Software architecture for adaptable assembly systems

Modern manufacturing methods demand highly flexible and reusable assembly systems. Such flexibility and reusability can be attained using systems that are modular. These modular systems have the ability to react faster to market forces and are adaptable beyond the limits of the so-called flexibility corridor. Also, placing the constraints of flexibility and reusability on software paves the way for design and usage of generic systems that have a relatively low initial cost.

However, these advantages are often overshadowed by the complexity of these software systems. Especially, one faces many difficulties in software modularizing the assembly system so that each module can be integrated seamlessly into the entire system. Defining an interface in the development phase is practically impossible given that systems evolve a lot before reaching production phase.