Interoperability in Industrial Robotics: A Literature Review and Conceptual Path Toward a Universal Robot Protocol
Source abstract
Abstract
This work presents a literature review on interoperability in industrial robotics. The analysis of 45 selected studies reveals that existing approaches remain fragmented across communication, control abstraction, and semantic integration layers. The review synthesizes key developments in programming paradigms, communication technologies, and interoperability solutions in heterogeneous industrial environments. Based on the identified gaps, a conceptual interoperability framework, referred to as the Universal Robot Protocol (URP), is derived to support unified integration across system layers. URP is not proposed as an implemented protocol, but as a research-driven conceptual direction intended to integrate existing technologies within a coherent interoperability architecture. This contribution aims to support future research and the industrial adoption of interoperable robotic systems in Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 environments.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Robotics and Automated Systems · Teleoperation and Haptic Systems · Network Time Synchronization Technologies
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Department of Electrical Engineering, ISEP, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal
GECAD— Research Group on Intelligent Engineering and Computing for Advanced Innovation and Development, ISEP, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4249-015 Porto, Portugal
MEtRICs Research Center, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Campus of Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
INEGI—Institute of Science and Innovation in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 400, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto (FEUP), Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Research Center in Digitalization and Intelligent Robotics (CeDRI), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
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