A robot system includes a work bench on which a work piece is placed, and a robot device. The robot device includes: a base; and an arm section that has torsional rotatability around a first axis approximately along a center line of the base, bending rotatability around a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis, and linear extensibility and retractability along a third axis that is orthogonal to the second axis. Work is performed in collaboration with a worker on the work piece by means of an end effector that is mounted at a tip of the arm section. The base is disposed so that a moveable region of the arm section accompanying rotation around the first axis and the second axis and linear extension and retraction along the third axis overlaps with a working region of the worker.

Embodiments of the present invention provide automated robotic system identification and stopping time and distance estimation, significantly improving on existing ad-hoc methods of robotic system identification. Systems and methods in accordance herewith can be used by end users, system integrators, and the robot manufacturers to estimate the dynamic parameters of a robot on an application-by-application basis.

A robot control device includes a camera configured to be attached to a display device carried by or put on an operator and capture an environment surrounding the operator to generate an image of the environment; and a processor configured to slow down or stop motion of a predetermined robot included in the environment when the predetermined robot is not displayed on the display device, when only a portion of the predetermined robot is displayed, or when a ratio of a region representing the predetermined robot to a display area of the display device is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold.

A robot control device includes a camera configured to be attached to a display device carried by or put on an operator and capture an environment surrounding the operator to generate an image of the environment; and a processor configured to slow down or stop motion of a predetermined robot included in the environment when the predetermined robot is not displayed on the display device, when only a portion of the predetermined robot is displayed, or when a ratio of a region representing the predetermined robot to a display area of the display device is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold.

This method relates to the disconnection of a manual control unit of a multi-axis robot, including a connecting cord for connecting the unit to a controller. The cord includes an input power line and output power line for each of the two cabling circuits of an emergency stop button, and an input power line and output power line for each of the two cabling circuits of a dead man contactor. The method comprises successive steps, in which: a) an operator makes a request to disconnect the unit, b) during a predetermined length of time, the safety controller does not trigger an emergency stop based on the control of the electrical cabling circuits, c) at the end of the predetermined length of time, the safety controller does not trigger an emergency stop if and only if, on the one hand, only one of the two cabling circuits of the emergency stop button is open and, on the other hand, only one of the two cabling circuits of the dead man contactor is open.

This method relates to the disconnection of a manual control unit of a multi-axis robot, including a connecting cord for connecting the unit to a controller. The cord includes an input power line and output power line for each of the two cabling circuits of an emergency stop button, and an input power line and output power line for each of the two cabling circuits of a dead man contactor. The method comprises successive steps, in which: a) an operator makes a request to disconnect the unit, b) during a predetermined length of time, the safety controller does not trigger an emergency stop based on the control of the electrical cabling circuits, c) at the end of the predetermined length of time, the safety controller does not trigger an emergency stop if and only if, on the one hand, only one of the two cabling circuits of the emergency stop button is open and, on the other hand, only one of the two cabling circuits of the dead man contactor is open.

A safety switch device includes a first support member and a second support member which are formed so as to secure a mobile terminal, and a grip part to be grasped by an operator's hand. The safety switch device includes an enable switch for transmitting a signal for permitting a robot to operate, and an emergency stop button for transmitting a signal for stopping the robot. The first support member and the second support member are formed so as to secure a plurality of types of mobile terminals having different sizes. The grip part is disposed at the center part of the shape of the back surface of the mobile terminal, which corresponds to the position of the center of gravity of the mobile terminal.

A system for determining and promoting safety of a robotic payload, including: a controller; and a robot controllable by the controller, the robot comprising: at least one payload region configured to carry a payload; a sensor configured to detect at least one of a payload mass and a payload distribution, the sensor further configured to alert the controller regarding the one or more of a payload mass and a payload distribution, the controller further configured to perform, in response to the alert, one or more of determining safety of the payload and promoting the safety of the payload.

A robot controller having a function for mitigating damage to a robot when the robot is brought to an emergency stop, and for facilitating restoration of the robot from the emergency stop. The robot controller has a controlling part which controls a motion of a robot based on a predetermined robot program; a first detecting part which detects a predetermined abnormality which does not require the robot to be immediately stopped; a stopping condition judging part which judges as to whether or not a predetermined stopping condition is satisfied when the first detecting part detects the abnormality; and a stopping process executing part which executes a stopping process of the robot when the stopping condition is satisfied, and does not execute the stopping process when the stopping condition is not satisfied.

A robot controller having a function for mitigating damage to a robot when the robot is brought to an emergency stop, and for facilitating restoration of the robot from the emergency stop. The robot controller has a controlling part which controls a motion of a robot based on a predetermined robot program; a first detecting part which detects a predetermined abnormality which does not require the robot to be immediately stopped; a stopping condition judging part which judges as to whether or not a predetermined stopping condition is satisfied when the first detecting part detects the abnormality; and a stopping process executing part which executes a stopping process of the robot when the stopping condition is satisfied, and does not execute the stopping process when the stopping condition is not satisfied.