Automatic synchronization of press machines and robots

A method of synchronizing a press machine, a pick robot, and a drop robot, the press machine including an operating area for pressing a blank into a part, the method comprising:

• opening the operating area of the press machine after a pressing of a part;
• moving the pick robot into the operating area of the press machine as the opening of the operating area of the press machine reaches a pick interlock angle prior to a top dead center position;
• picking the part from the operating area of the press machine using the pick robot;
• moving the pick robot and the part out of the operating area while moving the drop robot carrying the blank into the operating area, at least a portion of the pick robot or at least a portion of the part residing within the operating area at the same time at least a portion of the drop robot or at least a portion of the blank resides within the operating area, wherein the pick robot is in communication with the drop robot and the movement of the pick robot is synchronized with the movement of the drop robot to prevent the pick robot or part from colliding with the drop robot or the blanks including a critical point defining a condition where the pick robot or the part will collide with the drop robot or the blank, and the critical point is determined by determining a first point based on positions of the pick robot and the drop robot and determining a second point based on velocity of the pick robot relative to the drop robot for a remainder of a current path and selecting the first point or the second point;
• dropping the blank into the operating area of the press machine using the drop robot;
• and
• moving the drop robot out of the operating area of the press machine.