The authors and editors of this Handbook have attempted to fill a serious gap in the professional literature on industrial automation. Much past attention has been directed to the general concepts and philosophy of automation as a way to convince owners and managers of manufacturing facilities that automation is indeed one of the few avenues available to increase productivity and improve competitive position. Seventy-three contributors share their knowledge in this Handbook. Less attention has been given to the "What" and "How" of automation. To the extent feasible and practical within the confines of the pages allowed, this Handbook concentrates on the implementation of automation. Once the "Go" signal has been given by management, concrete details-not broad definitions and philosophical discussions-are required. To be found in this distinctly different book in the field are detailed parameters for designing and specifying equipment, the options available with an evaluation of their relative advantages and limitations, and insights for engineers and production managers on the operation and capabilities of present-generation automation system components, subsystems, and total systems. In a number of instances, the logical extension of current technology into the future is given. A total of 445 diagrams and photos and 57 tables augments detailed discussions. In addition to its use as a ready reference for technical and management personnel, the book has wide potential for training and group discussions at the college and university level and for special education programs as may be provided by consultants or by "in-house" training personnel.

Methods of contro1151 Mechanical master-slave telemanipulators 151 Powered telemanipulators 152 Servo control of unilateral telemanipulators 152 Bilateral servo manipulators 155 Special characteristics of teleoperators 158 Design criteria for teleoperators 159 Vehicles and transporters 160 Applications of teleoperators 161 Remote handling of radioactive materials 161 Remote handling of explosive and toxic materials 161 Telemanipulation of heavy objects 163 Underwater teleoperation 163 Teleoperation in space and planetary exploration 164 Telemanipulators for the disabled 164 Computer assisted teleoperation 166 Bibliographic notes 170 Chapter 9: Mobile robots 171 Introduction 171 Land surface robots 171 Arrangements of wheels and tracks 171 Unusual wheel and track arrangements 172 Navigation for land vehicles 174 Teleoperation 174 Dead reckoning 175 Inertial navigation 175 Tracking from a fixed base; beacons 175 Satellite navigation 175 Map matching 175 Wall following 176 Route planning 176 Control and communication 176 Sensors for mobile robots 177 Body orientation and angular rates 1 77 Body position, speed and acceleration 177 Terrain scanning 178 Types and applications of mobile robots 179 Education and research 179 Remote handling 183 Military mobile robots 183 Fire-fighting and rescue 187 Construction 188 Mining 188 Planetary exploration 188 Legged robots 188 Comparison of legs and wheels 189 Leg number and arrangement 189 Leg number 189 Leg disposition 190 Relative leg length 190 Leg construction 190 Control 191 Climbing robots 195 Robot submersibles 196 Uses of submersible robots 199 Robots in air and space 201 Space 202 Bibliographic notes 204 Chapter 10: Automated guided vehicles 205

Robot Technology Fundamentals covers all the practical aspects, disciplines and latest developments of industrial robots and presents them in a simple, logical and gradually progressive manner. Principles and techniques are introduced by practical examples rather than by abstract theory. The content not only discusses current technology but emphasizes the technology of the future. Each chapter ends with a summary, questions and problems as well as a list of reference material for additional learning.ALSO AVAILABLEInstructor's Guide, ISBN: 0-8273-8237-

Tomorrow's robots, which includes the humanoid robot, can perform task like tutoring children, working as tour guides, driving humans to and from work, do the family shopping etc. Tomorrow's robots will enhance lives in ways we never dreamed possible. No time to attend the decisive meeting on Asian strategy? Let your robot go for you and make the decisions. Not feeling well enough to go to the clinic? Let Dr Robot come to you, make a diagnosis, and get you the necessary medicine for treatment. No time to coach the soccer team this week? Let the robot do it for you.Tomorrow's robots will be the most exciting and revolutionary things to happen to the world since the invention of the automobile. It will change the way we work, play, think, and live. Because of this, nowadays robotics is one of the most dynamic fields of scientific research. These days, robotics is offered in almost every university in the world. Most mechanical engineering departments offer a similar course at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. And increasingly, many computer and electrical engineering departments are also offering it.This book will guide you, the curious beginner, from yesterday to tomorrow. The book will cover practical knowledge in understanding, developing, and using robots as versatile equipment to automate a variety of industrial processes or tasks. But, the book will also discuss the possibilities we can look forward to when we are capable of creating a vision-guided, learning machine.

Robot Technology Fundamentals covers all the practical aspects, disciplines and latest developments of industrial robots and presents them in a simple, logical and gradually progressive manner. Principles and techniques are introduced by practical examples rather than by abstract theory. The content not only discusses current technology but emphasizes the technology of the future. Each chapter ends with a summary, questions and problems as well as a list of reference material for additional learning.

This book provides a fundamental knowledge of robotic grasping and fixturing (RGF) manipulation. For RGF manipulation to become a science rather than an art, the content of the book is uniquely designed for a thorough understanding of the RGF from the multifingered robot hand grasp, basic fixture design principle, and evaluating and planning of robotic grasping/fixturing, and focuses on the modeling and applications of the RGF. Compared with existing publications, this volume concentrates more on abstract formulation, i.e. mathematical modeling of robotic grasping and fixturing. Thus, it will be a good reference text for academic researchers, manufacturing and industrial engineers and a textbook for engineering graduate students.The book provides readers an overall picture and scientific basis of RGF, the comprehensive information and mathematic models of developing and applying RGF in industry, and presents long term valuable information which is essential and can be used by technical professions as a good reference.

Robotics engineering has progressed from an infant industry in 1961 to one including over 500 robot and allied firms around the world in 1989. During this growth period, many robotics books have been published, so me of which have served as industry standards. Until recently, the design of robotics sys tems has been primarily the responsibility of the mechanical engineer, and their application in factories has been the responsibility of the manufacturing engineer. Few robotics books address the many systems issues facing electron ics engineers or computer programmers. The mid-1980s witnessed a major change in the robotics field. The develop ment of advanced sensor systems (particularly vision), improvements in the intelligence area, and the desire to integrate groups of robots working together in local work cells or in factory-wide systems have greatly increased the partic ipation of electronics engineers and computer programmers. Further, as ro bots ga in mobility, they are being used in completely new areas, such as construction, firefighting, and underwater exploration, and the need for com puters and smart sensors has increased. Fundamentals af Rabaties Engineering is aimed at the practicing electrical engineer or computer analyst who needs to review the fundamentals of engi neering as applied to robotics and to understand the impact on system design caused by constraints unique to robotics. Because there are many good texts covering mechanical engineering topics, this book is limited to an overview of those topics and the effects they have on electrical design and system pro grams.