Efficient robotic welding for shipyards ‐ virtual reality simulation holds the key

Describes how virtual reality simulation technology is being used and developed to support the design, and programming, of large‐scale robot arc‐welding cells in two of the world’s largest and most modern shipyards. GRASP‐VRI is a shipbuilding‐specific software simulation and offline programming tool, developed as part of a highly‐productive method for rapidly creating arc‐welding programs for robots. Describes the integrated program creation concept which uses pre‐defined, parametric libraries of generic arc‐welding tasks that were created and verified prior to, and during, cell commissioning. Says that the approach is applicable to other robotics applications such as cutting, gluing and inspection.