Knowledge systems: Principles and practice
IBM Journal of Research and Development
An Introduction to Automated Process Planning Systems
An Introduction to Automated Process Planning Systems
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This paper describes research efforts in which an expert process planning system, based on the Semi-intelligent Process Selector (SIPS) expert system shell, is linked with an industrial robot arm to perform fixed plant cutting and assembly operations (wood truss fabrication). The operational protocol of this system involves providing truss design input to the process planner via a file of truss feature parameter frames. This planner, which is resident on a TI Explorer workstation, generates the fabrication sequence and transfers this sequence to a robot control program which is resident on a separate microcomputer. This control program creates the required robot commands to produce robot movement. This paper provides a general discussion of knowledge-based expert systems and computer-aided process planning followed by the specifics of the development and operation of a SIPS based automated truss manufacturing system. This latter section includes an overview of the process planning shell utilized in this effort, and the structure of the knowledge bases developed. The makeup and function of the interpreter software package and the specifics of the major system hardware components are also discussed.