Industrial robot system

The method for coupling a portable operator control device to an industrial robot comprising at least one manipulator and a control unit for controlling the manipulator, wherein the portable operator control device is adapted for teaching and manually operating the robot, and comprises safety equipment including an enabling device, which upon activation enables manual operation the robot utilizing the portable operator control device, and comprises a safety check module adapted to provide an automatic check of said safety equipment, including the enabling device, and the robot comprises an enabling function which upon activation enables the enabling device of the portable operator control device, and upon deactivation disables the enabling device of the portable operator control device, the method comprising:

• establishing communication between the portable operator control device and the control unit of the robot,
• detecting when the portable operator control device enters an area defined in the vicinity of the manipulator,
• automatically checking said safety equipment including the enabling device with the safety check module upon activation, wherein the safety check module is adapted to be run automatically upon detecting that the portable operator control device enters said defined area,
• upon detecting that the portable operator control device enters said defined area automatically activating the enabling function of the robot,
• verifying with the robot system whether at least one condition is fulfilled, and
• provided that said at least one condition is fulfilled automatically activating the enabling function of the portable operator control device upon detecting that the portable operator control device enters said defined area, wherein one of said at least one condition is that a check of said safety equipment has been carried out and no errors were found.