Optical 3-D Metrology for Aiding the Autonomous Welding of Steel Constructions

In order to remain competitive, the European metal working industry aims for customer-oriented production more and more. That means, the automation of the welding activity in an environment producing customised products has potentially wide-ranging benefits for many other industries such as construction, shipbuilding, off highway vehicle, structural fabrication, military vehicles, and heavy handling equipment. Actually, smaller parts of large steel constructions are welded manually. Because of the fixation, manipulation and the necessary large production cells an automated manufacturing was impossible. Therefore, the NOMAD project was initiated within the 5th Framework Program "Growth" of the European Commission. This project aimed to develop and demonstrate an autonomous, flexible, robotic welding system capable of fabricating individually customised products as easily and quickly as large multiples.