Cognitive supervision system for industrial robots

This paper presents a supervisory system for industrial robots that helps the human operator by taking advantage of cognitive infocommunication channels. The robot is considered as a handicapped worker equipped with limited intelligence but being strong and capable for precise manufacturing, so while the human operator can easily solve the task the robot can extend his/her abilities in the process. If people learn how to communicate with this ldquoworkerrdquo they get a new, capable ldquocolleaguerdquo. The long term goal is that the boss can give the daily task to a robot in a similar way as he/she gives the jobs to the human workers, for example using CAD documentations, gestures and some verbal explanation. In the presented system the operator can steer the remote manipulator with certain high-level instructions using a motion capture suit as input device. Every stored gesture has its own meaning that corresponds to a specific movement of the robot. The manipulator interprets and executes the instructions invoking its on-board artificial intelligence, while feedback through a stereoscopic visualization unit closes the supervisory loop. The system has been designed to be independent of the geographical distance between the user and the manipulated environment making the user able to establish control loops spanning through countries and continents. Successful tests have been executed between France, Norway and Hungary.