Planning and developing cyber-physical assembly systems by connecting virtual and real worlds

In this paper a methodology for supporting the assembly planning engineer is given which connects the virtual planning environment with a real assembly system. The method starts with product and process analysis, continuing with a capable assembly module selection while several validations are conducted. A reference model, as part of the methodology, is used for clustering information in the different steps. The virtual planning model is connected with a real assembly system which allows an automatic model update, providing the planner with the latest system configuration. While operating the assembly system the connection is simultaneously used to derive a product memory which guides the product through the assembly. The methodology is implemented by tools of the digital factory which are connected with modules of cyber-physical assembly systems. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.