New Trends in Robots Engineering with Professional Software SolidWorks

Abstract

Engineering robotic systems stand for a challenging complex process, closely related to product development phases. Society’s needs and requirements generate the idea for new robot products, which are sketched as an initial concept. This is the moment when the design phases start, engineers continue their work by evaluating and optimizing the mechanical parts according to many criteria: kinematics, dynamics, the strength of materials, NVH, thermal assessments, etc. Finally, there are established specifications for prototype execution, environment sustainability, end-user specifications, and recycling requirements. All these phases could be implemented into smart software. SolidWorks is such software enabling the creation of new mechanical designs automatically based on its programming tools. This chapter is focused on relevant advanced capabilities of SolidWorks software to assist engineers in achieving a new advanced level in mechanical design, that of automatically generating new or modifying existing concepts according to the requirements. By using professional software in research studies, new engineering procedures can be developed in order to automate the concept and design phases for many concurrent engineering methodologies, design optimization methods, manufacturing, documentation, or end-user specification. Case studies on the different types of robot systems used in healthcare and assisted living are presented.