Autonomous production systems using open architectures and mobile robotic structures

This paper investigates the flexibility aspects of production systems that use highly interactive and autonomous mobile robotic units. Open communication architectures and ontology technologies enable the accurate representation of robot capabilities. Mobile robots can relocate themselves and support the production process, thus providing a higher reconfiguration potential. Services are used for real time transactions between stationary and mobile robots towards the implementation of a process plan. The units can cooperate and determine their course of actions. This approach was applied to an experimental cell, where the system managed to implement production plans for the packaging of small sized products without human intervention. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.