Factory automation software, such as offered by DELMIA, is far from commonplace. While CAD softtware is taken for granted in architectural design, mechanical design, even machining, the idea of using software to plan assembly lines and configure and guide robot, is more the exception than the rule. The far more common way of creating even todays sophisticated factories seems to still be guided by experience, old school planning -- and sometimes very expensive trial and error.
This was brought home with the following story, allegedly at some unnamed automotive plant.
A robot tasked with placing windshields on a car body on an assembly line had received faulty instruction. It would pick up the windshield just fine, swing and reorient it to place it, but it would stop not soon enough. It was pushing the windshield into the car, not by much, but enough to shatter the glass. Technicians tried in vain to dodgethe flailing robot arm while being sprayed with exploding glass. Soon the floor was covered by slippery glass particles.
I imagine the assembly line had to be stopped while the robot was reprogrammed.
Should that video ever be available, I'm sure it would sell a lot of Delmia seats -- not to mention be a big hit on Youtube.
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