Pragmatic and Theoretical Studies in Automated Repair

The use of robots to diagnose and disassemble defective equipment during and after manufacture, to detect faulty parts and replace them with properly functioning parts, and then to reassemble a total system and make it operational, is a potentially important application of robotic technology. However, present robotic technology only provides very immature approximations to the capabilities required to accomplish operations of such sophistication. To respond to this challenge, we have integrated five essential components of engineering science graphical simulations of assembly, repair and manufacturing automated manufacturing of parts dextrous manipulation of parts computer vision for scene analysis and inspection of parts system integration and real-time operating systems. Automated repair is dependent on realistic graphical simulations, deterministic manufacturing procedures and remote manufacturing situation. Computer vision is likewise essential to provide the scene analysis of such a remote manufacturing station, and the automated inspection of manufactured parts.