Electro-optical systems for control of robots, manipulator arms and co-ordinate measuring machines

摘要

Method and apparatus are provided for correcting positional data produced by a machine including a member moveable in at least two co-ordinate axes. The machine includes an encoder for providing rough position data indicating the coarse position of the member in each of the axes and provision is made for moving the moveable member to a position data correction location wherein the actual position of the member is determined electro-optically in the two coordinate axes relative to a reference point external to the machine. A signal representative of the actual position is generated and used to correct the rough position data provided by the encoder.