Purpose – Describes how BMW is investing in new body‐in‐white capital equipment to make a new version of the Mini due out in 2007. Design/methodology/approach – Describes the major production line technologies that are under close scrutiny to manufacture the body shell of the next...

Purpose – In this paper a solution capable of extracting robot motion information from CAD data is briefly presented and explored. Design/methodology/approach – The motion information is added by the user to the CAD file, defining in this way the approach, fly‐by and welding trajectories....

Purpose – Aims to determine how BMW's use of robots in car manufacturing is evolving. Design/methodology/approach – Presents the latest applications of robots at BMW's Regensburg plant where the new small 1‐series car started production in 2004. Findings – Finds that robots are being...

Purpose – This work demonstrates the development of a robot, which was designed for the orbital welding of pipes. Design/methodology/approach – The robot consists of a small car pressed against the pipe by means of chains, which are used by the robot to move around it. To provide all...

Purpose – This paper presents a new method for deploying RoboCrane‐type cable robots, without the need for fixed rigid cable support points. That is, the system provides its own deployable mobile overhead support points. Design/methodology/approach – This paper presents a new RoboCrane...

Purpose – Top‐face control of weld penetration in TIG welding is required for fully automated systems to overcome variations in the welding process and fixturing systems. Design/methodology/approach – This paper presents a system based upon based on the real‐time vision measurement and...

Purpose – Aims to present general concepts and framework for increasing the flexibility in robotic arc welding with respect to use of sensors and small series production. Design/methodology/approach – Presents a conceptual model with a framework that integrates existing tools and needed...

Purpose – Development and demonstration of an autonomous, mobile welding robot capable of fabricating large‐scale customised structures. Design/methodology/approach – An autonomous welding robot has been developed under the EC Framework V Growth program. The system comprises a global...

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to develop closed‐loop control of robotic welding processes. Design/methodology/approach – The approach being developed is the creation of three‐dimensional models of the weld pool using stereo imagining. These models will be used in a...

Purpose – Aims to present missing knowledge of welding and sensor application with rotating torch to the technically and economically meaningful employment. With the help of this knowledge, on the one hand, the potential user is to be informed about the applicability of the system in the...