Toshihiko Koyama

ORiN: open robot interface for the network - the standard and unified network interface for industrial robot applications

The main objective of ORiN project is the standardization of networking software used as API that provides standard methods for accessing robot system information based on technologies that have already been designed for information infrastructures that are commonly used in the PCs and telecommunication services. In this paper, we describe the objective of ORiN first, then the architecture and key technologies. The applications developed according to ORiN specification that have been tested during the International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo held in 2001 are reported. This paper concludes with the future plan about the ORiN consortium.

ORiN: Open Robot Interface for the Network, a proposed standard

The Japan Robot Association (JARA) has been conducting standardization activities (ORiN: Open Robot Interface for the Network) in which the main subject is the network interface in the robot controller. In the 1999 international robot exhibition, our activities and results were opened and demonstrated to the public. In this demonstration, industrial robots from 13 Japanese domestic robot manufacturers, that had different specifications and structures, were connected to each other with a communication network. Using ORiN API, applications for production system management and 3‐D robot motion monitoring were demonstrated. The purpose of this demonstration is to verify the openness of the networked robot and to certify the proposed de facto standard protocol and robot model. The background of those activities, the outline of the design guidelines, the demonstration for verification, a schedule and plan towards the de facto and/or ISO standard are all mentioned.

Can industrial robots be connected with each other? Open and networked industrial robots

The paper reports on the current status of the standardization activities for open and networked industrial robots in Japan. First, the historical and technical background for the standardization of the programming interface for industrial robots is described. Second, the requirements of a PC based approach for networking are discussed and the design philosophy is explained. Lastly, the current situation of the implementation and technical issues remaining are shown with the prospective plan to the international standard and the de-facto standard.