A novel motor controller controls a stepping motor and includes a command value calculator to calculate and output a speed command value and an angle command value based on a reference clock. A control method selector is included to select one of the open-loop control and the closed-loop control in accordance with the speed command value. A command value output unit is included to output a first target value as the first current command value when the open-loop control is selected and outputs a second target value as the second current command value when the closed-loop control is selected. The motor controller controls the stepping motor based on the first target value when the open-loop control is selected and the second target value when the closed-loop control is selected.

A novel motor controller controls a stepping motor and includes a command value calculator to calculate and output a speed command value and an angle command value based on a reference clock. A control method selector is included to select one of the open-loop control and the closed-loop control in accordance with the speed command value. A command value output unit is included to output a first target value as the first current command value when the open-loop control is selected and outputs a second target value as the second current command value when the closed-loop control is selected. The motor controller controls the stepping motor based on the first target value when the open-loop control is selected and the second target value when the closed-loop control is selected.

A managing apparatus includes: a data collecting unit that collects at least quality information on a workpiece having been machined by a first machine tool and operational information on other machine, an analyzing unit that performs an analysis for determining correlation between the quality information on a workpiece having been machined by the first machine tool and the operational information on the other machine, an operation plan making unit that makes an operation plan, based on the correlation determined by the analyzing unit, for imposing a restriction on an operation of the other machine to reduce vibrations to be transmitted to the first machine tool during high-precision machining performed by the first machine tool, and an operation instruction providing unit that provides an operation instruction to the other machine based on the operation plan made by the operation plan making unit.

A system and method for improving additive manufacturing, including additive manufacturing toolpaths, is provided. The system and method includes a toolpath generator that obtains initial toolpaths of an object, identifies isolated paths in the toolpaths, and adds bridge connections between neighboring isolated paths in each layer to improve the toolpaths. The bridge connections facilitate the continuous and non-stop deposition of each layer according to improved toolpaths during additive manufacture, which can reduce total deposition time and improve the resultant additive manufacture.

A system and method for improving additive manufacturing, including additive manufacturing toolpaths, is provided. The system and method includes a toolpath generator that obtains initial toolpaths of an object, identifies isolated paths in the toolpaths, and adds bridge connections between neighboring isolated paths in each layer to improve the toolpaths. The bridge connections facilitate the continuous and non-stop deposition of each layer according to improved toolpaths during additive manufacture, which can reduce total deposition time and improve the resultant additive manufacture.

A robot system is configured to identify gestures performed by an end-user proximate to a work piece. The robot system then determines a set of modifications to be made to the work piece based on the gestures. A projector coupled to the robot system projects images onto the work piece that represent the modification to be made and/or a CAD model of the work piece. The robot system then performs the modifications.

A method for preemptive control planning can include: optionally determining a graph that defines dependencies between behaviors; executing an execution plan for an executing behavior; generating a set of predictions with the executing behavior; propagating the set of predictions to child behaviors of the executing behavior; determining child execution plans and child predictions with the child behaviors; repeating the above for descendant behaviors of each child behavior; determining a realized world state associated with completion of the execution plan; and executing a child execution plan associated with a world state prediction matching the realized world state.

A system and method for authenticating a physical object. The method may include the steps of: (1) encoding a feed material with randomized information; (2) forming the object with the feed material such that one or more portions of the object have respective randomized signatures based upon at least some of the randomized information of the feed material; (3) reading the respective randomized signatures at the one or portions of the object; (4) creating a profile of the respective randomized signatures at the one or more portions of the object based upon information from the reading; (5) transporting the physical object to an authenticator, and transmitting the profile to the authenticator; (6) reading the respective randomized signatures at the one or more portions of the object by the authenticator; and (7) comparing the reading by the authenticator to the profile received by the authenticator to thereby authenticate the physical object.

A machining system includes: a jig retaining a plurality of workpieces; a measurement device measuring the retained plurality of workpieces; and a machining device machining the retained plurality of workpieces. The jig has a reference part positioned or position detected by the machining device. The measurement device has: a measurement unit measuring a positional relationship of the retained plurality of workpieces relative to the reference part, and an input unit using a recording medium or communication to input measured positional information of the plurality of workpieces to the machining device. The machining device has: a jig coordinate system specifying unit specifying a coordinate system of the jig, by positioning or position measuring the reference part, and a workpiece coordinate system setting unit individually setting coordinate systems of each of the plurality of workpieces, based on the specified coordinate system, and the inputted positional information.

A controller is provided for driving a stepper motor with a magnetic rotor and at least one coil. The controller has a power stage for supplying the at least one coil with current, at least one analog Hall sensor for providing a signal as a function of the position of the magnetic rotor with respect to the Hall sensor, and a feedback line connecting the Hall sensor with the power stage to feed the signal of the Hall sensor back to the power stage.