Development of a Robotic System which Assists Unmanned Production Based on Cooperation between Off-Line Robots and On-line Robots. Part 3. 1 Development of an Off-Line Robot, Autonomous Navigation, and Detection of Faulty Workpieces in a Vibrating Parts Feeder

Remarkable advances in robotics and intelligent technology have made unmanned production realisable. Based on the off-line robot concept proposed in our first paper, an off-line robot and peripheral devices have been developed for the realisation of unmanned production. The developed robot has a power-wheeled steering (PWS) type mobile platform on which a double-arm manipulator is installed. In order to detect and recognise 3D objects, double CCD cameras are mounted on the top of the robot. Two types of robot end-effectors are developed to handle workpieces and conduct trouble shooting actions. A newly developed production trouble simulator is very useful in simulating and resolving production troubles. A virtual pilot plant for production composed of the off-line robot, two on-line robots, a vibrating bowl feeder, a belt conveyor and a production trouble simulator has been constructed and tests for production simulation have been undertaken. In this paper, autonomous navigation of the developed robot in the virtual pilot plant is investigated. Then a search for faulty parts in a parts feeder using the developed real-time image extraction method is carried out.