The collaboration between human and robot is advantageous for complex industrial assembly processes, especially, when the increased flexibility and adaptability become a key feature of production systems. The virtual reality (VR) systems can be used to simulate the cooperative processes, including workers and their individual behavior. The VR simulations make it possible to secure the running of the processes and reduce the physical and mental barriers between human and robot. This paper presents a methodical approach for the implementation of the systems for the virtual testing of the collaborative assembly processes. To replicate the assembly process with the highest possible verisimilitude, a specific VR system is built based on the analysis of the assembly process. The core features of the system are the physical simulation of the assembly process, the integration of the robot control and a haptic feedback for the operator.

virtual reality  /  simulation  /  human-robot collaboration