A robot control system and a method for updating camera calibration is presented. The method comprises the robot control system performing a first camera calibration to determine camera calibration information, and outputting a first movement command based on the camera calibration information for a robot operation. The method further comprises outputting, after the first camera calibration, a second movement command to move a calibration pattern within a camera field of view, receiving one or more calibration images, and adding the one or more calibration images to a captured image set. The method further comprises performing a second camera calibration based on calibration images in the captured image set to determine updated camera calibration information, determining whether a deviation between the camera calibration information and the updated camera calibration information exceeds a defined threshold, and outputting a notification signal if the deviation exceeds the defined threshold.

A robot teaching system includes: a photographing unit that photographs an image including a welding target and a marker installed on an industrial robot; a camera coordinate system setting unit that sets a camera coordinate system on a basis of the marker included in the image; an operation path setting unit that sets an operation path of the industrial robot on a basis of a welding position of the welding target included in the image in the camera coordinate system; and a program generation unit that generates a working program, while converting the set operation path from the camera coordinate system into a robot coordinate system set in a robot control apparatus on a basis of a position of the marker installed on the industrial robot. The robot teaching system generates a working program allowing appropriate welding at a welding position.

According to one aspect of the present invention, disclosed is an automatic calibration method for a calibration device connected to a camera that is disposed the end effector of a robot and to a robot controller for controlling the robot. The method comprises the steps of: acquiring, from the camera and the robot controller, a robot-based coordinate system and an image of a marker marked in the work area of the robot (wherein the acquired image and robot-based coordinate system are recorded while the end effector is moved to a plurality of sample coordinates); and estimating the position of a robot coordinate system-based marker by using the acquired image and robot-based coordinate system.

A robot control system and a method for updating camera calibration is presented. The method comprises the robot control system performing a first camera calibration to determine camera calibration information, and outputting a first movement command based on the camera calibration information for a robot operation. The method further comprises outputting, after the first camera calibration, a second movement command to move a calibration pattern within a camera field of view, receiving one or more calibration images, and adding the one or more calibration images to a captured image set. The method further comprises performing a second camera calibration based on calibration images in the captured image set to determine updated camera calibration information, determining whether a deviation between the camera calibration information and the updated camera calibration information exceeds a defined threshold, and outputting a notification signal if the deviation exceeds the defined threshold.

A computing system and a method for calibration verification is presented. The computing system is configured to perform a first calibration operation, and to control a robot arm to move a verification symbol to a reference location. The robot control system further receives, from a camera, a reference image of the verification symbol, and determines a reference image coordinate for the verification symbol. The robot control system further controls the robot arm to move the verification symbol to the reference location again during an idle period, receives an additional image of the verification symbol, and determines a verification image coordinate. The robot control system determines a deviation parameter value based the reference image coordinate and the verification image coordinate, and whether the deviation parameter value exceeds a defined threshold, and performs a second calibration operation if the threshold is exceeded.

A positioning system using a robot, capable of eliminating an error factor of the robot such as thermal expansion or backlash can be eliminated, and carrying out positioning of the robot with accuracy higher than inherent positioning accuracy of the robot. The positioning system has a robot with a movable arm, visual feature portions provided to a robot hand, and vision sensors positioned at a fixed position outside the robot and configured to capture the feature portions. The hand is configured to grip an object on which the feature portions are formed, and the vision sensors are positioned and configured to capture the respective feature portions.

An imaging inspection apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store a predetermined position between a first position and a second position as a signal output position, the predetermined position being set by using a distance from a reference position that is based on at least one of the first position and the second position; an image-capturing command signal generator configured to determine, when causing a distal end portion of a robot to move from the first position to the second position, whether or not the distal end portion of the robot is located at the signal output position, and if it is determined that the distal end portion of the robot is located at the signal output position, the image-capturing command signal generator transmits, to the image-capturing device, an image-capturing command signal for capturing an image of the inspection object by using the image-capturing device.

This disclosure is related to a non-contact tool center point calibration method for a robot arm, and the method comprises: obtaining a coordinate transformation relationship between a flange surface of the robot arm and cameras by a hand-eye calibration algorithm; constructing a space coordinate system by a stereoscopic reconstruction method; actuating a replaceable member fixed with the flange surface to present postures in a union field of view of the cameras sequentially, recording feature coordinates of the replaceable member in the space coordinate system, and recording flange surface coordinates which is under the postures in the space coordinate system; obtaining a transformation relationship between a tool center point and the flange surface; and updating the transformation relationship into a control program of the robot arm. Moreover, the disclosure further discloses a calibration device performing the calibration method and a robot arm system having the calibration function.

A method and system for determining poses for camera calibration is presented. The system determines a range of pattern orientations for performing the camera calibration, and determines a surface region on a surface of an imaginary sphere, which represents possible pattern orientations for the calibration pattern. The system determines a plurality of poses for the calibration pattern to adopt. The plurality of poses may be defined by respective combinations of a plurality of respective locations within the camera field of view and a plurality of respective sets of pose angle values. Each set of pose angle values of the plurality of respective sets may be based on a respective surface point selected from within the surface region on the surface of the imaginary sphere. The system outputs a plurality of robot movement commands based on the plurality of poses that are determined.

A method and a control arrangement for determining a relation R.Math.MA between a robot coordinate system of a robot and an MA coordinate system of a moveable apparatus, the movable apparatus including a sensor device and a localization mechanism configured to localize a sensor coordinate system of the sensor device in the MA coordinate system, wherein a marker is arranged in a fixed relation with a reference location on the robot. The method includes positioning the marker in a plurality of different poses in relation to the robot coordinate system. For each pose of the plurality of different poses, the method includes: determining, on the basis of sensor information, a relation C.Math.M between the sensor coordinate system and a marker coordinate system; determining a relation MA.Math.C between the MA coordinate system and the sensor coordinate system; determining a relation R.Math.E between the robot coordinate system and a reference location coordinate system. The method also includes determining the relation R.Math.MA using the relation C.Math.M, the relation MA.Math.C, and the relation R.Math.E, in the plurality of different poses.