A First Approach to the Development of a Control Subsystem on a Hybrid (Real/Virtual) Flexible Manufacturing System

Abstract

This paper shows a first approach to incorporate virtual elements (based on virtual reality) in an existing Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS). It suggests the main methodological ideas to develop a control system for a hybrid FMS where both, virtual and real elements, can work together. The paper starts from an existing FMS named CFF-ETSIA and implanted in the Aerospace Engineering School. A modular design is proposed towards the independence between the FMS elements so that the system flexibility increases. Virtual devices are created in order to reproduce the behavior of their real-homonymous elements as far as possible. This includes not only the mechanical way but and the behavioral way.