A work head unit that detects the rotational position of suction nozzle with first Q-axis encoder positioned facing component holding section that holds a component. With the work head unit, it is desirable to detect the orientation of component holding section at two locations: suction nozzle and syringe member.

A robot including a motor is used to machine a workpiece. The robot further includes the following components: a controller configured to output a speed command and commanded-position information; an encoder; a position sensor configured to output, as a differential signal, the amount of displacement of the position of the workpiece W from a predetermined position; a servo driver configured to control the motor upon receiving the speed command, the output signal of the encoder, and the differential signal; and a safety unit configured to detect a fault in the encoder. When controlling the motor based on the speed command, the output signal, and the differential signal, the servo driver sends the differential signal to the controller. The controller sends the safety unit new commanded-position information, which is generated by adding a correction value based on the differential signal to the commanded-position information.

A position measuring device includes a scale carrier with a measuring scale. A scanner is configured to generate position signals by scanning the measuring scale. A processor is configured to process the position signals into a digital position value. An interface is configured to communicate with downstream electronics. At least one collision sensor is assigned to the position measuring device, and is configured to generate analog or digital measured values from a time characteristic of which collision events are determinable. The measured values are fed to an evaluator configured to determine the collision events by evaluating the time characteristic of the measured values in a controller.

A control system includes an encoder and a control device that controls a target object. The encoder includes a position information generating unit that generates position information made of a predetermined amount of data and including absolute position data of an object to be detected; a configuration information generating unit that generates configuration information representing a ratio of the absolute position data in the amount of data during serial communication; and a transmission unit that transmits, to the control device, the position information and the configuration information as serial data. The control device includes a reception unit that receives the position information and the configuration information transmitted from the encoder; a storage unit that stores the received configuration information; and a notification unit that performs notification of a configuration mismatch when the stored configuration information does not match the next received configuration information.

A robot including a motor is used to machine a workpiece. The robot further includes the following components: a controller configured to output a speed command and commanded-position information; an encoder; a position sensor configured to output, as a differential signal, the amount of displacement of the position of the workpiece W from a predetermined position; a servo driver configured to control the motor upon receiving the speed command, the output signal of the encoder, and the differential signal; and a safety unit configured to detect a fault in the encoder. When controlling the motor based on the speed command, the output signal, and the differential signal, the servo driver sends the differential signal to the controller. The controller sends the safety unit new commanded-position information, which is generated by adding a correction value based on the differential signal to the commanded-position information.

A control system includes an encoder and a control device that controls a target object. The encoder includes a position information generating unit that generates position information made of a predetermined amount of data and including absolute position data of an object to be detected; a configuration information generating unit that generates configuration information representing a ratio of the absolute position data in the amount of data during serial communication; and a transmission unit that transmits, to the control device, the position information and the configuration information as serial data. The control device includes a reception unit that receives the position information and the configuration information transmitted from the encoder; a storage unit that stores the received configuration information; and a notification unit that performs notification of a configuration mismatch when the stored configuration information does not match the next received configuration information.

A work head unit that detects the rotational position of suction nozzle with first Q-axis encoder positioned facing component holding section that holds a component. With the work head unit, it is desirable to detect the orientation of component holding section at two locations: suction nozzle and syringe member.

A position measuring device includes a scale carrier with a measuring scale. A scanner is configured to generate position signals by scanning the measuring scale. A processor is configured to process the position signals into a digital position value. An interface is configured to communicate with downstream electronics. At least one collision sensor is assigned to the position measuring device, and is configured to generate analog or digital measured values from a time characteristic of which collision events are determinable. The measured values are fed to an evaluator configured to determine the collision events by evaluating the time characteristic of the measured values in a controller.

A mobile robot and a safety control system therefor. The safety control system includes a first monitoring circuit to movement data of the mobile robot; a second monitoring circuit to monitor whether the mobile robot collides with an obstacle; a third monitoring circuit to monitor whether an obstacle exists within a preset range of the mobile robot; a safety control circuit to generate a first safety instruction based on the movement data, a second safety instruction based on the collision signal, a third safety instruction based on the alarm signal, and a fourth safety instruction based on state information of the safety input device; a servo circuit to receive and execute a corresponding safety instruction; and a main control board to output a drive control signal to the servo circuit, for causing the servo circuit to control a motor of the mobile robot based on the drive control signal.

A robotic system may include an incremental encoder coupled to a joint of the system. The robotic system may include a memory configured to store representations of angular positions of the joint. The robotic system may include a motor coupled to the joint, where rotation of the joint while the motor is powered off (i) causes rotation of the motor such that electric power is generated, and (ii) updates the angular position of the joint. The robotic system may use the electric power to power on the incremental encoder and the memory while the robotic system is powered off. One or more processors may obtain, when the robotic system powers on after being powered off, the updated angular position of the joint from the memory, where the incremental encoder provides the updated angular position to the memory while the robotic system is powered off.