A machine control and data logging station, intended for use with a saw or other machine tool, features a processor which monitors a number of input lines, a real time clock and time stamp function. Any change of input signals from the machine tool will be recorded in flash memory. Both wired and wireless outputs may read the memory at any given time. Optionally, hardware or software data communication encryption may be employed to provide increased confidentiality and security. The station continually monitors sensor inputs and can react automatically to emergency-stop the machine tool upon sensing a dangerous condition.

An intrinsically-safe handheld field maintenance tool includes a controller, a process communication module, and a display. The process communication module is configured to communicate with a field device using a process communication protocol. The display is coupled to the controller. A user interface module is also coupled to the controller and is configured to receive user input. The controller is configured to detect a user input help request and provide a video output on the display in response to the user input help request.

An electrical controller includes a first interface via which data are able to be transferred, a second interface, separate from the first interface, via which data are able to be transferred, a control unit, and an operating mode memory for storing operating mode information. The control unit is configured to operate the controller in a first safety-oriented operating mode or in a second safety-oriented operating mode depending on the stored operating mode information.

A control system configured to control safety-critical and non-safety-critical processes and/or plant components includes: a non-safety controller module, at least one safety controller module, and at least one condition monitoring module. The non-safety controller module is configured to control the non-safety-critical processes and/or the non-safety-critical plant components. The at least one safety controller module is configured to control the safety-critical processes and/or the safety-critical plant components. The at least one condition monitoring module is configured to perform fail-safe condition monitoring and to collect monitoring data. The non-safety controller module is configured to receive the collected monitoring data from the condition monitoring module and to pass the collected monitoring data to the safety controller module. The safety-controller module is configured to evaluate the monitoring data based on safety conditions.

This work region estimation device, which estimates a region in which a worker performs work, is provided with an orientation acquisition unit that acquires worker orientation information, and a work region calculation unit that, on the basis of the orientation information and a worker body model, calculates a region in which a worker operation is forecast.

An interactive autonomous robot is configured for deployment within a social environment. The disclosed robot includes a show subsystem configured to select between different in-character behaviors depending on robot status, thereby allowing the robot to appear in-character despite technical failures. The disclosed robot further includes a safety subsystem configured to intervene with in-character behavior when necessary to enforce safety protocols. The disclosed robot is also configured with a social subsystem that interprets social behaviors of humans and then initiates specific behavior sequences in response.

An interactive autonomous robot is configured for deployment within a social environment. The disclosed robot includes a show subsystem configured to select between different in-character behaviors depending on robot status, thereby allowing the robot to appear in-character despite technical failures. The disclosed robot further includes a safety subsystem configured to intervene with in-character behavior when necessary to enforce safety protocols. The disclosed robot is also configured with a social subsystem that interprets social behaviors of humans and then initiates specific behavior sequences in response.

An interactive autonomous robot is configured for deployment within a social environment. The disclosed robot includes a show subsystem configured to select between different in-character behaviors depending on robot status, thereby allowing the robot to appear in-character despite technical failures. The disclosed robot further includes a safety subsystem configured to intervene with in-character behavior when necessary to enforce safety protocols. The disclosed robot is also configured with a social subsystem that interprets social behaviors of humans and then initiates specific behavior sequences in response.

The present disclosure provides a functional safety module for industrial devices, the functional safety module being connected between the industrial devices to manage safety according to a state of the industrial devices. The functional safety module may include a first controller and a second controller each configured to execute a common predetermined operation command including operation commands. The first controller is configured to output digital signals, and sequentially convert the digital signals into analog voltages. The second controller is configured to receive the analog voltages, sequentially converts the analog voltages, and outputs the digital signals, and determine whether the first controller is normal.

One example embodiment of the present invention is a control system for an actuator that is controlled by a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. The control system includes at least two controllers that are connected to the actuator. Each of the controller sends an independent sequence of PWM signal to the actuator. The actuator is controlled by a combination of the PWM signals from all the controllers together. The controllers are synchronized by a clock signal that provides a sequence of periodic clock interval and the PWM signal from each controller occupies a separate and non-overlapping clock interval from the PWM signal of other controllers.