Industrial robot control and operator training using virtual reality interfaces

Nowadays, we are involved in the fourth industrial revolution, commonly referred to as Industry 4.0, where cyber-physical systems and intelligent automation, including robotics, are the keys. Traditionally, the use of robots has been limited by safety and, in addition, some manufacturing tasks are too complex to be fully automated. Thus, human-robot collaborative applications, where robots are not isolated, are necessary in order to increase the productivity ensuring the safety of the operators with new perception systems for the robot and new interaction interfaces for the human. Moreover, virtual reality has been extended to the industry in the last years, but most of its applications are not related to robots. In this context, this paper works on the synergies between virtual reality and robotics, presenting the use of commercial gaming technologies to create a totally immersive environment based on virtual reality. This environment includes an interface connected to the robot controller, where the necessary mathematical models have been implemented for the control of the virtual robot. The proposed system can be used for training, simulation, and what is more innovative, for robot controlling in an integrated, non-expensive and unique application. Results show that the immersive experience increments the efficiency of the training and simulation processes, offering a cost-effective solution. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.