Remote control of a robot in a map network

The automated control of manufacturing devices on a common communications network is a necessity for the factory of the future. The manufacturing automation protocol (MAP) represents a major effort by a group of companies towards meeting this need, and apparently is becoming a standard for factory-floor communications. In this project, an ASEA 2000 robot was used with a computer-controlled ply-cutting machine in a simulated factory sheet-metal cell to demonstrate coordinated inter- and intra-cell communications. Both machines used a MAP network to send and receive information from the cell-controller computer, and to coordinate cell operation. The methodology, hardware and software required to adapt the ASEA robot to the MAP network are described. This methodology will be useful in adapting other computer-controlled manufacturing devices to MAP networks.