articulated arm with an end effector. The robotic system is for use in a robotic environment requiring interaction with persons in the robotic environment, and includes a plurality of lights that are illuminated responsive to known near-future movements of the articulated arm to convey the known near-future movements of the articulated arm to the persons in the robot environment

A robotic system is disclosed that includes an articulated arm with an end effector. The robotic system is for use in a robotic environment requiring interaction with persons in the robotic environment, and includes a plurality of lights that are illuminated responsive to known near-future movements of the articulated arm to convey the known near-future movements of the articulated arm to the persons in the robot environment.

The invention relates to a device for securing a safety area around at least one automatically operating machine (3), comprising an illuminating marking (4; 5) of the safety area and/or a boundary of the safety area, a sensor-based monitoring device for detecting a breach of the safety area, and a control device (1) for controlling the machine (3), for defining the safety area, for controlling a shape, structure and/or a location of the illuminating marking, and for changing the operating state of the machine (3) or the light source (6, 7) in a manner which is dependent on a detection of a breach of the safety area by way of the monitoring device. The device is characterised in that a multiplicity of light sources (6, 7) which can be actuated in a spatially resolved manner and in each case comprise an inactive and at least one active operating mode are arranged on or in the surface (2) which delimits the safety area, wherein the operating mode of the light sources (6, 7) can be controlled by way of the control device (1), and the illuminating marking (4; 5) is configured as at least one of the light sources (6, 7) in an active operating mode.

A monitoring system monitors entry of an object into a surrounding area of a robot. The monitoring system includes visible light irradiation section, a sensor section and a monitoring control unit. The visible light irradiation section irradiates visible light from a level higher than that of the robot toward at least an outer edge portion of at least one of an operating area, which is set up to enclose a movable range of the robot, and a predetermined area which is set up around the operating area. The sensor section monitors entry of a new object, which is not registered in advance, into the operating area. The monitoring control unit issues a request for stopping the robot to a robot control unit that controls the robot, when entry of a new object into the operating area is detected by the sensor section.

A human-robot cooperation (HRC) workstation has a programmable industrial robot (4) and a manual working area (14) for a worker (5) in a region surrounding the industrial robot (4). In the HRC workstation (1), the working areas of the industrial robot (4) and the worker (5) overlap. Contact between the worker (5) and the industrial robot (4) is possible. The workstation (1) is divided into a plurality of different zones (17, 18, 19, 20) having differently high levels of risk of hazard from the industrial robot (4) for the worker (5). The industrial robot (4) is suitable for human-robot cooperation.

A safety sensor system and method is provided. The method includes projecting from a projector a pattern of light to a first position. The pattern of light being generated by a shape control element with each of the first pattern of light having a pattern pose. A first image is captured with a camera of the first pattern of light. The pose or shape of the pattern of light is changed using the shape control element. A pattern pose or shape information is determined from both images. It is determined that the second image is valid based on the pattern pose or shape information differing by more than predetermined measurement errors or the pattern pose or shape information differing less than predetermined measurement errors from values that are based on the control values transmitted to the pattern pose and shape control element.

A method for warning a person in a working area about at least one first robot, and a robot system that includes the at least one first robot, wherein the movement of the robot in a future working interval is predicted, a determination is made as to whether a working area segment will be passed over by the robot in a first or second time period, a first or second visual warning is emitted in accordance with when the working area segment will be passed over, and the first or second visual warnings are respectively emitted onto a floor segment that is assigned to a respective working area segment.