Object-oriented knowledge-based automatic cell programming environment

This paper describes a cell programming environment that would allow manufacturers to integrate multi-vendor machines into Flexible Manufacturing Cells (FMCs), and deal with problems associated with programming FMCs. The environment consists of the cell programming editor and the automatic generation module. In the cell programming editor, cell programmers can develop cell programs using a Task Level UniSet which supports task-oriented specifications for manipulating cell activities. This approach to cell programming reduces the amount of detail that cell programmers need to consider, and allows them to concentrate on the most important aspects of the task at hand. The automatic generation module is used to transform task specifications into executable programs used by cell constituents. This module is based on efficient algorithms and expert systems which can be used for optimal path planning of robot operations and optimal machining parameters of machine tool operations. The development tool for designing the environment is based on an object-oriented approach which provides simple-to-use and intuitive user interfaces, and allows for the easy development of object models associated with the environment. Test results are illustrated in order to demonstrate the applicability of the environment developed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.