Knowledge-based Intelligent Assembly of Complex Products in a Cloud CPS-based System

Abstract

The assembly of customized and complex products entails the collaboration of heterogeneous devices and thus raises the need of effectively planning the assembly process according to the dynamic product and environment information. A cloud CPS-based intelligent assembly system is developed in this paper. Under the framework a product assembly model is introduced to describe the hierarchical relationships and mating features between subassemblies. The integrated assembly knowledge model including product structure, spatial position, mating features, and assembly process is presented. Sensory information collected from the real world and product model together form the assembly context. A two-step assembly knowledge reasoning process is then developed, where similar case matching finds the same or similar product structure from the existing assembly instance library, and priority rules guiding completes the final assembly sequence. A prototype system is developed and the gearbox assembly case validates the effectiveness of the proposed models.