Object recognition using ultrasonic sensors in robotic applications

Presents the results of a computer controlled system using ultrasonic transducers in applications like detection and identification of simply shaped objects for their subsequent manipulation in an automatic process. The authors have employed two kinds of transducers, one commercial and an other which uses the authors´ own electronic control circuit, on several structures. For a robotic arm, the system makes it capable to do simple tasks of elemental recognition and basic assembly of pieces. Thus, it has enough flexibility to operate in nonstatic environments. This alternative, using simple and economic proximity sensors, is very attractive for certain applications in manufacturing processes