Human-centric robot with noncontact measurement device

A method of operating a manufacturing cell, the method comprising:

• providing a configured to operate directly adjacent a human operator, the robot having a movable end effector and a plurality of transducers arranged to transmit a position signal to an electric circuit, the robot further including at least one sensor configured to transmit a position signal for determining a position of a human operator, the robot configured to operate directly adjacent to a human operator based at least in part on the position signal;
• providing at least one tool;
• providing a three-dimensional (3D) scanner;
• receiving an object signal;
• coupling the at least one tool or 3D scanner to the end effector in response to receiving the object signal;
• performing a first operation on an object being assembled with at least one of the end effector or the at least one tool;
• and
• determining three-dimensional coordinates of at least one feature of the object with the 3D scanner coupled to the end effector.

A system for inspecting an object, the object having at least one machine readable code associated therewith, the system comprising:

• a robot having an articulated arm with at least two arm segments and an end effector arranged on an end of the articulated arm, the end effector configured to couple with a plurality of tools, the articulated arm including a plurality of transducers arranged to transmit signals to an electronic circuit, the electronic circuit configured in operation to determine a position and orientation of the end effector, the robot further having at least one sensor configured to detect the position of an adjacent a human operator;
• a reader circuit operably coupled to the end effector, the reader circuit configured in operation to acquire the machine readable code;
• at least one tool removably coupled to the end effector;
• a structured light three-dimensional (3D) scanner configured in operation to determine three-dimensional coordinates of a surface of an object, the 3D scanner being removably coupled to the end effector;
• and
• a controller having a processor, the processor configured to execute computer executable instructions when executed on the processor for selectively coupling one of the at least one tool or the 3D scanner to the end effector in response to acquiring the machine readable code.