Application of object-oriented techniques to the design and operation of factories

Abstract

Heracles is a system for applying the object-oriented techniques of modern software production to the construction of modern automated (i.e. “robot”) factories. In programming, an object consists of data and the actions defined on it: in HERACLES, an object is a hardware component (e.g a grabber), data, and a software template defining the methods implemented on that object. A CAD system and a software design environment are used to create the objects, which are stored in a library. Objects are used by the code generator, simulation, monitoring, and diagnostics systems. Traditional design methods have no integration of any of these components. HERACLES also allows class information to be re-used in future projects. (6 pages)