Knowledge-enabled Design of Cooperating Robots Assembly Cells

This paper addresses the problem of modeling, integrating and utilizing existing knowledge for the designing of cooperating robots assembly cells. A knowledge-enabled approach is presented, allowing for the combined use of information pertaining to past engineering projects and of an advanced digital environment. The proposed approach, in the form of a rule-based model, is capable of generating process design alternatives that take into consideration the performance requirements as well as the constraints and 3D specifications of both robotic manipulators and parts. An automotive Body-In- White (BIW) assembly cell case is presented.