A illusory tactile sensation generation system and method via which a moving illusory tactile sensation may be created between spaced apart points on a user's skin using as few as two points of contact by varying the intensity at each point.

A coupling device (16, 116, 216, 316) configured optimally to communicate between a first and a second admittance controller and actuator assembly, the first and the second admittance control and actuator assembly respectively having a first and a second admittance controller (12a, 12b) configured to drive a respective first and a second actuator and each of the first and the second actuator being respectively connected to a first body having a first mass and a second body having a second mass, wherein the coupling device (16, 116, 216, 316) comprises: an input port having a first input for receiving a first input force signal (f1) from the first admittance controller and actuator assembly (12a) and a second input for receiving a second input force signal (f2) from the second admittance controller and actuator assembly (12b), and a processor adapted to derive a first output force signal for output to the first admittance controller and actuator assembly based on a Lagrange multiplier dependent on a comparison of the first input force signal and the second input force signal.

A welding training system includes one or more welding operator device which provides positional feedback relevant to a quality weld. The positional feedback is analyzed and, when the positional feedback is outside of a predetermined range, a signal is provided to the welding operator. In one embodiment, tactile feedback is provided in a welding gun.

A welding training system includes one or more welding operator device which provides positional feedback relevant to a quality weld. The positional feedback is analyzed and, when the positional feedback is outside of a predetermined range, a signal is provided to the welding operator. In one embodiment, tactile feedback is provided in a welding gun.

A working robot includes an arm including a plurality of shafts, a hand, a controller, a handling portion configured to receive a manipulating force applied by a teaching operator, a manipulating force detection portion configured to detect the manipulating force, and a reaction force detection portion configured to detect a reaction force received by the hand from a work target object. When the teaching operator teaches an operation of the arm and the hand for generating a work operation program, in a case where the reaction force has not been detected, the controller adjusts a parameter of impedance control such that resistance to movement of the hand applied is reduced, and in a case where the reaction force has been detected by the reaction force detection portion, the controller adjusts the parameter of impedance control such that the resistance to movement of the hand applied is increased.

A robot system includes: a robot that is movable according to an external force applied thereto by a worker; a force detecting unit that is provided in the robot and that detects the magnitude of an external force acting on the robot; a warning part that vibrates the robot when an external force having a magnitude equal to or greater than a first predetermined threshold is detected by the force detecting unit; and a stop part that stops the robot when an external force having a magnitude equal to or greater than a second predetermined threshold that is greater than the first predetermined threshold is detected by the force detecting unit.

A manual robot control by which a reference point of the robot is moved continually in space or positioned on an adjacent snap point depending on the control input.

A weld training device to provide a trainee with a real-world look and feel of a welding torch without the need to provide a welding arc. The weld training device provides adaptive vibration to simulate a welding operation. The weld training tracks performance and provides feedback to a trainee via a local display and/or via a communication to an external computing device.

A movable machine including a chassis, a tool coupled to the chassis, an operator control carried by the chassis and a controller. The controller is communicatively coupled to the operator control. The controller being configured to send a force feedback and/or a vibration feedback to the operator control thereby conveying information to the operator. The information is not related to a load encountered by the tool.

A movable machine including a chassis, a tool coupled to the chassis, an operator control carried by the chassis and a controller. The controller is communicatively coupled to the operator control. The controller being configured to send a force feedback and/or a vibration feedback to the operator control thereby conveying information to the operator. The information is not related to a load encountered by the tool.