Projector-based Augmented Reality support for shop-floor programming of industrial robot milling operations

Florian Leutert, Klaus Schilling

Abstract: Re-)Programming industrial robots today still remains an intricate process requiring expert knowledge. Therefore enterprises often avoid modifications to existing robot cells, even if processing could be further improved. This contribution presents a projector-based Augmented Reality support system that supports shop-floor-level inspection and intuitive modification of milling robot operations. The system enables visualization of the programmed milling processes directly on top of the workpiece and allows even for non-experts to verify or change the robotic work program directly in the work cell if needed. Technical challenges and proposed solutions are discussed, and the developed demonstrator system is presented. The system was tested in an industrial shop-floor work environment processing large-scale metal workpieces with high production tolerances, making it an ideal candidate for evaluating the practicability of this AR system for quick and user-friendly robot work program modifications.