The role of automation in the construction of the CMS silicon strip detector

The CMS silicon tracker , requires the assembly of about 16,000 silicon detector modules with reproducible quality. In order to ensure proper module assembly, an automated system has been developed at CERN, based on a high-precision robotic positioning machine. This project has successfully demonstrated the feasibility of high quality and high throughput module assembly. Four assembly centers are now being installed in Europe at Bari, Perugia, Lyon, Brussels and at Padova in addition, as backup. Two assembly centers in USA at Fermilab share the assembly task. All centers will have identical robotic positioning machines in order to assure uniform high quality module construction.