Patent ID: 7783387

Claim:
A method for controlling and selectively programming a plurality of manipulators of industrial robots through a portable control and programming terminal having one safety device, each manipulator having a control unit, the method comprising: implementing a first wireless communication channel directly between said terminal and the control unit of one of the manipulators of said plurality, providing a further communication channel between said terminal and the control unit of at least another one of the manipulators of said plurality, the method further comprising: implementing said further communication channel through a second wireless channel directly between said terminal and the control unit of said at least another one of the manipulators of said plurality; configuring said terminal and the control units of the manipulators of said plurality such that, in view of a session of use of said terminal, a first wireless connection mode can be selectively enabled between said terminal and any one of the control unit of the manipulators of said plurality, or first manipulator; and a second wireless connection mode can be selectively enabled between said terminal and the control unit of at least another one of the manipulators of said plurality, or second manipulator; and wherein, during said session of use, said first wireless connection mode allows said terminal to send only to the control unit of said first manipulator, via said first wireless communication channel, information or signals concerning instructions of motion and status conditions of said safety device; said second wireless connection mode allows exchange between said terminal and the control unit of said second manipulator, via said second wireless channel, of monitoring and control information, except for information or signals concerning at least one of instructions of motion and status conditions of said safety device.