Design of a computer vision integrated solid handling system to teach manufacturing automation to third year undergraduate students

This paper gives an overview of a solid handling system for flexible manufacturing processes performed by the Department of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering at the Islamic University of Technology (IUT). The basic concept of the system architecture and the work performed towards the development of the automated manufacturing process at IUT are described. The aim with the research initiative is the development of relevant skills in automated monitoring and controlling of manufacturing processes among the third year undergraduate students who specialise in manufacturing technologies. The flexible systems help students to understand how to increase productivity as well as reduce the total cost of the operation in manufacturing process. The overall system consists of a conveyor system, a robot system, a vision system, and a multitasking/multiprocessor computer system. The understanding of such a system would (allow) [sic] capable students to perform the entire production cycle for a variety of products.