Calibration is playing an increasingly important role in industrial robotics. Higher accuracy demands are being placed on flexible assembly and manufacturing systems which in turn require robot manufacturers to produce higher quality precision robots.

From its inception in 1983, ESPRIT (the European Strategic Programme for Research and Development in Information Technology) has aimed at improving the competitiveness of European industry and providing it with the technology needed for the 1990s. Esprit Project 623, on which most of the work presented in this book is based, was one of the key projects in the ESPRIT area, Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM). From its beginnings in 1985, it brought together a team of researchers from industry, research institutes and universities to explore and develop a critical stream of advanced manufacturing technology that would be timely and mature for industrial exploitation in a five year time frame. The synergy of cross border collaboration between technology users and vendors has led to results ranging from new and improved products to training courses given at universities. The subject of Esprit Project 623 was the integration of robots into manufacturing environments. Robots are a vital element in flexible automation and can contribute substantially to manufacturing efficiency. The project had two main themes, off-line programming and robot system planning. Off-line programming enlarges the application area of robots and opens up new possibilities in domains such as laser cutting, and other hazardous operations. Reported benefits obtained from off-line program ming include: - significant cost reductions because re-programming eliminates robot down-time; - faster production cycles, in some cases time-savings of up to 85% are reported; - the optimal engineering of products with improved quality."

From its inception in 1983, ESPRIT (the European Strategic Programme for Research and Development in Information Technology) has aimed at improving the competitiveness of European industry and providing it with the technology needed for the 1990s. Esprit Project 623, on which most of the work presented in this book is based, was one of the key projects in the ESPRIT area, Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM). From its beginnings in 1985, it brought together a team of researchers from industry, research institutes and universities to explore and develop a critical stream of advanced manufacturing technology that would be timely and mature for industrial exploitation in a five year time frame. The synergy of cross border collaboration between technology users and vendors has led to results ranging from new and improved products to training courses given at universities. The subject of Esprit Project 623 was the integration of robots into manufacturing environments. Robots are a vital element in flexible automation and can contribute substantially to manufacturing efficiency. The project had two main themes, off-line programming and robot system planning. Off-line programming enlarges the application area of robots and opens up new possibilities in domains such as laser cutting, and other hazardous operations. Reported benefits obtained from off-line program ming include: - significant cost reductions because re-programming eliminates robot down-time; - faster production cycles, in some cases time-savings of up to 85% are reported; - the optimal engineering of products with improved quality."

HIGHWAY ENGINEERING Understand a foundational area of civil engineering with this up-to-date textbook Highway construction is a complex discipline within civil engineering, with the potential to transform national economies and transportation infrastructures. With car infrastructure coming under both increasing demand and increasing scrutiny for its environmental impact, the challenges and complexities of highway engineering have never been a more vital subject. The future of sustainable transportation depends on an engineering profession with a solid grasp of the fundamentals of highway design and construction. Highway Engineering provides a comprehensive overview of these fundamentals, preparing civil engineers and engineering students to analyze, design, and build highways. Situating its subject in the context of a broader political economy, social and ecological reality, and more, it proceeds in a logical sequence from planning to design to construction to maintenance. The result is a fully up-to-date introduction to this subject at the heart of transport engineering. Readers of the fourth edition of Highway Engineering will also find: Strong integration of material from the UK Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, incorporating recent significant changes in the design of highway pavements Detailed examples and case studies to cultivate deepened understanding Increased attention to the growing importance of non-car-based modes of highway transportation—walking, cycling and public transport. Highway Engineering is essential for engineering students studying civil engineering or transport engineering, as well as for professional civil engineers looking for a reference work.

This publication gives the opmlOns and discussions of an international Symposium on the judicial settlement of international disputes as well as three expert reports which were submitted for the Symposium's preparation. The Symposium sought to answer the following three questions: (1) Does the International Court of Justice, as it is presently shaped, cor respond to the requirements which follow from its functions as the central judicial body of the international community? (2) To which extent and for which subject matters is it advisable to create and develop special judicial bodies with a jurisdiction limited to certain regions or to certain subject matters? (3) To which extent and for which questions is it advisable to provide for the settlement of international legal disputes by other organs than permanent courts? The Symposium took place from July 10-12, 1972 in the Max-Planck Institut fiir ausHindisches offentliches Recht und Volkerrecht in Heidelberg. Experts in international law and international jurisdiction from many countries were invited, not in their official capacity, but rather on the basis of their individual competence; the list of participants appears at the end of this volume.

Yom 28.-30. Oktober 1976 fand auf Einladung des Max-Planck-Instituts fUr auslandisches offentliches Recht und Volkerrecht in Heidelberg ein Kollo- quium tiber Probleme des Grundrechtsschutzes in Europa statt. Die Vortrage und Diskussionsbeitrage des Kolloquiums werden hiermit veroffentlicht. Bei den Vortragen handelt es sich urn Kurzreferate, die in die Diskussion einge- ftibrt haben. Zusiitzlich zu dem mtindlich Vorgetragenen enthalt dieser Band Eckart Klein (S. 133), eine zusammenfassende einen erganzenden Bericht von Wtirdigung des Kolloquiums (S. 205) und eine Auswahlbibliographie (S. 229). Die Vorbereitung der Publikation lag in den Hiinden von MeinluJrd Hilf, der auch die Auswahlbibliographie und das Register angefertigt hat. Das Ziel des Kolloquiums bestand darin, auf Grund einer kritischen Bestandsaufnahme des derzeitigen Rechtszustandes Anregungen ftir eine Ver- besserung des Grundrechtsschutzes in dem Tell Europas zu erarbeiten, der sich im Europarat zusammengeschlossen hat. Von besonderer Bedeutung ist dabei auch die Frage, in welchem Mlille das Recht der Europaischen Gemein- schaften Grundrechtsschutz gewiihrt. Die Vortrage und Diskussionen des Kol- loquiums haben sowohl die Europaische Menschenrechtskonvention (MRK) als auch das Recht der Europaischen Gemeinschaften behandelt und sich darum bemtiht, das Verhaltnis dieser beiden Rechtsordnungen zueinander zu erfassen. Die Diskussion orientierte sich im wesentlichen an einem Fragebogen, der hier unmittelbar nach dem Inhaltsverzeichnis abgedruckt wird (S. If.). An dem Kolloquium hat ein Kreis hervorragender Sachkenner aus verschie- denen Landem teilgenommen. Sie alle haben ihre personliche Meinung und nicht die Ansicht der Institution, der sie angehoren, zum Ausdruck gebracht.