Robotic Welding and Automation

Abstract

State-of-the-art robotic welding today is one of the most critical innovations in industrial operations that can offer improved profitability, reliability, and flexibility against other traditional methods of welding. This demand for individual and flexible solutions raises the need for more advanced and automated welding technologies, which cover variability in parts, conditions, and limitations of the process. It provides the current status on intelligence and automation in robotic welding focusing on recent advancements and challenges in this area. Furthermore, it gives the role that sensor feedback plays in a robotic welding process, including vision-based sensing, force, and heat sensing. It also takes into consideration the notion of supervised learning, whereby the system uses labeled data in predicting the performance of the welds and adjusts the process variables to realize intelligent robotic welding. The chapter reviews adaptive robotic welding systems capable of self-adjusting the route and parameters of welding by analyzing the sensor input and real-time data obtained in the process of welding. It further discusses the concept of path correction robotic welding, wherein the welding path is corrected on a real-time basis for errors in position and environmental disturbances. This review presents an important view on current developments and future directions regarding intelligence and automation in robotic welding for opening up avenues toward productivity enhancement and quality improvement in the manufacturing industry.