A laser processing robot system, in which an augmented reality processing technology is used to enable a processing laser beam and its irradiation position to be safely and easily seen, is provided. A laser processing robot system includes an image processing device having an augmented reality image processing unit for performing augmented reality image processing for an actual image including an image of a robot captured by an imaging device. The augmented reality image processing unit is adapted to superimpose a virtual image representing at least one of a laser beam obtained by assuming that the laser beam is emitted from a laser irradiation device to a workpiece, and an irradiation position of the laser beam, onto the actual image, and to display the superimposed image on the display device.

Methods, devices and systems for remotely operating a machine using a communication device. In one aspect, a method includes generating images showing at least one operating range of the machine by using at least one camera of the machine, transmitting the generated images and an image of an operating surface of the machine to the communication device via a radio network, displaying at least one of: the operating surface image and at least one of the generated images on an operating display of the communication device, accepting machine operation commands input by an operator using the operating display, and then transmitting the machine operation commands via the radio network, thereby remotely operating the machine.

System includes: an operation terminal that (i) receives an operation instruction that is given by the operator to a movable section of a machine and (ii) senses an operation standby state that allows the operation instruction to be received; an image sensor estimating section configured to estimate a positional relationship between the operator and the machine; a model generating section configured to, in response to sensing of the operation standby state by the operation terminal, generate an operating direction indicating image; and in accordance with the positional relationship, in a direction that is in accordance with a direction in which the operator views the machine, the operating direction indicating image indicating an operating direction of the movable section; an combining section configured to generate a combined image obtained by combining the operating direction indicating image with a captured image of the movable section that has been photographed.

A method for assigning a processing plan to a mobile unit data set of a mobile unit of an indoor location system of a manufacturing hall is provided. The method includes: providing a manufacturing control system for industrial processing of workpieces with a machine tool in accordance with workpiece-specific processing plans, each processing plan storing order information for a workpiece to be processed, providing a mobile unit with an image acquisition unit for acquiring image data, mobile unit data set belonging to the mobile unit and position data of the mobile unit acquired with the indoor location system being stored in the manufacturing control system, acquiring image data of a processing plan-specific object for identifying the processing plan to be assigned with the manufacturing control system, and assigning the identified processing plan to the mobile unit data set of the mobile unit in the manufacturing control system.

A method of determining an installation site of a robot manipulator at a workstation, the method including: recording a respective image of the robot manipulator and of the workstation of the robot manipulator, and of a workpiece to be machined at the workstation via a camera unit, wherein the respective image contains spatial information; transmitting the respective image to a computing unit; and determining the installation site of the robot manipulator by applying a non-linear optimization of a predefined cost function and/or of a neural network via the computing unit based on a predefined task for machining the workpiece and based on the spatial information determined by the computing unit from the respective image.

A work supporting apparatus includes: a visible light camera (visible light image photographing unit) configured to photograph a visible light image; a far-infrared camera (thermal image photographing unit) configured to photograph a thermal image; a work progress status determining unit configured to determine a work progress status from the visible light image photographed by the visible light camera and the thermal image photographed by the far-infrared camera; and a display configured to display a determination result of the work progress status.

A method for assigning a workpiece to be processed to a mobile unit of an indoor location system used in a manufacturing hall in industrial processing of workpieces is provided. The method includes: providing a manufacturing control system for the industrial processing of workpieces with a machine tool in accordance with workpiece-specific processing plans, providing an assistance system for collecting measurement assistance workpiece data sets for the workpieces, detecting a workpiece to be assigned with the assistance system and generating a measurement-assistance-workpiece data set for the workpiece, comparing the measurement-assistance-workpiece data set with a processing plan-assistance-workpiece data set corresponding to the workpiece to identify a processing plan, providing a mobile unit assigned to the identified processing plan, the indoor location system configured to determine a position of the mobile unit, and spatially assigning the workpiece to the mobile unit assigned to the identified processing plan.

The present disclosure relates to a method for facilitating monitoring and control of an industrial process by means of a portable device comprising a projector arranged to project process graphics associated with process components of the industrial process. The method comprises a) obtaining, by means of the portable device, process component identification data of a process component; b) obtaining distance data for determining a distance between the portable device and the process component; and c) obtaining a process graphics image based on the process component identification data and the distance data for projection by the portable device, wherein the process graphics image is associated with a portion of the industrial process comprising the process component, and wherein information contained in the process graphics image is based on the distance between the portable device and the process component. The present disclosure further relates to a computer program and to a portable device.

A workpiece collecting point unit for a machine tool, in particular for a flatbed machine tool, such as a laser cutting or punching flatbed machine tool, has a placing area for workpieces produced by the machine tool within the framework of a processing plan, a display unit adapted to display information about the workpieces, which are to be further processed and were placed on the placing area, to an operator, and a signal device adapted to output an identification signal indicating to an operator the location of the selected workpiece collecting point unit for placing the workpiece, which is to be further processed, on the placing area. The workpiece collecting point unit can be used inter alia in a process to support a sequence of processing steps for processing workpieces.

A work supporting apparatus includes: a visible light camera (visible light image photographing unit) configured to photograph a visible light image; a far-infrared camera (thermal image photographing unit) configured to photograph a thermal image; a work progress status determining unit configured to determine a work progress status from the visible light image photographed by the visible light camera and the thermal image photographed by the far-infrared camera; and a display configured to display a determination result of the work progress status.