Method for automatically generating assembly and disassembly plans

A method comprising:

• accessing a virtual assembly model of an assembly, the virtual assembly model comprising a set of virtual components comprising a first virtual component and a second virtual component;
• initializing a list of guards corresponding to the virtual assembly model;
• for the first virtual component:
• defining a first virtual shell inset from a first surface of the first virtual component;
• generating a first constellation of rays emanating from the first virtual shell;
• virtually traversing the first virtual component along a first ray, in the first constellation of rays, extending in a first direction;
• in response to the first virtual component avoiding collision with another virtual component, in the set of virtual components, when the first virtual component is traversed along the first ray, identifying the first direction as a first unrestricted escape direction for the first virtual component in the list of guards;
• virtually traversing the first virtual component along a second ray, in the first constellation of rays, extending in a second direction;
• and
• in response to the first virtual shell colliding with another virtual component, in the set of virtual components, when the first virtual component is traversed along the second ray, identifying the second direction as a second restricted escape direction for the first virtual component in the list of guards;
• for the second virtual component:
• defining a second virtual shell inset from a second surface of the second virtual component;
• generating a second constellation of rays emanating from the second virtual shell;
• virtually traversing the second virtual component along a third ray, in the second constellation of rays, extending in a third direction;
• in response to the second virtual component colliding with the first virtual component when the second virtual component is traversed along the third ray, identifying the third direction as a third restricted escape direction for the second virtual component in the list of guards;
• virtually traversing the second virtual component along a fourth ray, in the second constellation of rays, extending in a fourth direction;
• and
• in response to the second virtual shell colliding with another virtual component, in the set of virtual components, when the second virtual component is traversed along the fourth ray, identifying the fourth direction as a fourth restricted escape direction for the second virtual component in the list of guards;
• and
• generating a first virtual assembly sequence, for the virtual assembly model, that specifies:
• installation of the second virtual component, onto the virtual assembly model, opposite the third direction based on the first virtual component blocking the second virtual component in the third restricted escape direction;
• and
• installation of the first virtual component, onto the virtual assembly model, opposite the first direction, following installation of the second virtual component onto the virtual assembly model based on the first unrestricted escape direction for the first virtual component.

A method comprising:

• accessing a virtual assembly model of an assembly;
• identifying a set of virtual components within the virtual assembly model, the set of virtual components comprising a virtual component;
• for the virtual component:
• defining a virtual shell inset from a surface of the virtual component;
• and
• generating a constellation of rays emanating from the virtual shell;
• virtually traversing the virtual component along a first ray, in the constellation of rays, extending in a first direction;
• in response to the virtual component colliding with another virtual component, in the set of virtual components, when the virtual component is traversed along the first ray, identifying the first direction as a restricted escape direction for the virtual component in a list of guards corresponding to the virtual assembly model;
• virtually traversing the virtual component along a second ray, in the constellation of rays, extending in a second direction;
• and
• in response to the virtual shell avoiding collision with another virtual component, in the set of virtual components, when the virtual component is traversed along the second ray, identifying the second direction as an unrestricted escape direction for the virtual component in the list of guards;
• and
• generating a virtual assembly sequence, for the virtual assembly model, that specifies:
• installation of the virtual component, onto the virtual assembly model, opposite the second direction, prior to installation of another virtual component, in the set of virtual components, based on the unrestricted escape direction for the virtual component.