Abstract: Assembly sequence planning can be accomplished by using automated or interactive approaches, both kinds of approach have limitations. A new method to generate optimized assembly sequence is presented by combining virtual reality and bionic algorithm. Geometry constraint based virtual assembly environment is set up, and the precedence constraint rela-tionships between parts are generated by virtual disassembly and represented by defining a precedence constraint table. Then, Ant colony optimization algorithm is applied to generate initial optimized assembly sequence. This sequence is simulated, evaluated and optimized in virtual environment. During the assembly process new precedence constraints and evaluation rules will be recognized considering part accessibility and tool verification, a more practical and optimal assembly sequence is then replaned, and once again evaluated by virtual assembly simulation. This is an iterative process until the best assembly sequence is obtained. An application case is studied to demon-strate the effectiveness of the method.

Key words: Ant colony optimization algorithm Assembly sequence optimizing, Virtual reality