A method of safeguarding a machine is provided in which objects are recognized in a work zone of the machine in which a contactless distance sensor that is moved along measures an actual measured value for a distance with at least one distance measurement beam, a first virtual distance measurement beam that simulates the distance measurement beam is formed, and the actual measured value is compared with its first virtual measured value. In this respect, at least one further virtual distance measurement beam having an offset from the first virtual distance measurement beam is formed and a further virtual measured value is calculated with it and a comparison is made whether the actual measured value is compatible with the virtual measured values.

A computer controlled robot system for positioning a patient for radiation therapy or other medical procedures and the like. The robot is mounted at the top of a vertical shaft extending from the treatment room floor and includes horizontal arms arranged to maximize the available work envelope and eliminate dead spots in the envelope that the robot cannot reach. A double redundant coupling system for coupling devices to the robot is provided. A vision based docking system is employed for automatically coupling devices to the robot. Various enhanced safety features are provided, including device specific collision avoidance.

An industrial robot provided with a drive shaft in which a power transmission unit is arranged between a servomotor and a power output unit includes: a first brake unit integrally incorporated in the servomotor; and a second brake unit which is connected to the power transmission unit to branch to a power transmission path of the power transmission unit. The drive shaft is braked by using both the first brake unit and the second brake unit.

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 multi-axis manipulator in the form of a robotic arm includes a safety disc (41) and safety collar (42) at one or more of the pivoting joints (14, 17, 19, 21, 23) thereof. The disc and collar define a small running clearance in normal use, but make contact in the event of excessive wear or failure of the rotary bearing at the respective joint. An inspection window (48) permits the running clearance to be checked, and the collar may comprise a caliper brake.

A plurality of motors, which drive plurality of axes of multi-axis robot, respectively; plurality of power converters, which control operation of plurality of motors, respectively, by supplying and controlling electric power to plurality of motors; drive circuits, each of which drives first semiconductor switching elements included in a corresponding one of power converters by outputting drive signals to control terminals of first semiconductor switching elements in accordance with control signals for controlling operation of the motors; shut-off circuit provided at non-end position in an electrical path, through which first operating power is supplied to drive circuits; and shut-off control circuit, which outputs shut-off signals to shut-off circuit. The shut-off circuit includes second semiconductor switching elements, which are inserted in an electrical path in series to each other, second semiconductor switching elements turning off in accordance with shut-off signals, respectively, to shut off the electrical path.

Provided are an oscillating apparatus and a control method for an oscillating apparatus, wherein in the oscillating apparatus in which a plurality or expansion/contraction devices are disposed between a first member and a second member that are disposed to face eacrh other, each expansion/contraction device comprises a first expansion/contraction part that is expandable and contractible between the first member and the second member, a second expansion/contraction part that is expandable and contractible between the first member and the second member, and a common driving source that supplies power to the first expansion/contraction part and the second expansion/contraction part.

A control system for a compliant robotic system including at least two compliant robots having actuator packs, the control system including: an individual local control system associated with each actuator pack, the local control system providing control signals to the actuator causing movement within the robots, an overall control system controlling the overall motion of robots when proximate within a workspace, the overall control signal providing signals to the actuators associated with the robots, so as to cause linked movement of the continuum arm robots, and wherein each individual control system is provided with a clock synchronized with the other, and wherein the overall control system is provided with a redundancy control system that limits the motion of the compliant robots within certain degrees of freedom, so that the motion of the at least two complaint robots does not conflict when operating under the overall control system.

A robot system (100) includes a robot controller (12) configured or programmed to, while a first imager (31) is imaging a workpiece (W), control a second imager (32) to stand by in a state in which a robot arm (11) is able to grasp the workpiece (W) based on imaging of the workpiece (W) by the second imager (32).

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.