Interdisciplinary modelling of robots using CAD/CAE technology

Introduction. The paper describes an interdisciplinary approach that integrates physical and virtual (3D) modelling methods and tools in a high industrial undergraduate engineering school research environment and in an industrial design. The CAD/CAE procedures were connected directly with physical modelling for robotic systems of various types: mobile robots, manipulators etc. Thus, the design problems for the robot are solved in the both environments: physical and virtual. Materials and Methods. The approach includes three separate parts: 1) SolidWorks; 2) Ar-duino, Fischertechnik and RoboRobo sets; 3) MS Visual Studio C++, COM technology SolidWorks and a POSIEX socket API (Application Program Interface). API and COM are used as the integration tools for physical and virtual parts. Corresponding Add-In or Stand-Alone applications extract the model features used for determining the necessary kinematic and dynamic parameters for robotics control. Robot webcams, sensors and feedback allow to establish a bidirectional connection between the behaviours of the 3D (virtual) and the physical models. Results. The developed virtual (3D), physics models and software for the robots represent the integrated framework used in industrial design and research process. This interdisciplinary approach is realized as project-based learning in the educational and research process and in the industrial design practice. Conclusions. The modern industry design is the interdisciplinary field with high level of integration between the disciplines. This research demonstrated that the developed integrated framework is effective for both industry design practice and engineering research.