Title: Equipping legacy robots with vision: performance, availability and accuracy considerations

Authors: Tarik Ozkul

Addresses: Computer Engineering Department, American University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 26666, Sharjah, UAE

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to investigate alternative ways of connecting vision systems to legacy robots and evaluate impact of this addition on availability and accuracy of the robot. The legacy robots lack high speed data interfaces and it is difficult to add high speed capability by altering hardware or software of the robot controller. Interfacing a high speed data throughput device like a vision system through slow interface of legacy robot impacts the availability of the robot. In this study, alternative connection schemes of robot and vision systems are investigated along with their impact on accuracy and availability.

Keywords: robot availability; flexible manufacturing systems; FMS; machine vision; robot vision systems; robot accuracy; legacy robots.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMS.2009.026049

International Journal of Mechatronics and Manufacturing Systems, 2009 Vol.2 No.3, pp.331 - 347

Published online: 26 May 2009 *

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