Self-Organization and Self-Coordination in Welding Automation with Collaborating Teams of Industrial Robots

In welding automation, growing interest can be recognized in applying teams of industrial robots to perform manufacturing processes through collaboration. Although robot teamwork can increase profitability and cost-effectiveness in production, the programming of the robots is still a problem. It is extremely time consuming and requires special expertise in synchronizing the activities of the robots to avoid any collision. Therefore, a research project has been initiated to solve those problems. This paper will present strategies, concepts, and research results in applying robot operating system (ROS) and ROS-based solutions to overcome existing technical deficits through the integration of self-organization capabilities, autonomous path planning, and self-coordination of the robots’ work. The new approach should contribute to improving the application of robot teamwork and collaboration in the manufacturing sector at a higher level of flexibility and reduced need for human intervention.