HUMAN-MACHINE INTERFACES IN INDUSTRIAL ROBOTICS

Abstract

Abstract : This report surveys human-machine interfaces in industrial robotics. Its aim is to create a data base concerning design practices in equipment and software pertaining to human factors engineering, with a summary of programming features and a taxonomy of programming tasks. It results from a study of ten robot manufacturers (eight American, one Swedish, one Japanese), plus a more limited review of another Japanese manufacturer. The equipment surveyed falls into three categories: teach pendants, cathode-ray tube (CRT/keyboard terminals, and controller panels; the software consists primarily of the languages and procedures for programming robots on the factory floor as well as in applications programming off-line. The first section reviews aspects relating to programming design from a human factors viewpoint. The second part outlines the component tasks in programming a robot and the uses of these taxonomic descriptions. The Appendix describes in detail the designs in these hardware and software categories for each robot manufacturer and contains illustrations.