A linear production device that mechanically processes workpieces, the linear production device including: multiple modules arranged in a linear formation, wherein each of the modules is equipped with a control device to control the module and an operation panel that is connected to the control device to enable a worker to enter operations, each of the control devices has a preassigned ID number and is configured to communicate with the other control devices through a network, and an origin control device, which is a control device connected in a manner allowing communication to the operation panel that is currently being used by the operator, uses the ID number of the origin control device so as to use the origin control device as an origin to search for the ID numbers of the remaining control devices in the network to determine a line configuration of the linear production device.

The invention relates to a robot system comprising: a robot arm, a robot controller configured to execute a robot control In process based on a robot control software program and an auxiliary control process based on an auxiliary control software program; and a peripheral device communicatively connected to the 5 robot controller. Execution of the robot control process is performed by the robot controller resulting in operation of the robot arm. Execution of the auxiliary control process is performed by the robot controller resulting in establishing of a logic signal based on an application input signal received from the robot control process or the peripheral device. The auxiliary control process is configured to 10 establish a logic output signal based on the logic signal and, based on the logic output signal, configured to control operation of any of the robot control process and the peripheral device.

A control device for a production module that has a settings management module for detecting restrictions for operating settings of the production module and for producing corresponding restriction data records is provided. A data memory is provided for the purpose of storing a local restriction table containing a multiplicity of restriction data records. A balancing module is used to iteratively read in first restriction data records in a corresponding restriction table of a first adjacent production module, to iteratively build the local restriction table on the basis of the first restriction data records which have been read in and to iteratively forward second restriction data records in the local restriction table to a second adjacent production module. A control module is also provided for the purpose of setting an operating setting according to a restriction data record which identifies this operating setting.

A control device for a production module that has a settings management module for detecting restrictions for operating settings of the production module and for producing corresponding restriction data records is provided. A data memory is provided for the purpose of storing a local restriction table containing a multiplicity of restriction data records. A balancing module is used to iteratively read in first restriction data records in a corresponding restriction table of a first adjacent production module, to iteratively build the local restriction table on the basis of the first restriction data records which have been read in and to iteratively forward second restriction data records in the local restriction table to a second adjacent production module. A control module is also provided for the purpose of setting an operating setting according to a restriction data record which identifies this operating setting.

An industrial robot adapted for operation in a factory environment includes: sensors, actuators, a robot controller and a wireless interface configured to establish a sidelink to a further industrial robot or a group of industrial robots after a successful proximity verification. The industrial robot is configured to participate in execution of a utility task, which is carried out in collaboration with the further industrial robot or at least some members of the group of industrial robots, said collaboration including an exchange of operational data over the sidelink. An example utility task is the coordinated transfer of an object by multiple participating industrial robots. Another example is the collecting of map information by multiple participating industrial robots.