Reconfigurable, flexible material handling system design based on an object oriented approach

Despite their inflexibility, cost and often complex customization requirements most assembly systems in industry employ some sort of conveyor system. The proposed new, modular and reconfigurable 2D or 3D conveyor system (as referred to in this paper, the `Open & Reconfigurable Conveyor System', ORCS) encompasses a modular mechanical and electronic hardware design and an open, reconfigurable and flexible software architecture based on the CIM-OSA model extended with object oriented analysis, and design concepts and some advanced software control and simulation tools. The new 3D conveyor model as well as the object oriented software control tools have been successfully implemented and validated using experimental conveyor modules, or objects (i.e. `objects' in terms of data and information objects as well as physical objects, or modules). The generic system architecture created offers an integrated and flexible platform for the development and/or modification of new and/or existing conveyor systems.