In a device and method for determining a contact between a tool and a workpiece, which are displaceable relative to each other, the tool or workpiece being rotationally fixedly connected to a shaft, the device includes a measuring arrangement including a measuring scale rotationally fixedly disposed on the shaft and at least one position encoder disposed in a stationary manner relative to the shaft, and a processing device. The position encoder is adapted to scan the measuring scale and to generate position values indicating a position of the shaft. The position values are fed to the processing device, which determines contact between the tool and the workpiece by evaluating a progression of the position values and signals the result of the evaluation by the status of a displacement signal.

A robot control device includes a contact judging part which judges if the robot has contacted an object based on external force which is detected by the sensor, a stop command part which makes the robot stop when it is judged that the robot has contacted the object, a continuous contact judging part which judges if the robot continues to contact the object after making the robot stop, and a retraction command part which makes the robot retract in a direction away from the object when it is judged that the robot continues to contact the object.

A system and method for using a probe assembly to apply a desired force to a target surface. The method includes moving the probe assembly into an approach position, the approach position being a predetermined distance from the target surface. The probe assembly is then moved from the approach position to the target surface pursuant to a soft landing procedure. The soft landing procedure includes determining that the probe assembly has moved into soft contact with the target surface. The method further includes applying, subsequent to establishment of the soft contact between the probe assembly and the target surface, force to the probe assembly until an applied force on the target surface reaches the desired force. The applied force may then be monitored based upon an output of a load cell responsive to a force exerted by the probe assembly.

A robot system includes a robot including leading end, base, and multi-articular arm, and circuitry that controls the atm to move the end based on motion control program specifying transition over time of target position and posture of the end, the transition including correction target portion starting and ending in the transition; controls the arm to move the end in response to guided manipulation applying external force to the robot while the circuitry controls the arm; obtains relative command information based on the target position and posture at start of the correction portion and specifying the target position and posture at points in the correction portion including start and end in the correction portion; and controls the arm to move the end from the position and posture based on the information, beginning at time when movement of the arm controlled by the circuitry in response to the manipulation has ended.

A robot system includes a robot including leading end, base, and multi-articular arm, and circuitry that controls the atm to move the end based on motion control program specifying transition over time of target position and posture of the end, the transition including correction target portion starting and ending in the transition; controls the arm to move the end in response to guided manipulation applying external force to the robot while the circuitry controls the arm; obtains relative command information based on the target position and posture at start of the correction portion and specifying the target position and posture at points in the correction portion including start and end in the correction portion; and controls the arm to move the end from the position and posture based on the information, beginning at time when movement of the arm controlled by the circuitry in response to the manipulation has ended.

A probe displacement command in a scanning measurement is generated according to a composite speed vector V:
V=Gf.Math.Vf+Ge.Math.Ve+sp(p).Math.Gc.Math.Vc2 wherein Vf is a vector along which a probe is displaced along a scanning path, Ve is a vector maintaining a deflection amount of the probe toward a work piece at a standard deflection amount. Vc2 is represented by (Vc1.Math.q)q, Vc1 is a vector in a direction correcting a probe position such that a stylus tip is oriented along a scanning course, q is a vector given by a vector product of the normal line of a surface of the work piece and Vf, The normal direction of a measured surface is designated as Nw, p is a scalar product of Vc2 and Nw, and sg(p) is a function returning +1 or 1 in accordance with a value of p.

In a device and method for determining a contact between a tool and a workpiece, which are displaceable relative to each other, the tool or workpiece being rotationally fixedly connected to a shaft, the device includes a measuring arrangement including a measuring scale rotationally fixedly disposed on the shaft and at least one position encoder disposed in a stationary manner relative to the shaft, and a processing device. The position encoder is adapted to scan the measuring scale and to generate position values indicating a position of the shaft. The position values are fed to the processing device, which determines contact between the tool and the workpiece by evaluating a progression of the position values and signals the result of the evaluation by the status of a displacement signal.

A probe displacement command in a scanning measurement is generated according to a composite speed vector V:

V=Gf.Math.Vf+Ge.Math.Ve+sp(p).Math.Gc.Math.Vc2 wherein Vf is a vector along which a probe is displaced along a scanning path, Ve is a vector maintaining a deflection amount of the probe toward a work piece at a standard deflection amount. Vc2 is represented by (Vc1.Math.q)q, Vc1 is a vector in a direction correcting a probe position such that a stylus tip is oriented along a scanning course, q is a vector given by a vector product of the normal line of a surface of the work piece and Vf, The normal direction of a measured surface is designated as Nw, p is a scalar product of Vc2 and Nw, and sg(p) is a function returning +1 or 1 in accordance with a value of p.