Title: Bionic assembly system: new concept of self-organising multirobot system

Authors: Aleksandar Lazinica, Branko Katalinic

Addresses: Intelligent Manufacturing Systems Group, IFT/IMS, Vienna University of Technology, Karlsplatz 13/311, Vienna A-1040, Austria. ' Intelligent Manufacturing Systems Group, IFT/IMS, Vienna University of Technology, Karlsplatz 13/311, Vienna A-1040, Austria

Abstract: Changing manufacturing environment characterised by aggressive competition on a global scale and rapid changes in process technology requires creating production systems that are themselves easily upgradeable and into which new technologies and new functions can be readily integrated. To answer these novel requirements, Bionic Assembly System (BAS) is presented. BAS is based on concepts of autonomy, cooperation and intelligence of its units. The system proposes use of autonomous mobile robots in production environment instead of using AGVs. Mobile robots are giving flexibility to the system and increase dynamics of the whole process. In this paper concept of the system is presented with focus on transport mobile robots, which are a backbone of the system.

Keywords: multirobot systems; assembly process; mobile robots; robot navigation; simulation; bionic assembly; self-organising robots; autonomous robots; transport robots; automation; manufacturing; AMT; advanced manufacturing; multiple robots; AMS; intelligent manufacturing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAAC.2007.013295

International Journal of Automation and Control, 2007 Vol.1 No.1, pp.16 - 27

Published online: 19 Apr 2007 *

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