Neutral Interfaces in Design, Simulation, and Programming for Robotics

This book summarizes the results of a three-year project on specification, implementation, test, and application of standardized interface processors for product data exchange between different systems in design, planning, and manufacturing of mechanical products. The reported results show how close the project has come to the final goal of a broadly accepted international standard for product data exchange which is underway with the STEP initiative. Processors and interpreters were developed for several commercial CAD, programming, simulation, and control systems. Applications include welding of big ship parts, assembly of car motors, and filament winding of aircraft parts.