Integration of Robots into CIM

From its inception in 1983, ESPRIT (the European Strategic Programme for Research and Development in Information Technology) has aimed at improving the competitiveness of European industry and providing it with the technology needed for the 1990s. Information techniques have initiated a structural change of the manufacturing industry. Productivity, flexibility, quality, and reliability will attain a level which cannot be realized on the basis of conventional production structures. The differentiated technological requirements to products lead to an increased product variation and a quick product substitution. These alterations of the market situation demand automation of the highest flexibility and productivity. This can be reached by computer integrated, automated and flexible manufacturing, whereby information techniques take over a key function. In production technology it was comprehended at a very early stage that computers are important components. Stations of these developments were the NC technique, CNC controls up to the development of FMS with robots. In this context it can be stated that robots play an important role as the most flexible automation components.