Gábor Erdős

Process planning and offline programming for robotic remote laser welding systems

The paper introduces a complete offline programming toolbox for remote laser welding (RLW) which provides a semi-automated method for computing close-to-optimal robot programs. A workflow is proposed for the complete planning process, and new models and algorithms are presented for solving the optimisation problems related to each step of the workflow: the sequencing of the welding tasks, path planning, workpiece placement, calculation of inverse kinematics and the robot trajectory, as well as for generating the robot program code. The paper summarises the results of an industrial case study on the assembly of a car door using RLW technology, which illustrates the feasibility and the efficiency of the proposed approach.

Real-time, cooperative enterprises for customised mass production

The paper discusses the main requirements that are posed by customised mass production towards managing production networks. Special emphasis is put on real-time, cooperative behaviour. We present a large-scale national industry-academia R&D project aimed at improving the performance of a production network that produces consumer goods in large quantities and variability. An integrated approach is outlined for planning and scheduling the behaviour of the system at network-, factory- and plant levels, as well as for adapting the various plans and schedules to real execution conditions. Novel, integrated solutions are described for rolling horizon production scheduling of a factory with more than 100 production lines, for real-time control of daily production supported by information fusion and simulation, as well as for cooperative component supply. The industrial deployment of the integrated systems is also presented together with some lessons of their routine application.

Real-time, cooperative enterprises for customized mass production; challenges and solution approaches

Abstract The paper underlines the main requirements of customized mass production, with special emphasis on the real-time ability and cooperativeness. Main goals of a large-scale national industry-academia R&D project aimed at improving the performance of a production network that produces consumer goods in large quantities and variability are highlighted. An integrated approach is presented for planning the behavior of the system at network-, factory- and plant level, as well as for adapting various plans to real execution conditions.

Engineering Support Systems for Industrial Machines and Plants

In the business of industrial machines and plants, rapid and detailed estimates for planning installation, replacement of equipment, or maintenance work are key requirements for meeting the demands for greater reliability, lower costs and for maintaining safe and secure operation. These demands have been addressed by developing technology driven by IT. When replacing equipment at complex building or plants with high equipment density, the existing state of the installation locations and transportation routes for old and new equipment need to be properly measured. We have met this need by developing parts recognition technology based on 3D measurement, and by developing high-speed calculation technology of optimal routes for installation parts. This chapter provides an overview of these development projects with some real business application results.

Novel IT Approaches and Solutions towards Real-time, Cooperative Enterprises

Abstract In addition of the four main R&D directions, i.e., adaptive manufacturing, digital manufacturing, knowledge-based manufacturing, and networked manufacturing, emphasized by the European initiative Manufuture, two additional requirements, i.e., the real-timeness and cooperativeness of production structures are also outlined in the paper, which are of high and increasing importance. The paper also underlines the main requirements of customized mass production, with special emphasis on the real-time ability and cooperativeness. Main goals of a large-scale national industry-academia R&D project aimed at improving the performance of a production network that produces consumer goods in large quantities and variability are highlighted. An integrated approach is presented for planning the behavior of the system at network-, factory- and plant level, as well as for adapting various plans to real execution conditions.