Intuitive Welding Robot Programming via Motion Capture and Augmented Reality

Abstract

In this paper the authors present a method to equip small and medium enterprises with a highly flexible product line to automate their production through a robotic welding application. The goal is to program a welding robot offline, similar to manual welding. To create the welding application, the workpiece is placed on a programming table and the welder traces the sheet metal joints with a position tracked pointing device. For simulation of the process, virtual weld seams are simultaneously displayed in the video stream of the Augmented Reality camera. The trajectories of the virtual welds are recorded, converted into executable robot code, loaded onto the robot therefore making an immediate machining of the workpiece possible. With this method, robot programs can be created very quickly, easily and cost-effectively, which makes robot production economical even for mass-individualization.