Robot Skills for Transformable Manufacturing Systems

Mikkel Rath Pedersen

Research output: PhD thesis

730 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Efficient, transformable production systems need robots that are flexible and effortlessly repurposed or reconfigured. The present dissertation argues that this can be achieved through the implementation and use of general, object-centered robot skills.

In this dissertation, we focus on the design, implementation and uses of a robot programming paradigm, focused on robot skills, that facilitates intuitive and explicit task-level programming by laymen, such as factory workers, as well as ad-hoc task planning in the skill domain.

We show how these robot skills can be modeled and implemented, even on different robot systems. Furthermore, we show how laymen can intuitively program tasks on an advanced mobile manipulator, using the skills as the fundamental building blocks. Finally, we demonstrate how the same skills can be used for ad-hoc task planning, where the robot system instead constructs the task autonomously, exactly when it is needed.

It is the firm belief of this researcher that industrial robotics need to go in a direction towards what is outlined in this dissertation, both in academia and in the industry. In order for manufacturing companies to remain competitive, robotics is the definite way to go – and current industrial robot systems are plainly too difficult to program for new tasks on a regular basis.
Original languageEnglish
Publisher
Electronic ISBNs978-87-7112-193-3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015

Bibliographical note

In reference to IEEE copyrighted material which is used with permission
in this thesis, the IEEE does not endorse any of Aalborg University's
products or services. Internal or personal use of this material is permitted. If interested in
reprinting/republishing IEEE copyrighted material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating
new collective works for resale or redistribution, please go to
http://www.ieee.org/publications_standards/publications/rights/rights_link.html to learn how to obtain a License from RightsLink.

Supervisor: Volker Krüger

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Robot Skills for Transformable Manufacturing Systems'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this