Improved communication between manufacturing robots

R. Stopforth^I; G. Bright^II; S. Davrajh^III; A. Walker^IV

^IMechatronics and Robotics Research Group (MR2G), University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, stopforth@ukzn.ac.za
^IIMechatronics and Robotics Research Group (MR2G), University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, bright@ukzn.ac.za
^IIIMechatronics and Robotics Research Group (MR2G), University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, sdavrajh@ukzn.ac.za
^IVMechatronics and Robotics Research Group (MR2G), University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, awalker@ukzn.ac.za

ABSTRACT

Communication between manufacturing robots and autonomous vehicles in the industrial environment is important, sinceinstructions and information are crucial for communication between the control station and the robot station. Information is required between different manufacturing robots for optimal performance and dedication to industrial tasks within the environment. Failures in communication could cause robots to be a safety hazard or to perform tasks that are not required. This article shows how communication was improved with the use of the Robotics Communication Protocol (RCP) and an extension of this protocol.

OPSOMMING

Kommunikasie tussen vervaardigingsrobotte en outonome voertuie in 'n industriële omgewing is belangrik, aangesien opdragte en inligting krities is vir kommunikasie tussen die beheerstasie en die robotstasie. Inligting word benodig tussen verskillende vervaardigingsrobotte vir optimale werkverrigting en toewyding aan take in die omgewing. Mislukte kommunikasie mag veroorsaak dat robotte 'n veiligheidsrisiko word of veroorsaak dat onnodige take verrig word. Hierdie artikel toon hoe kommunikasie verbeter is deur die gebruik van die "robotika-kommunikasie-protokol" en 'n uitbreiding van die protokol.

“Full text available only in PDF format”

REFERENCES

[1] De Santis, A. & Siciliano, B. 2008. Safety issues for human-robot co-operation in manufacturing systems, tools and perspectives in virtual machining, Napoli.         [ Links ]

[2] Ladd, A., Bekris, K., Rudys, A., Wallach, D. & Kavraki, L. 2004. On the feasibility of using wireless ethernet for indoor localization, IEEE Transactions on Robotics and Automation, Vol.20, No.3.         [ Links ]

[3] Henrich, D. & Honiger, T. 1997. Parallel processing approaches in robotics, IEEE International Symposium on Industrial Electronics, Portugal.         [ Links ]

[4] Butler, L. & Bright, G. 2008. Autonomous materials handling robot for reconfigurable manufacturing system, 24^th International Conference on CAD/CAM, Automation, Robotics and Factories of the Future, Japan.         [ Links ]

[5] Calcagno, R., Rusina, F., Sangiovanni, A. & Bonivento, A. 2006. Application of wireless technologies in automotive productive systems, ISR-ROBOTIK 2006, Joint Conference on Robotics, Munich        [ Links ]

[6] Stopforth, R., Bright, G. & Harley, R. 2008. Robotic communication protocol (RCP), 2^nd Symposium in Mechatronics and Robotics, Bloemfontein, South Africa.         [ Links ]

[7] Stopforth, R. & Bright, G. 2010. An antenna for a mobile device and a communication system and methods. Patent No: 2009/ 03 009, South Africa. 108        [ Links ]

* Corresponding author