Page 189 - Welding Robots Technology, System Issues, and Applications
P. 189

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                           What’s Next?













                           In general terms, actual robot controllers have  good programming languages
                           although with limited programming tools, which makes the  possibility of
                           incorporating  remote computer systems very interesting. In fact, this procedure
                           enables the user/programmer to  benefit from the advanced  programming and
                           analysis tools available for personal computers. This also fits very well with the
                           need to distribute software to the various components of the system, since actual
                           manufacturing tasks (and welding tasks in particular) are generally very complex
                           and require the intervention  of several different components: intelligent sensors,
                           robot controllers, computers, software packages, PLCs, etc.. This book covered the
                           majority of these aspects, with enough detail, pursuing the basic objective of
                           showing the actual state-of-the-art about welding processes, sensors and systems
                           used to implement robotic welding applications.

                           Nevertheless, robotic welding remains a very complex task which requires more
                           from the robots and related systems.

                           Robots need to be cheaper, faster, lighter and much easier to program.

                           These  objectives highlight the standardization  of the mechanical and computer
                           platforms used when building robots, as a way to reduce cost and to have robots
                           sharing parts with the other computer systems available on the market.

                           Furthermore, the above-mentioned objectives also  highlight the programming
                           languages, on the human-machine software and hardware interfaces, on the robot
                           controllers, etc. And also on the need to better observe and correct in real-time the
                           welding process, which means a better understanding of the welding processes and
                           smarter welding sensors, easier to interface and program.

                           Moreover, using a robot to execute the welding craft is still a challenge, mainly
                           because the new welding processes (like rapid arc and laser welding) require more
                           efficient systems with higher-levels of adaptability.




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