Fig. 2 shows a typical progress of the robot in a
simple, rectangular room. The robot starts from
workstation 1, where it sets the tiles from two directions;
it then moves to workstation 2, where it sets
the tiles from three directions and so forth. Upon
approaching the wall, it changes the direction of its
progress 908 rotation of the entire robot., fills the
remaining area, and rotates again through 908 to start
progress in the opposite direction, continuing until
the entire room is covered or at least the entire scope
of the robot in the given room is completed because
some of the work may have to be completed manu-
ally..
The supply of raw material — tiles and glue —
must be continuous. Two alternatives for the supply
of tiles were considered: to have the tiles either
stored on the robot or supplied on pallets to the
vicinity of the planned workstations. Having the tiles
on the robot affects the limited dimensions and
weight of the robot. Additionally, it requires either
on-line human involvement for replenishing the
stocks or an additional service robot for this task.
The pallets in the vicinity of the workstations may i.
introduce serious problems of maneuverability and
navigation, ii. present difficulties with calibrating
the robot at each workstation, and iii. require a
longer arm with more degrees of freedom DOF..
Considering these options, as it is assumed that an
operator is available, which means that hershe can
prepare the next pallet before the current one is
consumed, the alternative of the tiles being stored on
the robot was chosen.