Although parallel robots are known to offer many advantages with respect to accuracy, dynamics, and stiffness, major breakthroughs in industrial applications have not yet taken place. This is due to a knowledge gap preventing fast and precise execution of industrial handling and assembly tasks. This book focuses on the design, modeling, and control of innovative parallel structures as well as the integration of novel machine elements. Special attention is paid to the integration of active components into lightweight links and passive joints. In addition, new control concepts are introduced to minimize structural vibrations. Although the optimization of robot systems itself allows a reduction of cycle times, these can be further decreased by improved path planning, robot programming, and automated assembly planning concepts described by 25 contributions within this book. The content of this volume is subdivided into four main parts dealing with Modeling and Design, System Implementation, Control and Programming as well as Adaptronics and Components. This book is aimed at researchers and postgraduates working in the field of parallel robots as well as practicing engineers dealing with industrial robot development and robotic applications.

Although parallel robots are known to offer many advantages with respect to accuracy, dynamics, and stiffness, major breakthroughs in industrial applications have not yet taken place. This is due to a knowledge gap preventing fast and precise execution of industrial handling and assembly tasks. This book focuses on the design, modeling, and control of innovative parallel structures as well as the integration of novel machine elements. Special attention is paid to the integration of active components into lightweight links and passive joints. In addition, new control concepts are introduced to minimize structural vibrations. Although the optimization of robot systems itself allows a reduction of cycle times, these can be further decreased by improved path planning, robot programming, and automated assembly planning concepts described by 25 contributions within this book. The content of this volume is subdivided into four main parts dealing with Modeling and Design, System Implementation, Control and Programming as well as Adaptronics and Components. This book is aimed at researchers and postgraduates working in the field of parallel robots as well as practicing engineers dealing with industrial robot development and robotic applications.

In the western world, economic logic (and need) has replaced the indentured craftsman by computer controlled machining centres within manufacturing industries. The same rationale is the incentive behind the development of robots that are technically capable of performing assembly tasks, and the inevitable, albeit slow, adoption of these robots by the manufacturing industries. This book is based upon the author's knowledge and first hand experience of the manufacturing industries of North America and the UK in general, and the UK's robotics industry in particular. The general and specific implications of per forming an assembly task robotically are discussed, the majority of which are not specific to anyone sector of the manufactur ing industry, nor to any particular size of product being manu factured. This book should be of interest to those who are interested in or involved with the use of robots for assembly. The 'veils of mystic' and misinformation on robots and the assembly process are subsequently removed.

Setting out relevant examples of state-of-the-art developments and products, this book examines manipulator design, case studies, the importance of product design, programming systems, sensors, and financial issues.

This book is an updated reference of research activities that bring together various theories, methods, and technologies of robotic systems and automation for manufacturing and related fields. The book includes articles on state-of-the-art robotic systems and automation for diverse avenues in automation such as advanced manufacturing, developments in design methodology, kinematics and dynamics analysis, performance analysis and evaluation, intelligent manufacturing, assembly, sensors, control theory and practice, human-machine interface, and so on. This book is an excellent research reference for engineers, researchers, and students that range from senior undergraduates to advanced doctoral students and professionals who are interested in robotics and automation.

Presents a new design strategy on a concentric design process. The assembly is parallel and simultaneously developed with the analysis and the possible redesign of the product and the assembly process. Several new design models and tools are explained and illustrated. The modular approach of the book allows the reader to navigate through the stages of the design process.

This Open Access proceedings presents a good overview of the current research landscape of assembly, handling and industrial robotics. The objective of MHI Colloquium is the successful networking at both academic and management level. Thereby, the colloquium focuses an academic exchange at a high level in order to distribute the obtained research results, to determine synergy effects and trends, to connect the actors in person and in conclusion, to strengthen the research field as well as the MHI community. In addition, there is the possibility to become acquatined with the organizing institute. Primary audience is formed by members of the scientific society for assembly, handling and industrial robotics (WGMHI). The Editors Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thorsten Schüppstuhl is head of the Institute of Aircraft Production Technology (IFPT) at the Hamburg University of Technology. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kirsten Tracht is head of the Bremen Institute for Mechanical Engineering (bime) at the University of Bremen. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Annika Raatz is head of the Institute of Assembly Technology (match) at the Leibniz University Hannover.

This book deals with a key area of industrial robotics — the automation of small batch assembly. Assembly imparts enormous added value but turns out to be extraordinarily difficult to automate. The work presented here, all from the Centre for Intelligent Systems at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, addresses this issue and shows ways in which the difficulties may be reduced through systematic architectural designs and specific structures for interfacing and controlling sensory-actuation systems. The book develops three main themes: a task-centred approach to robotic assembly, explicit reasoning techniques for fault diagnosis and error handling; and sensor-actuator integration methods. These are vital topics for those concerned with flexible automation and robotics.

It has become clear in recent years from such major forums as the various international conferences on flexible manufacruring systems (FMSs) that the computer-controlled and -integrated "factory of the furure" is now being considered as a commercially viable and technically achievable goal. To date, most attention has been given to the design, development, and evalu ation of flexible machining systems. Now, with the essential support of increasing numbers of industrial examples, the general concepts, technical requirements, and cost-effectiveness of responsive, computer-integrated, flexible machining systems are fast becoming established knowledge. There is, of course, much still to be done in the development of modular com puter hardware and software, and the scope for cost-effective developments in pro gramming systems, workpiece handling, and quality control will ensure that contin uing development will occur over the next decade. However, international attention is now increasingly rurning toward the flexible computer control of the assembly process as the next logical step in progressive factory automation. It is here at this very early stage that Tony Owen has bravely set out to encompass the future field of flexible assembly systems (FASs) in his own distinctive, wide-ranging style.