Abstract:
Flexible Automation as a topic of research has been around for at least a half century. In the late 70,s, flexible manufacturing cell/systems (MFC/MFS) started playing pivotal roles in modern industry, in particular automobile industry. However, the journey of going from a theory or vision to an art or reality did not end there and then. In the last two decades, flexible automation has taken on many new concepts, technologies and practices. This evolution process has resulted in numerous new terminology in replacement (or sometimes in favor) of Flexible Automation. Nonetheless, the ultimate goal remains - empowering the modern industry with different "versions" of automation technologies in order to meet the ever-diverse and ever-changing market. It is the time that we went back to the "basics", i.e. Flexible Automation by embracing a raft of new technologies that are evolved from the basic concept of flexible automation.