Control system, method and computer program
First Claim
1. A control system for controlling the movements of a plurality of mechanical units, wherein at least two of the mechanical units have been programmed to perform a task, wherein the movements of the mechanical units are coordinated, the control system comprising:
- an automatic control configured to automatically control the movements of the mechanical units to perform the task in dependence on stored movement instructions for each of the mechanical units, and to execute the movement instructions for at least two of said mechanical units at a same time in order to coordinate the movements of the mechanical units;
a manual control configured to manually control the movements of at least one of the mechanical units or a portion of the at least one of the mechanical units based on input from a manually-operated control member; and
an indicator configured to indicate whether a mechanical unit, which has been selected to be manually moved based on input from the manually-operated control member, is associated with one of the other mechanical units as a result of the task, and consequently to indicate that movement of the selected mechanical unit will also result in movement of the associated mechanical unit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control system for a plurality of mechanical units, namely robots and/or external axes. A manually-operated control, such as a joy-stick or key panel, is adapted to move at least one of the mechanical units or part thereof. The control system includes an indicator adapted to indicate whether the at least one mechanical unit or part thereof that is to be moved is associated with any other mechanical unit(s) or part(s) thereof and consequently indicate that movement of the at least one mechanical unit or part thereof will also result in the movement of the indicated associated mechanical unit(s) or part(s) thereof.
30 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A control system for controlling the movements of a plurality of mechanical units, wherein at least two of the mechanical units have been programmed to perform a task, wherein the movements of the mechanical units are coordinated, the control system comprising:
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an automatic control configured to automatically control the movements of the mechanical units to perform the task in dependence on stored movement instructions for each of the mechanical units, and to execute the movement instructions for at least two of said mechanical units at a same time in order to coordinate the movements of the mechanical units; a manual control configured to manually control the movements of at least one of the mechanical units or a portion of the at least one of the mechanical units based on input from a manually-operated control member; and an indicator configured to indicate whether a mechanical unit, which has been selected to be manually moved based on input from the manually-operated control member, is associated with one of the other mechanical units as a result of the task, and consequently to indicate that movement of the selected mechanical unit will also result in movement of the associated mechanical unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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15. A method for moving a plurality of mechanical units using a manual control, wherein at least two of the mechanical units have been programmed to perform a task, wherein movements of the mechanical units are coordinated, the method comprising:
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automatically controlling movements of the mechanical units to perform the task in dependence on stored movement instructions for each of the mechanical units; executing the movement instructions for at least two of said mechanical units at a same time in order to coordinate the movements of the mechanical units; manually controlling the movements of at least one of the mechanical units or a portion of the at least one of the mechanical units based on input from a manually-operated control member; and indicating whether a mechanical unit, which has been selected to be manually moved based on input from the manually-operated control member, is associated with one of the other mechanical units as a result of the task, and consequently to indicate that movement of the selected mechanical unit will also result in movement of the associated mechanical unit. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 25, 26)
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19. A computer program product, comprising:
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a non-transitory computer readable medium; and computer program code recorded on the computer readable medium for making a computer or processor carry out a method comprising automatically controlling movements of the mechanical units to perform a task in dependence on stored movement instructions for each of the mechanical units; executing the movement instructions for at least two of said mechanical units at a same time in order to coordinate the movements of the mechanical units; manually controlling the movements of at least one of the mechanical units or a portion of the at least one of the mechanical units based on input from a manually-operated control member; and indicating whether a mechanical unit, which has been selected to be manually moved based on input from the manually-operated control member, is associated with one of the other mechanical units as a result of the task, and consequently to indicate that movement of the selected mechanical unit will also result in movement of the associated mechanical unit. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification