An operation command generator includes: an area division unit configured to divide a line on a flat work surface of a target workpiece W into a straight area and a corner area, using a sharp boundary surface; a straight area operation command generation unit configured to generate a command for operating only the linear motion mechanism while keeping the posture of the parallel link mechanism fixed, in the straight area; and a corner area operation command generation unit configured to generate a command so that an acting point of the end effector passes on the boundary surface at a substantially constant speed by the linear motion mechanism and the parallel link mechanism performing coordinated operations in the corner area.

A method and apparatus are for abnormality detection. The method includes: acquiring an estimated value of a movement parameter of a mobile platform of a parallel robot. The estimated value is calculated based on sensing information about a sensor mounted on the mobile platform. Based on the estimated value and a designated value of the movement parameter, the method includes determining whether an abnormality occurs in the parallel robot. By way of the method and apparatus, abnormality of a parallel robot can be detected reliably.

A gap detection device includes: a measurement unit measuring the driving torque or current value of a motor when the robot is actually being operated along an arbitrary motion trajectory; a simulation unit setting an arbitrary second gap amount between pairing elements of a plurality of pairing elements, performing a simulation in which the robot operates along the same arbitrary motion trajectory, and estimating the driving torque or the current value of the motor; a feature amount calculation unit calculating a first feature amount indicating fluctuations of a value related to the measured driving torque or current value, and a second feature amount indicating fluctuations of a value related to the estimated driving torque or current value; and a gap calculation unit calculating an index related to a first gap amount on the basis of the first feature amount, the second feature amount, and the second gap amount.

An operation command generator includes: an area division unit configured to divide a line on a flat work surface of a target workpiece W into a straight area and a corner area, using a sharp boundary surface; a straight area operation command generation unit configured to generate a command for operating only the linear motion mechanism while keeping the posture of the parallel link mechanism fixed, in the straight area; and a corner area operation command generation unit configured to generate a command so that an acting point of the end effector passes on the boundary surface at a substantially constant speed by the linear motion mechanism and the parallel link mechanism performing coordinated operations in the corner area.

Articles are continuously supplied to a robot by control circulation speed. In a supply control device for controlling a circulation device that causes an article to circulate in a system that includes the circulation device, and a robot that retrieves the article during circulation with the circulation device, the supply control device includes: a detection unit that detects the article circulating with the circulation device, and a position of the article; a measurement unit that measures a number of the articles in a predetermined region on the circulation device, based on detection results of the detection unit; and a control unit that controls a speed of circulation of the circulation device according to the number of the articles in the predetermined region measured by the measurement unit.

Articles are continuously supplied to a robot by control circulation speed. In a supply control device for controlling a circulation device that causes an article to circulate in a system that includes the circulation device, and a robot that retrieves the article during circulation with the circulation device, the supply control device includes: a detection unit that detects the article circulating with the circulation device, and a position of the article; a measurement unit that measures a number of the articles in a predetermined region on the circulation device, based on detection results of the detection unit; and a control unit that controls a speed of circulation of the circulation device according to the number of the articles in the predetermined region measured by the measurement unit.

A method and apparatus are for abnormality detection. The method includes: acquiring an estimated value of a movement parameter of a mobile platform of a parallel robot. The estimated value is calculated based on sensing information about a sensor mounted on the mobile platform. Based on the estimated value and a designated value of the movement parameter, the method includes determining whether an abnormality occurs in the parallel robot. By way of the method and apparatus, abnormality of a parallel robot can be detected reliably.

An assembly system for inserting a terminal into a housing comprises a parallel robot mechanism, a serial robot mechanism, and an insertion mechanism. The parallel robot mechanism has a support platform on which the housing is held and a plurality of joints. The serial robot mechanism has an end effector connected to the support platform and is adapted to drive the parallel robot mechanism to move. The insertion mechanism is configured to insert the terminal into the housing. The parallel robot mechanism is moved by the serial robot mechanism to an insertion position in which an insertion hole of the housing is aligned with the terminal prior to the insertion mechanism inserting the terminal into the housing. At least a portion of the plurality of joints are locked while the insertion mechanism inserts the terminal into the housing to keep the parallel robot mechanism and the support platform stationary.