Designing Distributed, Component-Based Systems for Industrial Robotic Applications

The design of industrial robotic applications is dramatically changing as the result of rapid developments in underlying technologies and novel user requirements. Communication and computing technologies provide new standards and higher levels of performance. Meanwhile, novel and more capable robotic platforms and sensors have become available. In industrial automation, this technology push has opened up new application areas, while raising the expectations casted upon robotic systems in terms of overall performance and functionality. In next generation robotic applications, robots will turn from traditional preprogrammed, stationary systems into machines capable of modifying their behaviour based on the interaction with the environment and other robots. Changes are also induced by user requirements demanding higher efficiency, functionality and performance in the control of industrial plants. In a modern manufacturing scenario, interaction with customers and suppliers must increasingly occur remotely and on-line, e.g. for just-in-time manufacturing, remote maintenance, and quality monitoring. For a number of reasons, transparent and widespread access to run-time production data and internal control variables of robotic systems must be provided. This requirement highlights the distinct transition beyond the conventional idea of isolated robotic workcell. As an added element of com plexity, integration between different technologies in the shop floor and in the design and production management departments is required to achieve the full potential of computer-integrated manufacturing. The growth in complexity in industrial robotic applications demands higher levels of