Automated lumber processing system (ALPS): an industrial prototype

For the past few decades, researchers have devoted time and effort to applying automation and modern computer technologies to improving the productivity of traditional industries. To be competitive, one must streamline operations and minimize the production costs while maintaining an acceptable margin of profit. This paper describes the effort of one such endeavor directed towards improving the hardwood lumber industry in the USA specifically the processing of hardwood lumber into secondary products. The industrial prototype of an ALPS located at West Virginia University is described in its entirety. The ALPS has a non-destructive vision system to scan a board for its dimension and the locations and expanse of surface defects. This information is then used to determine an efficient placement of the desired wood parts. Finally, a laser path planning algorithm is used to obtain an efficient path for the computer numeric controlled (CNC) laser to follow while effectively "punching out" desired parts from the lumber resulting in a much higher utilization.