An article alignment apparatus includes an interval setting unit configured to specify a distance between articles aligned along a movement direction of a conveyor, a movement amount acquisition unit configured to acquire a movement amount of a placement portion of the conveyor from a detector, a virtual target generation unit configured to generate a virtual target which serves as a reference in positioning the article on the placement portion, before a robot executes a placement operation of the article, and a placement operation execution unit configured to place the article within the virtual target by tracking the virtual target moving together with the conveyor based on information detected by the detector.

A method for projecting a production process for producing a workpiece with a desired formation of a characteristic feature of the workpiece is implemented by a computer system. Using the method, the desired formation of the characteristic feature of the workpiece is detected and compared with formations of the characteristic feature of preceding workpieces. The formations of the characteristic feature of the preceding workpieces are stored in a formation database and a production parameter that is stored in a parameter database. When a formation of the characteristic feature of a preceding workpiece that is relevant to the desired formation of the characteristic feature is established with reference to the definition of the production parameter, the production parameter is defined for the production process for producing the workpiece with the desired formation of the characteristic feature.

A method of indicating processing steps to be carried out on a workpiece mounted in processing machine, the method comprising a step of visualizing at the same time or sequentially a succession of individual planned processing steps to be applied to the workpiece, prior to execution of said processing steps and a processing machine comprising a processing unit, a moving table and a controller.

A method may include projecting, onto a surface within a computer numerically controlled machine, a structured light having a known property. One or more sensors may generate an image of the structured light projected on the surface within the computer numerically controlled machine. One or more characteristics of the surface may be determined by comparing a property of the structured light shown in the image to the known property of the structured light. Examples of characteristics include a size, a distance to the surface, a height, a thickness, an angle of the surface, edges, surface properties, jigs, fiducial alignment markers, patterns encoding data, and visual designs on the surface of the material that are intended for reproductions. A surface map indicating the characteristics of the surface at various locations may be generated to enable, for example, a calibration, alignment, and/or optimization of the computer numerically controlled machine.

In various embodiments, a dynamically directed workpiece positioning system may include a transport, a sensor positioned to detect a workpiece on the transport, a cutting member positioned along or downstream of the transport, and a computer system. The sensor may scan the workpiece as the workpiece is moved relative to the transport by a human operator or a positioning device. Based on the scan data, the computer system may generate commands to guide the human operator or positioning device in moving the workpiece to a desired position corresponding to a cut solution for the workpiece. Optionally, the computer system may cause the cutting member to be repositioned while the workpiece is being moved relative to the transport. Once the workpiece is in the desired position, the transport may be used to move the workpiece toward the cutting member. Corresponding methods and apparatuses are also disclosed.

A programmable device (D) arranged in a production environment, to assist an operator (O) in performing manual assembly operations carried out by the operator (O), particularly during assembly operations performed on pieces (P) transported by pallets (5) in a production line (1). The device (D) comprises an assembly means usable by the operator (O), a lighting device (4) for lighting a work area in which the operator (O) works, a sensor (6) configured to detect the position of the assembly means, an input device (10) usable by the operator, and an electronic control system (8) configured to memorize a learning sequence including a sequence of manual assembly operations.

A method includes receiving, from an imaging device associated with a robotic apparatus, an image signal including an object of interest represented in the image signal; receiving, by the robotic apparatus from an external agent, a task indication related to the object of interest, the task indication representative of a task to be performed by the robotic apparatus with respect to the object of interest; and responsive to receipt of the task indication: detecting salient features of the object of interest within the image; storing, by the robotic apparatus, a task context, the task context comprising data pertaining to the salient features and data pertaining to the task indication; and commencing, by the robotic apparatus, the task with respect to the object of interest.

A method may include projecting, onto a surface within a computer numerically controlled machine, a structured light having a known property. One or more sensors may generate an image of the structured light projected on the surface within the computer numerically controlled machine. One or more characteristics of the surface may be determined by comparing a property of the structured light shown in the image to the known property of the structured light. Examples of characteristics include a size, a distance to the surface, a height, a thickness, an angle of the surface, edges, surface properties, jigs, fiducial alignment markers, patterns encoding data, and visual designs on the surface of the material that are intended for reproductions. A surface map indicating the characteristics of the surface at various locations may be generated to enable, for example, a calibration, alignment, and/or optimization of the computer numerically controlled machine.

A bending machine with a work area image capture apparatus has a machine frame, a longitudinally extended, fixed machine table, and a longitudinally extended press beam moved by a drive relative to the frame and guided therein. The longitudinal expanse and the press beam movement direction define a working plane establishing a front working and manipulation space and a rear machine space. An image capture apparatus above the machine table in the machine space has a capture region oriented toward the machine space and is connected with a display configured to represent the captured image of the capture region. The capture apparatus is connected with the display by an image processing processor having a coordinate transformation module configured the captured image perspective. The coordinate transformation module is connected with a wireless position determination system configured to determine the machine operator position in the working and manipulation space.

The information projection system includes stereo cameras, a controller, and projectors. The controller has a communication device, an analysis unit, a registration unit, and a projection control unit. The communication device acquires sets of appearance information in which each stereo camera detects an appearance of a workplace. The analysis unit analyzes the sets of appearance information, and creates a map information indicating shapes and positions of objects existing in the workplace. The registration unit creates and registers a work status information based on the map information that is individually created from the sets of appearance information respectively detected by the plurality of stereo cameras. The projection control unit creates an auxiliary image for assisting a work based on the work status information, and outputs the auxiliary image to each projector.