Abstract: A method for optimizing placement of a plurality of workstations in a workcell including an industrial robot programmed to execute a sequence of tasks on the workstations. Each task contains robot targets to be visited by the robot when executing the task. A preferred region is defined within the reachable range of the robot. Tasks are placed inside or as close as possible to the preferred region using an evaluation criterion and an optimization algorithm. The tasks are assigned to each workstation a position inside or close to the preferred region. A best order of the workstations and a defined order in which the tasks are to be executed are determined. The positions of the workstations are adjusted utilizing an optimization algorithm configured to run the robot program iteratively in order to optimize the placement of the workstations with regard to the robot performance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for optimizing the placement of a plurality of workstations (20a-d) in a workcell including an industrial robot (1) programmed to execute a sequence of tasks on the workstations, wherein each task contains a series of robot targets linked as one or several paths to be visited by the robot when executing the task at the workstation.