A framework for the automatic programming of advanced production machinery

A new restricted programming language has been created to program task oriented machines. This led to a new method of integrating advanced production machinery. The method allows a design level to interface directly to a manufacturing environment. The manufacturing level advises on aspects of the production tasks which are necessary for the design. The method offers a route towards full factory automation, and integration with a design level. Programming approaches at a factory level are presented, and novel techniques to fully automate factories are described. The framework allows the interrogation and programming of any level within a factory hierarchy. Each level of an automated factory hierarchy has been included and a case study is described to demonstrate a successful application of the approach. The results are presented and conclusions drawn