Virtual reality applied to industrial robots

The paper describes the development of a virtual reality testbed for industrial robot applications. The objectives of applying virtual reality techniques to robotics are to improve the human-machine interface to robot control systems and to robot simulation systems applied to manufacturing. This improved interface, used in the design of simulations and off-line programming/teaching, offers new and improved features like free path definition of robots even in simulation, better spatial understanding of the situation, visual collision avoidance and quick workcell design. A description of the testbed, including software and hardware features, will give an overview of the test facilities at IPA Stuttgart. A video tape will demonstrate the results.