Methods includes calibrating robots without the use of external measurement equipment and copying working programs between un-calibrated robots. Both methods utilize the properties of a closed chain and the relative position of the links in the chain in order to update the kinematic models of the robots.

Systems and methods for mechanical coupling and calibration of two fixed-base robotic arms are disclosed. In particular, a first robotic arm is affixed to a first base at a proximal end and has a first coupling at a distal end and a second robotic arm is affixed to a second base at a proximal end and has a second coupling at a distal end. The first coupling is releasably coupled to a second coupling via a locking mechanism to prevent relative motion between the first and second couplings. Three-dimensional positional data is collected for the distal ends of the first robotic arm and the second robotic arm in one or more positions. A calibration value is determined from the three-dimensional positional data. The calibration value may be a calibration matrix determined by a least mean squares method.

There is provided for a calibration method for an operation apparatus. The operation apparatus comprises a first moving body unit capable of pivoting about a horizontally extending axis, a first driving unit configured to drive the first moving body unit, and a first detection unit configured to detect a pivot position of the first moving body unit. The method comprises aligning the first moving body unit to one reference position selected from a plurality of predetermined reference positions, determining the reference position by comparing a driving parameter value of the first driving unit at the one reference position with determination parameter values respectively preset for the plurality of reference positions, and registering, as reference position information for calculating the pivot position, position information of the one reference position determined in the determining and detection value information of the first detection unit.

There is provided for a calibration method for an operation apparatus. The operation apparatus comprises a first moving body unit capable of pivoting about a horizontally extending axis, a first driving unit configured to drive the first moving body unit, and a first detection unit configured to detect a pivot position of the first moving body unit. The method comprises aligning the first moving body unit to one reference position selected from a plurality of predetermined reference positions, determining the reference position by comparing a driving parameter value of the first driving unit at the one reference position with determination parameter values respectively preset for the plurality of reference positions, and registering, as reference position information for calculating the pivot position, position information of the one reference position determined in the determining and detection value information of the first detection unit.

A method of calibrating a manipulator of an industrial robot, the method including providing a primary manipulator having one or more primary joints and a primary mounting interface; providing a secondary manipulator having one or more secondary joints and a secondary mounting interface, where the primary mounting interface is substantially rigidly connected to the secondary mounting interface; providing a load sensor between the primary mounting interface and the secondary mounting interface, the load sensor being configured to provide load data indicative of loads between the primary mounting interface and the secondary mounting interface; controlling the primary manipulator to adopt at least one calibration state; for each calibration state, recording a primary joint position of at least one primary joint; and calibrating the secondary manipulator based on the at least one recorded primary joint position; wherein the primary manipulator is controlled to adopt the at least one calibration state based on the load data; and/or wherein the calibration of the secondary manipulator is additionally made based on the load data.

The invention is an in-process calibration system. It is not an open loop system or a closed loop system, but a hybrid system that retains both the low propensity for error of the closed loop system and the simplicity of the open loop system. The invention comprises a housing, one or more robots that move in up to three axes mounted to the housing, at least one sensor for each axis of the robots' movement, and a microcontroller. The sensors are fixed to the housing at known locations, and the microcontroller instructs end effectors of the robots through a sequence of moves that intermittently trigger the sensors. When the sensors are triggered, the microcontroller corrects the idealized location of the end effectors in the microcontroller's calculations to the actual location of the end effectors, which is, at the moment that the sensors are triggered, the known location of the sensors.

The invention is an in-process calibration system. It is not an open loop system or a closed loop system, but a hybrid system that retains both the low propensity for error of the closed loop system and the simplicity of the open loop system. The invention comprises a housing, one or more robots that move in up to three axes mounted to the housing, at least one sensor for each axis of the robots' movement, and a microcontroller. The sensors are fixed to the housing at known locations, and the microcontroller instructs end effectors of the robots through a sequence of moves that intermittently trigger the sensors. When the sensors are triggered, the microcontroller corrects the idealized location of the end effectors in the microcontroller's calculations to the actual location of the end effectors, which is, at the moment that the sensors are triggered, the known location of the sensors.