Search results

Presents a robot control system dedicated for grinding and deburring robots. The control system is based on an active force feedback system using three axes force sensor attached to the robot’s end effector. This system offers new functionality in rapid programming of the robot by applying automatic programming and force supervision. The system is implemented and tested experimentally on a MultiCraft 560 robot with parallel kinematics. The experimental results show a significant reduction in the programming and set up time compared to conventional robot control systems.

To program cellular automata is to define cell neighbourhood and cell‐state transition rules in order to design an automation which exhibits determined patterns in its evolution or which transforms a given image into another image. In general, a tool for the automatic programming of cellular automata should translate the tuple (source‐configuration) → (target‐configuration) into a set of cell‐state transition rules. This is a problem which has not been completely solved yet. Attempts to show examples of automatic programming of cellular automata using identification algorithms. Results obtained can be used in the design of massively parallel processors with cellular‐automata architecture and a conventional, as well as non‐traditional (e.g. molecular and chemical), elementary base.

The fundamental purpose of any automatic machine is to reduce or even eliminate completely the need for manual labour and, most important, to give the highest possible output. Achievement of the latter requirement generally means that the machine is designed to handle one type of component only, and any variation in component design necessitates either another machine or modification of the original machine. In other words, automatic machines are, in general, not flexible or adaptable. The plating industry provides an exception to this generalisation because the use of automatic machines capable of a variety of operations is now established practice. In this article is described an automatic programme plating machine designed specially to give maximum flexibility. It is new to this country, and the first machine has now been built under licence.

In this report, accounts will be presented on the experience obtained from approximately 100 practical applications of industrial robots. The industrial robots used derive partly from the company's own production as well as from other domestic and foreign robot manufacturers.

Some recent work in Artificial Intelligence concerning machine vision, game‐playing and automatic language processing is reviewed and related to Turing's early requirements for an “intelligent machine”. The relationship between computer science and artificial intelligence is discussed from the software angle — programming and programming languages.

The present paper describes a Fortran library FLIPP constituting a run‐time environment that is linked to scientific applications software (such as finite‐element analysis programs) to support programming of interactive program control and use of persistent user‐defined dynamic data structures. The system consists of control and data definition and manipulation subsystems. The FLIPP routines are fully‐portable standard Fortran 77 procedures and the use of FLIPP leads the programmer to information hiding, e.g. as in object‐oriented systems. Program design and maintenance are facilitated to a considerable degree, while at the same time the performance of the programs using the FLIPP system remains fairly good as demonstrated by the examples.

Outlines the developments and benefits of Off‐line programming for robots. Discusses the importance of accurate calibration and the measurements devices available. Looks at the various software packages for creating and simulating robot programs and discusses the concept of “open systems” which allow the user to the exploit the facilities of the software. Gives examples of software used in robotic arc‐welding systems. Ends with a brief look at application‐specific developments in simulation and Off‐line programming packages.

Presents a review on implementing finite element methods on supercomputers, workstations and PCs and gives main trends in hardware and software developments. An appendix included at the end of the paper presents a bibliography on the subjects retrospectively to 1985 and approximately 1,100 references are listed.

The industrial robot when associated with a workpiece magazine or conveyor system loading and unloading one or more numerical controlled machine tools opens a new way for automation in low series production. The possibilities for automatic handling together with machine tools within direct numerical controlled systems are discussed. After dealing with the master control selection and the signal flow some limitations resulting from the robot's kinematics are pointed out. Afterwards an actual manufacturing system, installed at the Berlin University, is introduced.

We have long been obsessed with the dream of creating intelligent machines. This vision can be traced back to Greek civilization, and the notion that mortals somehow can create machines that think has persisted throughout history. Until this decade these illusions have borne no substance. The birth of the computer in the 1940s did cause a resurgence of the cybernaut idea, but the computer's role was primarily one of number‐crunching and realists soon came to respect the enormous difficulties in crafting machines that could accomplish even the simplest of human tasks.