Software aids in motion planning and collision avoidance.
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Press Release Summary:
With support for CAD motion planning, Kineo Path Planner(TM) enables users to plan optimal path of articulated robot or non-articulated mechanical assembly systems in 3D environment. It calculates continuous, collision-free assembly or extraction path using probability-based motion-planning technology. Software can be integrated into existing design tools, providing technological responses for product design and digital model review phases.
Original Press Release:
Kineo CAM Presents Kineo Path Planner(TM), the Solution to Motion Planning and Collision Avoidance Needs
Chicago, May 13, 2005
Developed by French company Kineo CAM, the Kineo Path Planner(TM) software package provides specialized support for computer-aided-design (CAD) automatic motion planning. Kineo Path Planner(TM) enables users to automatically plan the optimal path of articulated (robots) or non-articulated (mechanical assembly) systems in a 3-D environment. The software ensures a continuous, collision-free assembly or extraction path.
Because it can be integrated into existing design tools used by operators, Kineo Path Planner(TM) is able to provide innovative technological responses for the product design and digital model review phases. The high level of integration offered by the tool means that all assembly, disassembly, maintenance, and part interchangeability constraints for the automobile and aeronautics sectors are taken into account from the product design stage.
Up until now, specialists performed path-planning tasks in an interactive, manual fashion. Today, Kineo Path Planner(TM) enables wide-scale deployment for non-expert users, transforming hours into minutes for tasks for which other solutions require much longer periods of time or simply fail. Kineo Path Planner(TM) can be used without any special parameters, allowing users to exploit and save the results of a calculation.
"Software packages that rely on traditional methods in the path planning field have been less-than-convincing up until now," explains Airbus Digital Modeling Visualization Methods Manager Ludovic Graux. "Let's compare calculation times as an example. We took the studies for the assembly/disassembly of certain engine strut and flap command components of the A340. For the engine strut components, with the tools used before, it took approximately two hours to determine the optimal path; Kineo did it in two to five minutes, depending on the part. For the flap command parts, Kineo found the solution in just 35 seconds when it took us two hours."
When reviewing a digital model, especially for aspects such as accessibility, ergonomics, manufacturing robotics, and maintainability, Kineo Path Planner(TM) takes into account the different geometrics (collision avoidance) and kinematics-related (the movement of a robot, for example) constraints. It uses the latest probability-based motion-planning technology: it automatically finds a solution with minimal calculation time, even for systems with various degrees of freedom in highly cluttered environments.
According to Peter Kinch, C3P Supervisor for Service Engineering Operations at Ford:
"Using Kineo, we were quickly able to see where a design proposal prevented component removal in Service. Being able to communicate precise change information to Engineering led directly to a design modification and issue resolution. The ability to accurately assess and resolve Service issues early in the design phase is key to reducing repair costs and increasing Customer Satisfaction. The speed and accuracy of Kineo has enabled us to move from being a reactive force to a proactive one; a key challenge for any function in today's world of ever shorter development cycle times."
Kineo Path Planner(TM) performs a detailed analysis of the paths obtained so that valuable design information can be exchanged with a view to putting forward in specific, accurate terms, the relevant design modifications.
Minimum configuration required: Pentium 4, 1 Gb Ram, OpenGL card, 2000 / XP. Kineo CAM sells Kineo Path Planner(TM) directly to end-users; the company is also in the process of setting up a global distribution network.
The Kineo Path Planner company will be available during two upcoming conferences: the "Virtual Product Creation" conference from June 20 - 21, 2005 in Stuttgart, Germany; and the "Mechanical part assembly planning with mannequins" conference, at the 6th IEEE International Symposium on Assembly and Task Planning 2005, from July 19 - 21 in Montréal, Canada.
About Kineo Computer Aided Motion:
Kineo Computer Aided Motion specializes in the development and marketing of software solutions dedicated to automatic collision-free motion and path calculation. The company was founded in December 2000 by robotics and artificial intelligence researchers from the Systems Architecture and Analysis Lab (LAAS) of France's prestigious National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and a CAD software-industry specialist. Kineo CAM offers a full range of off-the-shelf solutions and also provides specialized development, engineering, and consulting services. IEE/IFR selected the Kineo application as one of the top three technological innovations of 2005.
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Mickaël Reux, Business Development Manager
Le Prologue, Porte 8, Voie La Pyrénéenne
31672 Labège Cedex - France
Tel: +33 561 00 90 60 / Fax: + 33 561 00 90 61
E-mail: M.Reux@kineocam.com
Site Web: www.kineocam.com
or
FRENCH TECHNOLOGY PRESS OFFICE
205 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 3740
Chicago, IL 60601
Fax: (312) 327-5261
E-mail: contact.ftpo@ubifrance.fr
