Bringing Path Planning and Lean Automation Together

Abstract

In order to achieve higher productivity and flexibility, manufacturing industry is turning increasingly to robotics based lean automation systems. This lean approach presents a series of new challenges for the control, operation and programming of robotic hardware implemented to carry out a range of manufacturing processes. This paper reviews relevant path planning methodologies alongside a specific set of requirements for a manipulator operating in a lean automation workcell. Then, new challenges to path planning for a lean automation system are presented. Finally, a framework for a new path planner is developed and its performance is compared to existing methods.