Reports from a French foundry company which has installed its first robotic cell for the dimensional measurements of massive complex parts destined for hydroelectric power plants. Outlines the advantages of using a robot compared to the traditional manual inspection techniques. At present the...

Outlines the development of mechanical transmission elements used to drive industrial robots. Examines the performance requirements for precision gears and actuators, concentrating on harmonic drive reduction gearing and the key features which make it superior to conventional transmissions....

Looks at a research project which aims to develop a network system to provide a cost‐effective tool for the teaching and training of robot programming. The system requires only one robot and several PCs and with the use of a language conversion system only one robot control language [VAL] is...

Describes the MetaTorch sensor system which uses standard components such as CCD cameras, laser diodes and electronic pre‐processing hardware to determine the location of objects and features with the help of the structured light principle. Examines the sensor system’s four main parts: the...

Examines the potential for introducing automation processes including robots into the construction industry. Outlines some of the problems to be tackled including the technical and organisational problems of site layouts and the role of automation and robotics in construction. Looks at the...

Examines a research program into the use of automation and robotics in masonry building. The four main objectives of the project were to establish the requirements for the application of robotics in masonry construction; construct a prototype robot; develop the operation software system; and...

Outlines the state‐of‐the‐art in obstacle avoidance and path planning for industrial robots that is practical on the current generation of computer hardware. Describes practical vehicle planners and planning for manipulators. Summarizes that obstacle avoidance and path planning are...

A report from a meeting of the Institution of Electrical Engineers at which the problem was considered of the shortfall between robot simulation in the design office and the reality of the robot in operation on factory floor Discusses the importance of cell calibration if Off‐line programming...

Describes the CineRobotheque at the National Film Board of Canada [NFB] in Montreal where people can sit in personal viewing units called Cine‐Scopes and choose their own programs from the large NFB collection. The CineScopes are fed with images by an industrial robot that handles videodiscs....

Examines work on the development of an undersea remotely operated vehicle which is both unmanned and untethered. Outlines the difficulty of the only suitable long‐range underwater communication system being an acoustic link which has a very low bandwidth and a very large delay. The...