Optimal selection of robots by using distance based approach method

A deterministic quantitative model based on Distance Based Approach (DBA) method has been developed for evaluation, selection and ranking of robots, which is a concept hitherto not employed in selection problem of this kind. As a significant development over and above past approaches to robot selection, it recognizes the need for, and processes the information about, relative importance of attributes for a given application, without which inter-se-attribute comparison could not be accomplished. It successfully presents the results of this information processing in terms of a merit value which is used to rank the robots. In order to demonstrate the aptness of using DBA method as a decision aid, the results so obtained have been compared with other techniques and methods available in the open literature. Sensitivity analysis test have been performed to analyze the critical and non-critical performance attributes for a robot. The model developed using DBA method is explained and illustrated with an example problem. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.