A control method of an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a control unit coupled to a proximity sensor to detect a first distance of a user in a field of view, and coupled to a charge variation sensor to detect an electric/electrostatic charge variation caused by the user in a detection region. The control method includes acquiring a charge variation signal and generating charge variation parameters as a function of the charge variation signal. The control method further includes determining whether a condition on charge variation parameters is verified, and if the condition on charge variation parameters is verified, activating the proximity sensor and acquiring a proximity signal. Proximity parameters are generated as a function of the proximity signal. If a condition on proximity parameters is verified, one or more functionalities of the apparatus are activated.

A detection method of a user of an apparatus is provided in which the apparatus is coupled to a charge variation sensor having a control unit and an electrode to detect an electric/electrostatic charge variation of the user. The detection method includes acquiring, through the electrode, a charge variation signal indicative of the presence of the user. A filtered signal is generated by filtering the charge variation signal. A feature signal is generated as a function of the filtered signal. A movement signal indicative of a movement of the user is generated as a function of the feature signal. A presence signal indicative of the presence of the user is generated as a function of the movement signal.

The invention relates to a mobile security basic control device (15) of a robot (1), comprising a hand-held housing (16), an emergency stop switching means (17) arranged at the housing (16), a communication device (18) for establishing a link in terms of control between the mobile security basic control device (15) and a robot controller (12) of the robot (1), and further comprising a holder (19) connected to the housing (16), which is designed to mount the mobile security basic control device (15) on a mobile terminal (20). Said mobile terminal has a terminal control system (21) and a multi-touchscreen (22), which is designed to transmit inputs to the terminal control system (21) via the multi-touchscreen (22). The mobile security basic control device (15) comprises a coding device (25) which, in a state where the mobile security basic control device (15) is mounted on the mobile terminal (20) by means of the holder (19), is designed to automatically transmit at least one identification code identifying the mobile security basic control device (15) to the terminal control system (21) via the multi-touchscreen (22).

A communication robot includes: an operation part; and a communication arbitration unit configured to exhibit one of a robot mode for autonomously operating the operation part by applying a first operational criterion and an avatar mode for operating the operation part based on an operation instruction sent from a remote operator by applying a second operational criterion to arbitrate communication with a service user, in which the communication arbitration unit operates, when it is intended to exhibit the avatar mode in accordance with an operation request from the remote operator, the operation part in the robot mode and asks the service user whether to allow the mode to be switched to the avatar mode.

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.

An access control system controls access of a user to one or more operating functions of a technical installation. The access control system includes a receiving device configured to read access authorization data from a mobile data medium and an access control device configured to receive and validate the access authorization data from the receiving device. The receiving device continuously adds a dynamic portion to the access authorization data to create dynamic access authorization data and sends the dynamic access authorization data to the access control device. The access control device, in response to the dynamic access authorization data corresponding to a defined expectation, generates a release signal for those operating functions for which the access authorization data is valid.

This invention provides an information processing apparatus that performs maintenance of a machine tool based on received measurement data. The information processing apparatus includes an acquirer that acquires maintenance information including measurement data by a measuring instrument attached to a machine tool and identification information of the machine tool, a calculator that calculates an operation accuracy of the machine tool using the acquired maintenance information, and a correction information generator that generates correction information of the machine tool based on a calculation result by the calculator.

A robot system includes: a robot; a plurality of operation terminals that receive an input of a password for acquiring operation authority of the robot and an operation input for operating the robot from a user; and a robot controller communicable with the operation terminals . The robot controller drives, in a controlled manner, the robot according to operation from a single operation terminal among the operation terminals . The robot controller includes a password storage unit that stores a password for granting operation authority of the robot to the operation terminal . The robot controller further includes an operation authority grant processing unit that grants operation authority of the robot to a single operation terminal to which a proper predetermined password stored in the password storage unit is first input in a state in which operation authority of the robot is not granted to any operation terminal.

The invention is directed to a machine tool W having a control device for controlling the operating modes of the machine tool W. The control device comprises an operating unit B for operation of the control device by a user and a safety controller S for actuating the various machine areas M of the machine tool W. By means of the operating unit B, it is possible to select machine areas of the machine tool W and to define an operating mode for the selected machine areas M. The selected machine areas M and associated operating mode are transmitted to the safety controller S. As a result of this type of actuation of the machine tool, safe operation is possible during installation and service work on the machine tool.

Various embodiments that pertain to network functions are described. A network can be an ad hoc network that function with peer-to-peer communications. The network can be physically decentralized, yet logically centralized. Various functions can be practiced within this network environment. In one example, a provider can provide an authorization to a robot by way of a peer-to-peer communication. The robot can validate the authorization and practice what is authorized in response to the authorization being validated. This authorization can be to perform a function autonomously for a defined length of time.