Minimum time collision-free path planning for robotic assembly

SUMMARY

Optimum path planning of manipulator arms in assembly applications involves the selection of the optimum combination of the robot control variables under the constraints imposed by the robot's physical capabilities and the condition of the working area. The present paper describes an approach based on numerical optimization techniques to plan collision-free paths, and on Taguchi parameter design methodology to optimize the control parameters of the pick-and-place operation that would yield minimum cycle time