Systems and methods for determining safe and unsafe zones in a workspace—where safe actions are calculated in real time based on all relevant objects (e.g., some observed by sensors and others computationally generated based on analysis of the sensed workspace) and on the current state of the machinery (e.g., a robot) in the workspace—may utilize a variety of workspace-monitoring approaches as well as dynamic modeling of the robot geometry. The future trajectory of the robot(s) and/or the human(s) may be forecast using, e.g., a model of human movement and other forms of control. Modeling and forecasting of the robot may, in some embodiments, make use of data provided by the robot controller that may or may not include safety guarantees.

A method for operating a robotic arm using a first visualization device includes visually indicating, on the robotic arm and/or in the workspace of the robotic arm and/or on a work surface below the robotic arm, an imminent adjustment of at least one axis of the robotic arm, in particular of at least one axis closest to the robotic arm base.

A robot system includes: a robot; an illumination apparatus disposed in or around the robot; and a control apparatus that controls the robot and the illumination apparatus, wherein the control apparatus includes a robot control unit that operates the robot on the basis of a program, an operation area prediction unit that predicts an operation area of the robot on the basis of the program, and an illumination control unit that turns on or off the illumination apparatus on the basis of the operation area predicted by the operation area prediction unit to display the operation area.

In one embodiment, communicating robot intentions to human beings involves determining movements that a robot will make to complete a task, visually communicating a long-term intention of the robot that provides an indication of the movements the robot will make in completing the task, and visually communicating a short-tem intention of the robot that provides an indication of a movement of the robot will make within the next few seconds in working toward completing the task.

A robot system comprises an intrusion detector which detects that a person has entered into a monitoring area established around a robot, an installation table which supports the robot, a light emitting device which brightens a surface of the installation table, and a control device which receives a signal outputted by the intrusion detector and controls the light emitting device. The control device causes the light emitting device to emit light when it is detected that the person has entered into the monitoring area.

Systems and methods for determining safe and unsafe zones in a workspace—where safe actions are calculated in real time based on all relevant objects (e.g., some observed by sensors and others computationally generated based on analysis of the sensed workspace) and on the current state of the machinery (e.g., a robot) in the workspace—may utilize a variety of workspace-monitoring approaches as well as dynamic modeling of the robot geometry. The future trajectory of the robot(s) and/or the human(s) may be forecast using, e.g., a model of human movement and other forms of control. Modeling and forecasting of the robot may, in some embodiments, make use of data provided by the robot controller that may or may not include safety guarantees.

The invention relates to a device for securing a safety area around at least one automatically operating machine (3), comprising an illuminating marking (4; 5) of the safety area and/or a boundary of the safety area, a sensor-based monitoring device for detecting a breach of the safety area, and a control device (1) for controlling the machine (3), for defining the safety area, for controlling a shape, structure and/or a location of the illuminating marking, and for changing the operating state of the machine (3) or the light source (6, 7) in a manner which is dependent on a detection of a breach of the safety area by way of the monitoring device. The device is characterised in that a multiplicity of light sources (6, 7) which can be actuated in a spatially resolved manner and in each case comprise an inactive and at least one active operating mode are arranged on or in the surface (2) which delimits the safety area, wherein the operating mode of the light sources (6, 7) can be controlled by way of the control device (1), and the illuminating marking (4; 5) is configured as at least one of the light sources (6, 7) in an active operating mode.

A robotic system is disclosed that includes an articulated arm with an end effector. The robotic system is for use in a robotic environment requiring interaction with persons in the robotic environment, and includes a plurality of lights that are illuminated responsive to known near-future movements of the articulated arm to convey the known near-future movements of the articulated arm to the persons in the robot environment.

A robotic system is disclosed that includes an articulated arm with an end effector. The robotic system is for use in a robotic environment requiring interaction with persons in the robotic environment, and includes a plurality of lights that are illuminated responsive to known near-future movements of the articulated arm to convey the known near-future movements of the articulated arm to the persons in the robot environment.

Systems and methods for determining safe and unsafe zones in a workspace—where safe actions are calculated in real time based on all relevant objects (e.g., some observed by sensors and others computationally generated based on analysis of the sensed workspace) and on the current state of the machinery (e.g., a robot) in the workspace—may utilize a variety of workspace-monitoring approaches as well as dynamic modeling of the robot geometry. The future trajectory of the robot(s) and/or the human(s) may be forecast using, e.g., a model of human movement and other forms of control. Modeling and forecasting of the robot may, in some embodiments, make use of data provided by the robot controller that may or may not include safety guarantees.