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NOMAD - SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION TO EUROPEAN PROJECT
15 December 2004 - TWI (The Welding Institute)
| A public demonstration of the EU funded NOMAD project took place in November 2004 at the Caterpillar manufacturing facility in Gosselies, Belgium. The autonomous robotic arc welding system was demonstrated in front of an audience of representatives of the project partner organisations, members of the press and invited guests.
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NOMAD is the name given to the EU Framework V project, Autonomous Manufacture of Large Steel Fabrications. In the project a demonstration cell has been developed capable of fabricating steel structures in the 5 to 50 tonne range without the need for special tooling and dedicated capital equipment. Components are loaded into the cell and identified by a vision system. The image of the component is matched to the CAD model and offline programs generate path data to guide a robot arm on a moving platform into position. A laser scanning sensor on the robot arm locates the start position and welding is carried out under adaptive control. After an introduction, describing the aims and achievements of the project, the guests were invited to the welding cell for a demonstration of the technologies. The welding system was demonstrated welding a representative bridge section and a stick, a typical component part of an excavator. This project was a true collaboration between the partners. Caterpillar was responsible for the work cell, providing one of the components and managing the project. Nusteel Structures Ltd provided the other component. IFF developed the vision system. Delfoi Ltd developed the simulation and planning systems and integrated these with the vision system. Robosoft S.A. designed and built the RTV. Reis Robotics provided the robot arm and was responsible for integration of the hardware. Esab AB provided the welding power source and developed a metal-cored wire for the project. TWI Ltd was responsible for the welding process development, programming of the laser sensor and the dissemination and exploitation of the results. Project Contacts: Geoff Melton or Chris Peters
http://www.nomadrobot.org
About: TWI (The Welding Institute)
TWI Ltd, the operating arm of The Welding Institute, is one of the world's foremost independent research and technology organisations. Based at Great Abington near Cambridge since 1946, TWI provides industry with engineering solutions in structures incorporating welding and associated technologies (surfacing, coating, cutting, etc.) through - information; advice and technology transfer; consultancy and project support; contract R&D; training and qualification, personal membership.It is the only single source of expertise in every aspect of joining technology for engineering materials - metals, plastics, ceramics and composites. TWI is a non-profit distributing company, limited by guarantee and owned by its Members; it is therefore able to offer independent advice. It is internationally renowned for bringing together multidisciplinary teams to implement established or advanced joining technology or to solve problems arising at any stage - from initial design, materials selection, production and quality assurance, through to service performance and repair. Over 450 skilled staff are dedicated to helping industry apply all forms of joining technology safely and efficiently. Some 3200 companies and organisations - representing virtually all sectors of manufacturing industry from over 60 countries around the globe - benefit from TWI services. TWI undertakes contract R & D in confidence for both industry and governments. As a consultant it can offer individual experts or teams able to help solve problems of all kinds related to materials joining. It will send its specialists anywhere in the world at short notice on troubleshooting missions. |
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• For December 2004
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