CAM system helps robots score

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Mar 1, 2005

Advanced manufacturing software from Licom Systems is helping students at the University of Warwick to achieve their goals in more ways than one.

Advanced manufacturing software from Licom Systems is helping students at the University of Warwick to achieve their goals in more ways than one.

The company's AlphaCAM system has been well-established on campus for several years as an easy to use CNC programming tool.

Now a recent upgrade has extended its capabilities to provide a valuable teaching aid within the University's School of Engineering.

What's more, it is also playing a central role in the production of robot football players designed and developed by a team of undergraduates as part of a fourth year MEng degree project.

The challenge brings together a multiskilled group of students from a range of engineering disciplines with the aim of producing a five-strong team of robots that operate independently, but like real players, can work as a team, recognise rules and score goals against other sides.

According to project leader, Jarl Cornell: "In theory, a bunch of robots kicking a football about sounds quite a simplistic idea".

"But in practice, bringing together the different engineering skills - such as vision, mechanics, electronics and telecommunications - is an extremely complex task".

In effect, each robot consists of a fully autonomous 100mm cube, which not only receives its instructions from the teams host computer by Bluetooth or RF link, but must also contain all its power and drive train components on board.

At the heart of each unit is an aluminium chassis, which incorporates various cavities to house the necessary controls, wheels and drive equipment.

Other features include a machined scoop at the front of the robots, which is used to guide the football - normally an orange golf ball - towards goal.

Productive Workshop Supervisor, Paul Grimley explains how the latest Licom software has helped to dramatically reduce manufacturing times.

"AlphaCAM has been in use at the university for more than 10 years".

"It has always proved to be a very intuitive, easy-to-use and effective programming system".

"However, a recent upgrade to Version 5, in conjunction with the installation of two Deckel Maho CNC machining centres, has given us a highly productive five-axis machining capability".

"Each robot's chassis is machined from extruded aluminium", he continues.

"Previously, all six sides would have to be machined separately".

"Now, the bottom face is prepared and then bolted down onto a purpose-designed fixture, enabling the remainder of the cube to be machined in a single cycle".

"This alone reduces around half a days work to just 19 minutes cutting time, considerably speeding up chassis production".

"Furthermore, it means that new design modifications and enhancements can be incorporated into all the players much more quickly than before".

Not that this is the only involvement Licom has with the student project.

With all robots strictly governed by rules set by out by FIRA, the Federation of International Robotsoccer Associations, the companys AlphaCAM software is also used to guarantee the accuracy of each Warwick players laser cut, sheet metal top plate.

Indeed, such is the versatility of Warwick's new manufacturing system, that the university is even providing machining services to other robot football teams, including the University of Plymouth.

Over the next few months, the Warwick team is looking to hone its skills during a series of friendly matches and a tournament at Easter; before competing in the Robot Soccer World Cup at the Science Museum in London next summer.

And with researchers in artificial intelligence (AI), setting themselves the challenge of developing a team of football playing robots capable of beating a human side by 2050, it seems clear that Licom's AlphaCAM software will be helping students at Warwick University manufacture the right results - straight from the box - for many years to come.