A radio frequency (RF) based waveguide health monitoring system is disclosed. The system employs an RF transmitter for launching a probe RF waveform into a waveguide. Reflections, etc., from the interior of the waveguide of the probe RF waveform create a signature RF waveform, with a health RF receiver receiving this resultant signature RF waveform. A health processing system analyzes the signature RF waveform, and when it detects a change indicative of a deformation of the waveguide, generates a warning signal. This change may be due to bends, flexes, vibrations (or changes in vibrations), or separations of the waveguide. The system may have low frequency, high frequency, or high frequency imaging modes. The system may employ a high-power probe RF waveform, thereby enabling a wireless charging system with power RF receivers located along the length of the waveguide providing additional functionality.

A fenceless system and method for automatically moving one or more items between a structure at a source location and a destination using a robot is provided. The system comprises a robot having an end effector to selectively grasp an item. A trajectory planning controller directs the robot to move the item between a source location and a destination. A touch sensor detects a contact between an external object and a surface of the robot or a surface surrounding the end effector; and a proximity sensor detects a person in proximity to the robot. A vision sensor detects a location and orientation of items to be moved. The robot moves in proximity to a person without a safety fence preventing the person from contacting the robot. The system adjusts a speed of the robot in response to detecting a person in one of a plurality of zones around the robot.

An apparatus and method for executing a safety function is particularly applicable to monitoring a safety area of a technical installation. An imaging unit acquires an event that triggers the safety function within a defined working area. A controller carries out a safety-related reaction depending on the triggering event. A test unit is configured to verify the operability of the imaging unit and includes a processing unit and a projection unit. The projection unit projects a pattern with defined properties into the working area. The processing unit evaluates the image data acquired by the imaging unit to detect the projected pattern within the acquired image data. Further, the processing unit extracts the specific properties of the detected projected pattern, and compares the specific properties of the detected projected pattern with the defined properties.

The present invention relates to a system and method for monitoring the safety of users in a shaded area, wherein location information about an RFID post installed in a shaded area is identified by means of an RFID tag, so that the location of a work group working in the shaded area can be transmitted to a control server in real time, and the control server compares the location of the work group with operation information about trains, thereby determining whether the work group is in danger or not, makes notification the same, so that the safety of the work group can be secured.

Systems and methods for determining safe and unsafe zones in a workspace—where safe actions are calculated in real time based on all relevant objects (e.g., some observed by sensors and others computationally generated based on analysis of the sensed workspace) and on the current state of the machinery (e.g., a robot) in the workspace—may utilize a variety of workspace-monitoring approaches as well as dynamic modeling of the robot geometry. The future trajectory of the robot(s) and/or the human(s) may be forecast using, e.g., a model of human movement and other forms of control. Modeling and forecasting of the robot may, in some embodiments, make use of data provided by the robot controller that may or may not include safety guarantees.

The present invention relates to a system and method for monitoring the safety of users in a shaded area, wherein location information about an RFID post installed in a shaded area is identified by means of an RFID tag, so that the location of a work group working in the shaded area can be transmitted to a control server in real time, and the control server compares the location of the work group with operation information about trains, thereby determining whether the work group is in danger or not, makes notification the same, so that the safety of the work group can be secured.

Various embodiments of a jobsite keep out zone system are provided. The system includes one or more detectors configured to determine when an intruder is within and/or is approaching a protected area. In response to the determination, one or more alarms and/or notifications are generated.

A shaping or cutting machine, especially a skinner, at which an operator hand-feeds material to be cut or shaped toward a blade. Hand proximity detection devices are provided for operator safety; machine-vision across a surveilled volume before the blade, and conduction sensing devices. The blade is mounted on a rapidly retractable frame. Power from release of a spring physically moves the blade to a safe position if a hand is sensed. A gripping roller is driven by a rapidly stoppable motor.

A method for controlling a robot includes the steps of: deciding whether there is a non-permanent object in a vicinity of the robot; if there is a non-permanent object, deciding whether the object qualifies for extended protection or not; and defining a safety zone around the object which the robot must not enter or in which a maximum allowed speed of the robot is less than outside the safety zone. The safety zone extends to a greater distance from the object if the object qualifies for extended protection than if it does not.

A 3D sensor for monitoring a monitored zone is provided, wherein the 3D sensor has at least one light receiver for generating a received signal from received light from the monitored zone and has a control and evaluation unit that is configured to detect objects in the monitored zone by evaluating the received signal and to determine the shortest distance of the detected objects from at least one reference volume, and to read at least one distance calculated in advance from the reference value from a memory for the determination of the respective shortest distance of a detected object.