A robotic navigation system includes a handheld navigation unit associated with a frame of reference. The handheld navigation unit is moveable with respect to a plurality of axes and is configured to send movement signals based on movement of the handheld navigation unit. A controller is configured to receive the movement signals from the handheld navigation unit and determine control signals for the robot. The control signals are configured to incrementally move the robot with respect to a point of interest removed from the robot. The point of interest is removed from a fixed point on the robot as defined by assigned coordinates. The controller is further configured to reassign the assigned coordinates following each incremental movement of the robot.

A robotic navigation system includes a handheld navigation unit associated with a frame of reference. The handheld navigation unit is moveable with respect to a plurality of axes and is configured to send movement signals based on movement of the handheld navigation unit. A controller is configured to receive the movement signals from the handheld navigation unit and determine control signals for the robot. The control signals are configured to incrementally move the robot with respect to a point of interest removed from the robot. The point of interest is removed from a fixed point on the robot as defined by assigned coordinates. The controller is further configured to reassign the assigned coordinates following each incremental movement of the robot.

The present invention relates to an operating device for controlling or programming a manipulator. The manipulator has a plurality of degrees of freedom which are independent of each other. The operating device comprises a manual control lever which is configured to specify at least one two-dimensional movement of the manipulator. Preferably, the manual control lever is a joystick. The operating device also comprises an information display which is allocated to the manual control lever and comprises a plurality of independently controllable display segments. The operating device further comprises a control device which is configured to individually control the display segments of the information display.

A robotic navigation system includes a handheld navigation unit associated with a frame of reference. The handheld navigation unit is moveable with respect to a plurality of axes and is configured to send movement signals based on movement of the handheld navigation unit. A controller is configured to receive the movement signals from the handheld navigation unit and determine control signals for the robot. The control signals are configured to incrementally move the robot with respect to a point of interest removed from the robot. The point of interest is removed from a fixed point on the robot as defined by assigned coordinates. The controller is further configured to reassign the assigned coordinates following each incremental movement of the robot.

The present invention relates to an operating device for controlling or programming a manipulator. The manipulator has a plurality of degrees of freedom which are independent of each other. The operating device comprises a manual control lever which is configured to specify at least one two-dimensional movement of the manipulator. Preferably, the manual control lever is a joystick. The operating device also comprises an information display which is allocated to the manual control lever and comprises a plurality of independently controllable display segments. The operating device further comprises a control device which is configured to individually control the display segments of the information display.

A robotic navigation system includes a handheld navigation unit associated with a frame of reference. The handheld navigation unit is moveable with respect to a plurality of axes and is configured to send movement signals based on movement of the handheld navigation unit. A controller is configured to receive the movement signals from the handheld navigation unit and determine control signals for the robot. The control signals are configured to incrementally move the robot with respect to a point of interest removed from the robot. The point of interest is removed from a fixed point on the robot as defined by assigned coordinates. The controller is further configured to reassign the assigned coordinates following each incremental movement of the robot.

A robotic navigation system is configured to move a robotic arm of a robot relative to a surface. The robotic navigation system includes a sensor, a handheld navigation unit, and a controller. The sensor is associated with the robotic arm. The sensor is configured to determine a status parameter of the robotic arm relative to the surface and provide sensor signals indicative of the status parameter. The handheld navigation unit is moveable with respect to one or more of a plurality of axes to indicate a commanded movement for the robot. The handheld navigation unit is configured to provide movement signals based on the commanded movement for the robot. The controller is configured to provide control signals for the robot based on the movement signals provided by the handheld navigation unit and the sensor signals provided by the sensor, wherein the control signals are configured to move the robot. The resulting robotic motion may dynamically track a desired feature or a component by correction and overriding a portion of the hand guided motion vector.