• Abstracts 203

accommodate the needs of different system users, and allow for system change and expansion. The methodology and tools have been implemented to support the process placming operation of • company.

059 A CS-PROLOG Based Expert System for Manufacturing Call Design, Simulation and Animation G.L. Kov&s, pp 91-95

The CS-PROLOG language was develc~l to give effective muam for solving problems where its 'Communicating Sequential' (CS) p r c ~ um be specially useful. A ra~d prctctypu of ceoperaung expert systems using the benefits of the concurrent engineering (CE) paraditpn is discussed in this paper. The design of a manufacturing cell is sup~rted by the CS- PROLOG-based ALL-EX expert system shell and forwarded to an AutoCAD-based layout plmming program. Based on the resulting layout and the given production task, the scheduled production is simulated. The design may be rejected and a reconfiguradon requested, until the user is satisfied. The system runs on three computers connected by an Bthemet/DECnet network.

O6O Knowledge Representation for Helping A Coutrelling Device hi Flexible Manufaeturing Systems B. Besombes, E. Maroon, P. Ladet, pp 97-104

Production systems conce~on and control ~_~sitate, because of their complexity and the ccouomic and strategic interests involved, simulation tools and methods integrating more and more information linked either to workshop functioning or to management. 'Ibis study presents • helping device for controlling or piloting flexible manufacturing, which takes both aspects into account and induces (via that device) consideration of the re~esentation of the necessary knowledge and information.

061 Robotic Simulations Using the Robot Controller Test Station (RCTS) M.A. Ramsay, B. Mack, M.M. Bayoumi, pp 105-110

This paper provides • brief imroduction to the Robot Controller Test Station, RCTS, and outlines the simulation capabilities ~are~..mfly available. The main purpose of the RCTS is to

cilitate the development and integrauon of software for sensor- based robot systems. Present work is expanding the hierarchical c~tml of RCTS for multi-robot systems. RCTS is a highly flexible software platform that allows various types of robots to

programmed and simulated and controlled. Dynamics and kinematics are programmed and physical dimensions are onrte.red.. V. arious operating conditions are also programmable

slmtumon. A sample output from the simulation is included, wlth • general description of the output parameters available.

062 Insertion Force Recognition by Modelling and Simulation of Assembly Systems with Accomodntors M, Sorli, G. Govi, pp 111-116

This paper concerns passive compliance devices, where fc~mpensation takes place as the direct effect of the contact

rces 8~erat .ed between the parts during insertions in assembly tasks, lnese devices contam compliant elastic elements which can flex to correct initial errors. The present work focuses on evaluating inse~on force in rehtion to the different passive compliance device design parameters. A theoretical model of the insertion task is implemented in a simulation ~rog~m capable of specifying the parameters indicating mseruon progress and the insertion field.

063 Data Point Reduction for NC Tool Path Generation on Over-determined Data Set M. Yeung, D. Walton, pp 117-122

Data acquired for object reproduction by laser or stereovision scanning processes are ozten over-determined. This causes problems in m_anufacmring processes, for example, NC tool path generauon. Data reduction is a sensible solution to such

problems. A heuristic method to reduce the data peints with the user-given tolenmce is presented.

064 A Standard Feature-based Mold Design System for CAD/CAPP Interface H.S. Jee, T,S. KIm, S j . Lee, pp 123.128

When designing for manufacturing, the integration of .~oduct design and process planning into one common acUvuy ts indispensable. In the area of injection maid manufa©turing most of the convenuonal CAD systems based on geometsy-onentad design methodology inevitably have difficulty in their connections with manufacturing systems. In this paper • new mold design system based on standard machining feaune is proposed for its direct imerfsce with process planning as well as for expedient mold design. Its design methodology and resulting feature data/'des are also described with this system.

065 A Perspective on the Use of Sensors in Robot Materials Handling H. Zgbal, D.R. Strong, pp 129-133

This paper deals with the difficulties associated with mbct handling of materials in medium-sized manufacmnn s plants, and discusses the limitations of the industrial robot capabilities. Theproblems involved in robot materials handling and pan .,,t~ansfer. are p~s~ted and demonstrated through a simple mustrauve experiment- The paper finally addresses the usdulness of sensors in bfilding "smart" robots with more elaborate sensing capabilities in order to overcome these difficulties and to solve these problems.

066 An Approach for Adaptive and Optimal Control of Mobile Autoaemom Robots Used in l~exlbie Mmmfacturing Systems N. Dahev, S. Grozdev, pp 135-138

A combinatorial approach is proposed to del'me the working zanc of mobile autonomous m b ~ . The so-called illumination z~es are introduced and an algorithm for robot navigation is presemed. Another algorithm is considered for high-p~cision solving of the matrix Riccm equations. The program realization of these algorithms is worked out. The ~ g pros .nun package is written in computer language

pun~, computers PC/XT/AT/PS and coml~tibles. rogram pacJcage may be applied to solve various problems

for adaptive ~ optimal control of mobile autonomous robets that are used m Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMSs).

067 Micrecomputer Based CAD/CAM Software for Manufacturing Applications J.l. Ahmed, pp 139-144

The key for successful implementation of • CAD/CAM System ~h • .~all manufacturing c~.. pany lies in the proper selection of

• ngnt software me matchmg hardware. This paper describes the lxes~t approach to using CAD systems and proposes the m~t p.rmucuye app~.ch to utilizing CAD/CAM systems. An evamauon criteria •no selection procedure is developed for evaluating the software. A unified methodology developed for CAD/CAM system evaluation can also be used in computer mtegrated manufacturing systems. The results of this research will be highly useful to the small manufacturing facilities which are most interested in CAD/CAM applications and resolving their problems.

068 A "Low Cost" Meduhr CIM Concept for Small Companies P. Kopacek, N. Girsule, J. H61al, pp 145-149

Commercially available software packages for CIM components • re mostly suitable for large companies in distinct fields but us .ually not for small- and medium-sized companies. Another pmmem ts the mvestment cost of a CIM installation, leading to

solutions so.e A "low r. ~ c¢~:ept especially for small- and medium-sized

compames was 0eveloped and mstalled in an Austrian company producing welding tramformers. This concept is based on • network d PCs .(operating system MS-DOS) md a database .com_pumr.~opersung system UNIX). The software was wnuen m.u. "lhi.-s con .c~: and .m~, application example, are discussed wlm spccltu emphasis on mtormau~m problems.