Drive unit of an automation component, in particular a gripping, clamping, changing, linear or pivoting unit, whereby the drive unit includes a drive for driving the movable parts of the automation component and a control unit which controls the drive, whereby the control unit includes at least one computing device, and the drive unit together with the drive, control unit and computing device is arranged in or on a base housing of the automation component.

A control device for controlling a robot that performs a task has an independent mode that causes the robot to work separately and a collaborative mode that causes the robot to work in collaboration with a worker. The control device causes the robot to operate in the independent mode or the collaborative mode. The control device is configured to determine whether a first predetermined condition is satisfied, based on a position of the worker, and to switch from the independent mode to the collaborative mode when the first predetermined condition is satisfied during the independent mode. The control device is configured to determine whether a second predetermined condition is satisfied, based on the position of the worker, and to switch from the collaborative mode to the independent mode when the second predetermined condition is satisfied during the collaborative mode.

A mobile robot provided with a drop guard. The robot includes a body coupled to a wheel assembly having a plurality of wheels and a drive mechanism arranged to move the body about a top of a storage frame along a first set of parallel rails extending in a first direction and a second set of parallel rails extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The robot includes a picking arm equipped with an end effector for picking items from a storage container and a drop guard secured to the body. The guard is movable from a stowed condition to an expanded condition to prevent items from falling within the storage frame.

An electronic circuit for a surgical robotic system includes a central power node, a first voltage bus that electrically couples a first power source to the node, a second voltage bus that electrically couples a second power source to the node, and several robotic arms, each arm is electrically coupled to the node via an output circuit breaker and is arranged to draw power from the node. Each bus is arranged to provide power from a respective power source to the node and each bus has an input circuit breaker that is arranged to limit a first output current flow from the node and into the bus. Each breaker that is arranged to limit a second output current flow from the node and into a respective arm. A breaker is arranged to open in response to a fault occurring within the respective arm, while the other breakers remain closed.

A brake release device and a robot manipulator employing the same are provided. The robot manipulator includes a housing and a brake element. The housing defines an inner space and has an opening, and the inner space is in communication with a space outside the housing through the opening. The brake element is disposed within the inner space. The robot manipulator stops or is allowed to actuate according to a position of the brake element. The brake release device is connected with the brake element. The brake release device is partially located in the inner space, and the brake release device partially penetrates through the opening and is exposed from the housing. When the part of the brake release device exposed from the housing is moved by an external force so as to drive the brake element to move synchronously, the robot manipulator is allowed to actuate.

A device for the detection of objects for a robot, provided for equipping said robot, including: at least one sensor, called approach sensor, implementing a first detection technology for detecting a neighbouring object; and at least one sensor, called proximity sensor, implementing a second detection technology for detecting a neighbouring object, different from said the first technology, and having a range less than that of the at least one approach sensor. A robot equipped with such a device is also disclosed.

According to an aspect, there is provided a teaching device on which portable terminal equipment is mounted, the teaching device being used to teach operation to a robot. The teaching device includes a case section including a mounting surface on which the portable terminal equipment is mounted. The case section includes a first member including a stop switch for stopping the operation of the robot and configured to restrict the portable terminal equipment's moving in a first direction extending along the mounting surface and a second member provided to be capable of moving in the first direction relatively to the first member and configured to restrict the portable terminal equipment's moving in an opposite direction of the first direction.

A device for the detection of objects for a robot, provided for equipping said robot, including: at least one sensor, called approach sensor, implementing a first detection technology for detecting a neighbouring object; and at least one sensor, called proximity sensor, implementing a second detection technology for detecting a neighbouring object, different from said the first technology, and having a range less than that of the at least one approach sensor. A robot equipped with such a device is also disclosed.

Drive unit of an automation component, in particular a gripping, clamping, changing, linear or pivoting unit, whereby the drive unit comprises includes a drive for driving the movable parts of the automation component and a control unit which controls the drive, whereby the control unit comprises includes at least one computing device, and the drive unit together with the drive, control unit and computing device is arranged in or on a base housing of the automation component.

A brake release device and a robot manipulator employing the same are provided. The robot manipulator includes a housing and a brake element. The housing defines an inner space and has an opening, and the inner space is in communication with a space outside the housing through the opening. The brake element is disposed within the inner space. The robot manipulator stops or is allowed to actuate according to a position of the brake element. The brake release device is connected with the brake element. The brake release device is partially located in the inner space, and the brake release device partially penetrates through the opening and is exposed from the housing. When the part of the brake release device exposed from the housing is moved by an external force so as to drive the brake element to move synchronously, the robot manipulator is allowed to actuate.