T. Vámos, Z. Vassy: Industrial pattern recognition experiment - a syntax aided approach (SZTAKI Tanulmányok 20/1974)
Introduction The pattern recognition experiment, of which we give an account here, is a part of а ШС workshop project. The aim of this work has been a feedback loop of a programmable automata /industrial robot/, to make it applicable for various assembly and material handling activities. The workshop is controlled by a minicomputer executing the postprocessor programs of the NC machines. These postprocessors are produced by a more powerful central computer. The recognizer of the robot should work on the same basis; the possibilities of the combined mini-central computer approach was investigated on this stage of our activity. We wanted to apply methods published earlier by other authors such as Pu [Ï] , [2], [4] , [5] , H, Grenander [3] , Rosenfeld [7], Evans [8], Shaw [9], ï some special aspects of this task and its possibilities led to a few new ideas. We should like to give an account of these, outlining the problem as a whole only to explain the context. 1/ Constraints of operation According to the goal roughly mentioned in the introduction, this pattern recognition experiment converts its interest to industrial /man made, standardized/ objects, which can be found on one working place. The process of recognition initializes the different programs of the robot, corrects the manipulation due to change in workpiece, size, position, etc. a/ Only a limited class of objects must be recognized in one working period; b/ These classes can be analysed by a learning-teaching procedure, before starting the working period; с/ The contours of the objects are well defined /as it is usually the case with industrial objects/ and in most cases they can be described by arcs and lines just as in a regular practice of NC control; d/ A well defined background and controllable and suitable illumination can be applied. Keeping practical industrial application in view, the solution must be an economical real time one, using mostly the control mini-computer. The hardware needed must fall within the limits of the price range of a commercial robot.