A flexible assembling system incorporating at least one manufacturing cell including at least one universal fixture, at least one position monitoring device (e,g., monitoring system, 3D vision system, 3D vision system/scanner, artificial intelligence position determination and monitoring, artificial intelligence vision system to locate part or a feature(s) of the part, and combinations thereof), and at least one programmable robot or machine (e.g., punch, weld, etc.). The at least one universal fixture is a non-dedicated fixture such that the fixture is usable with various products and not dedicated to only one specific part being manufactured.

The system performs a process for creating robotic control code for manufacturing products. A Designer UI displays virtual parts and receives inputs for processing and assembling the virtual parts that are required to create a virtual product. The designer identifies options for processing and assembling the virtual parts which are displayed on the user interface. The robot abilities and the options are selected to optimize a metric of the product manufacturing. The inventive toolset produces the robot control codes for performing a sequence of robotic abilities with the selected options to product the product. The robot control codes are used by a simulator which manipulates virtual robots and virtual parts to create a virtual product to check the robot control code. The verified robot control code is used to control real robots to create the product.

The system performs a process for creating robotic control code for manufacturing products. A Designer UI displays virtual parts and receives inputs for processing and assembling the virtual parts that are required to create a virtual product. The designer identifies options for processing and assembling the virtual parts which are displayed on the user interface. The robot abilities and the options are selected to optimize a metric of the product manufacturing. The inventive toolset produces the robot control codes for performing a sequence of robotic abilities with the selected options to product the product. The robot control codes are used by a simulator which manipulates virtual robots and virtual parts to create a virtual product to check the robot control code. The verified robot control code is used to control real robots to create the product.

Automated fixture layout is approached in two distinct stages. First, the spatial locations of clamping points on the work piece are determined to ensure immobility of the fixtured part under any infinitesimal perturbation. Second, spatial locations are matched against a user-specified library of reconfigurable clamps to synthesize a valid fixture layout or configuration that includes clamps that are accessible and collision free. The spatial locations matching during the second stage can be the same spatial locations chosen in the first stage to ensure immobility, or a different set of spatial locations.

The system performs a process for creating robotic control code for manufacturing products. A Designer UI displays virtual parts and receives inputs for processing and assembling the virtual parts that are required to create a virtual product. The designer identifies options for processing and assembling the virtual parts which are displayed on the user interface. The robot abilities and the options are selected to optimize a metric of the product manufacturing. The inventive toolset produces the robot control codes for performing a sequence of robotic abilities with the selected options to product the product. The robot control codes are used by a simulator which manipulates virtual robots and virtual parts to create a virtual product to check the robot control code. The verified robot control code is used to control real robots to create the product.

Automated fixture layout is approached in two distinct stages. First, the spatial locations of clamping points on the work piece are determined to ensure immobility of the fixtured part under any infinitesimal perturbation. Second, spatial locations are matched against a user-specified library of reconfigurable clamps to synthesize a valid fixture layout or configuration that includes clamps that are accessible and collision free. The spatial locations matching during the second stage can be the same spatial locations chosen in the first stage to ensure immobility, or a different set of spatial locations.

Automated fixture layout is approached in two distinct stages. First, the spatial locations of clamping points on the work piece are determined to ensure immobility of the fixtured part under any infinitesimal perturbation. Second, spatial locations are matched against a user-specified library of reconfigurable clamps to synthesize a valid fixture layout or configuration that includes clamps that are accessible and collision free. The spatial locations matching during the second stage can be the same spatial locations chosen in the first stage to ensure immobility, or a different set of spatial locations.

A method and system for monitoring a mandrel. A first plurality of transmitting devices is positioned with respect to the mandrel. Signals from a portion of the first plurality of transmitting devices are received at a receiving device. The signals are processed to determine a configuration of the mandrel.

Automated fixture layout is approached in two distinct stages. First, the spatial locations of clamping points on the work piece are determined to ensure immobility of the fixtured part under any infinitesimal perturbation. Second, spatial locations are matched against a user-specified library of reconfigurable clamps to synthesize a valid fixture layout or configuration that includes clamps that are accessible and collision free. The spatial locations matching during the second stage can be the same spatial locations chosen in the first stage to ensure immobility, or a different set of spatial locations.

Automated fixture layout is approached in two distinct stages. First, the spatial locations of clamping points on the work piece are determined to ensure immobility of the fixtured part under any infinitesimal perturbation. Second, spatial locations are matched against a user-specified library of reconfigurable clamps to synthesize a valid fixture layout or configuration that includes clamps that are accessible and collision free. The spatial locations matching during the second stage can be the same spatial locations chosen in the first stage to ensure immobility, or a different set of spatial locations.