Manipulator and its control apparatus and method

1. A manipulator operative in a master/slave operative mode, comprising:

a master unit commanding an operation;

a slave unit having a work unit;

a detector detecting the orientation of the master unit and the orientation of the slave unit; and

a control device controlling the slave unit in response to a command from the master unit,

wherein the control device includes:

a first function of determining a non-master/slave operative mode or a master/slave operative mode;

a second function of calculating a difference between the orientation of the master unit and the orientation of the slave unit;

a third function of comparing the absolute value of the difference with a preset reference value, and depending upon the result of the comparison, determining a normal master/slave operative mode or a transitional master/slave operative mode, in said master/slave operative mode, said transitional master/slave operative mode being a transitional mode from the non-master/slave operative mode to the master/slave operative mode;

a fourth function of restricting the operation of the slave unit in said master/slave operative mode to set the manipulator in the non-master/slave operative mode; and

a fifth function of performing the first to third functions in response to a restriction release command, and, after performing the fourth function, setting the manipulator in said transitional master/slave operative mode.

2. The manipulator according to claim 1 , wherein a restriction of a movement of the slave unit is conducted on arbitrarily selected one or more operative axes.

3. A control device of a manipulator working in a master/slave operative mode and having a master unit for commanding an operation, a slave unit having a work unit and operative in response to a command from the master unit, and a detector unit for detecting the orientation of the master unit and the orientation of the slave unit, comprising:

a first function of determining a non-master/slave operative mode or a master/slave operative mode;

a second function of calculating a difference between the orientation of the master unit and the orientation of the slave unit;

a third function of comparing the absolute value of the difference with a preset reference value, and depending upon the result of the comparison, determining a normal master/slave operative mode or a transitional master/slave operative mode in said master/slave operative mode, said transitional master/slave operative mode being a transitional mode from the non-master/slave operative mode to the master/slave operative mode,

a fourth function of restricting the operation of the slave unit in said master/slave operative mode to set the manipulator in the non-master/slave operative mode; and

a fifth function of performing the first to third functions in response to a release command of the restriction, and, after performing the fourth function, setting the manipulator in said transitional master/slave operation mode.

4. The manipulator according to claim 3 , wherein a restriction of a movement of the slave unit is conducted on arbitrarily selected one or more operative axes.

5. A method of controlling a manipulator working in a master/slave operative mode and having a master unit for commanding an operation, a slave unit having a work unit and operative in response to a command from the master unit, and a detector unit for detecting a difference between the orientation of the master unit and the orientation of the slave unit, comprising:

determining, as a first function, a non-master/slave operative mode or a master/slave operative mode;

calculating, as a second function, a difference between the orientation of the master unit and the orientation of the slave unit;

comparing, as a third function, the absolute value of the difference with a preset reference value; and depending upon the result of the comparison, determining a normal master/slave operative mode or a transitional master/slave operative mode in said master/slave operative mode, said transitional master/slave operative mode being a transitional mode from the non-master/slave operative mode to the master/slave operative mode,

restricting, as a fourth function, the operation of the slave unit in said master/slave operative mode to set the manipulator in the non-master/slave operative mode; and

performing, as a fifth function, the first to third functions in response to a restriction release command, and, after performing the fourth function, setting the manipulator in said transitional master/slave operation mode.

6. The manipulator according to claim 5 , wherein a restriction of a movement of the slave unit is conducted on arbitrarily selected one or more operative axes.

7. A manipulator operative in a master/slave operative mode, comprising:

a master unit commanding an operation;

a slave unit having a work unit;

a detector detecting the orientation of the master unit and the orientation of the slave unit; and

a control device controlling the slave unit in response to the command from the master unit,

wherein the control device includes:

a first function of determining a non-master/slave operative mode or a master/slave operative mode;

a second function of calculating a difference between the orientation of the master unit and the orientation of the slave unit;

a third function of comparing the absolute value of the difference with a preset reference value, and depending upon the result of the comparison, determining a normal master/slave operative mode or a transitional master/slave operative mode, in said master/slave operative mode, said transitional master/slave operative mode being a transitional mode from the non-master/slave operative mode to the master/slave operative mode;

a fourth function of generating an alarm signal when there is a difference between a target value of the orientation of the slave unit and a detecting value of the orientation of the slave unit in the master/slave operative mode after performing the first to third functions; and

a fifth function of setting a new orientation value to be targeted of the slave unit based on a command issued after recognizing the alarm signal, and then by performing the first to third functions, setting a mode as the transitional master/slave operative mode in order to remove a difference between a current orientation value of the master unit and the new orientation value of the slave unit.

8. A control device of a manipulator working in a master/slave operative mode and having a master unit for commanding an operation, a slave unit having a work unit and operative in response to a command from the master unit, and a detector unit for detecting the orientation of the master unit and the orientation of the slave unit, comprising:

a first function of determining a non-master/slave operative mode or a master/slave operative mode;

a second function of calculating a difference between the orientation of the master unit and the orientation of the slave unit;

a third function of comparing the absolute value of the difference with a preset reference value, and depending upon the result of the comparison, determining a normal master/slave operative mode or a transitional master/slave operative mode in said master/slave operative mode, said transitional master/slave operative mode being a transitional mode from the non-master/slave operative mode to the master/slave operative mode,

a fourth function of generating an alarm signal when there is a difference between a target value of the orientation of the slave unit and a detecting value of the orientation of the slave unit in the master/slave operative mode after performing the first to third functions; and

a fifth function of setting a new orientation value to be targeted of the slave unit based on a command issued after recognizing the alarm signal, and then by performing the first to third functions, setting a mode as the transitional master/slave operative mode in order to remove a difference between a current orientation value of the master unit and the new orientation value of the slave unit.

9. A method of controlling a manipulator working in a master/slave operative mode and having a master unit for commanding an operation, a slave unit having a work unit and operative in response to a command from the master unit, and a detector unit for detecting a difference between the orientation of the master unit and the orientation of the slave unit, comprising:

determining, as a first function, a non-master/slave operative mode or a master/slave operative mode;

calculating, as a second function, a difference between the orientation of the master unit and the orientation of the slave unit;

comparing, as a third function, the absolute value of the difference with a preset reference value, and depending upon the result of the comparison, determining a normal master/slave operative mode or a transitional master/slave operative mode in said master/slave operative mode, said transitional master/slave operative mode being a transitional mode from the non-master/slave operative mode to the master/slave operative mode,

generating, as a fourth performance, an alarm signal when there is a difference between a target value of the orientation of the slave unit and a detecting value of the orientation of the slave unit in the master/slave operative mode after performing the first to third functions; and

setting, as a fifth performance, a new orientation value to be targeted of the slave unit based on a command issued after recognizing the alarm signal, and then by performing the first to third functions, setting a mode as the transitional master/slave operative mode in order to remove a difference between a current orientation value of the master unit and the new orientation value of the slave unit.