Method and apparatus of coordinating independent automated systems

A coordinated automated system comprising:

• a first automated system having a controller that is programmed with a set of predetermined operating instructions that correspond with automated system processing requirements;
• and
• a second automated system having a controller configured to
• monitor an operational status of the first automated system,
• automatically generate a second system action that is complementary to a first system action of the first automated system, where the first system action corresponds to the set of predetermined operating instructions and the second system action includes an unscripted cooperative task that depends on the operational status of the first automated system, and
• effect operation of the second automated system based on the unscripted cooperative task so that the second automated system cooperates with the first automated system to perform a common cooperative predetermined operation where each of the first automated system and the second automated system performs a respective portion of the common cooperative predetermined operation.

An automated assembly system comprising:

• a first automated system having a controller that is programmed with a set of predetermined operating instructions that correspond with automated assembly requirements;
• and
• a second automated system having a controller configured to
• monitor an operational status of the first automated system,
• automatically generate a second system action that is complementary to a first system action of the first automated system, where the first system action corresponds to the set of predetermined operating instructions and the second system action includes an unscripted cooperative task that depends on the operational status of the first automated system, and
• effect operation of the second automated system based on the unscripted cooperative task so that the second automated system cooperates with the first automated system to perform a common cooperative predetermined assembly operation where each of the first automated system and the second automated system performs a respective portion of the common cooperative predetermined assembly operation.