Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 March 2009
This paper briefly describes actual robot level programming languages, focusing on their intrinsic limitations when compared with traditional concurrent programming languages or when used for robotic systems/flexible production workshops programming, and not only for an isolated manipulator control.
To reduce such limitations, a suggestion is made to base the development of robotic programming systems on already existing concurrent languages (Concurrent Pascal, Modula-2), taking into account their built-in extension facilities for fastening the incorporation of (or easy interfacing with) existing packages or products already developed in robotics (robot models, CAD systems, vision systems, etc).
Using such languages as a support base for a robotic station programming environment, with access to different components developed separately, will allow a better understanding of the inter-relations among components and their limitations when faced with an integration perspective.