A computational architecture for programmable automation research

This short paper describes recent work at the IBM T. J. Watson Research Center directed at developing a highly flexible computational architecture for research on sensor-based programmable automation. The system described here has been designed with a focus on dynamic configurability, layered user interfaces and incorporation of sensor-based real time operations into new commands. It is these features which distinguish it from earlier work. The system is currently being implemented at IBM for research purposes and internal use and is an outgrowth of programmable automation research which has been ongoing since 1972 [e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. © 1987 SPIE.