A challenge that connects

ctrlX developR Challenge

Push your idea two steps ahead

ctrlX CORE, industrial control hardware for CNC, PLC and motion applications

Within the ctrlX developR Challenge, developers implemented their creative ideas with the revolutionary control platform ctrlX CORE and used it to implement projects for which the proper industrial control has been missing so far.

The ctrlX developR Challenge was taking place for the first time. It was the perfect opportunity to bring together the biggest talents with the most versatile, open and powerful system available on the market. As a result, ideas evolved into solutions and solutions into projects.

25 participants implemented their ideas with the control platform ctrlX CORE in five different categories. They were supported by specialist mentors from Bosch Rexroth and the partners of the partner network ctrlX World. Thanks to the ctrlX AUTOMATION Community, our experts were personally available for questions and discussions.

During the entire challenge, there was continuous communication between the participants and Bosch Rexroth via Social Media. The developers reported on their projects in video calls and presented their partial results.

The finalists had the opportunity to present their results to the jury at the ctrlX developR Conference in Ulm on July 13-14, 2022. The jury evaluated the ideas, implementation methods, results, business value and potential and awarded the winners.

What a challenge!

And the winners are

Animated view of rotating ctrlX developR challenge trophy

Andreas Schiffler

Anomaly detection using Isolation Forest
With this development, existing serial processes can be monitored and evaluated by anomaly detection using "Isolation Forest" algorithm without any further prior knowledge.

Matthias Dittrich

IoT solution for wireless sensor technology
Development of an IoT solution that sends measurement data wirelessly and in real time to an external unit. With the ctrlX CORE, this data is received and further processed via an MQTT network. By using additional IoT apps, the data can then be collected in a cloud. On this basis, the foundation is then laid for AI that reacts to changes in the process.

Phillip Stanley-Marbell

Uncertainty-tracking capabilities make trustworthy data-driven decisions
Development of a plug-in module for trusted edge AI that allows the ctrlX CORE to accelerate the analysis of empirical sensor data. This is used to estimate uncertainties in data and can be used in the future to control motors.

Cesare Bornaghi

Connect industrial cameras with ctrlX AUTOMATION and add AI algorithms
Creation of a gateway node for IoT systems that can monitor operations in automated environments with distributed vision systems. The cameras can be used for both access and quality control through advanced deep learning techniques.

Sabari Kannan Muthalagu

Fume extraction for soldering stations in the laboratories
The goal of the project is to build an automation system to control the fume extraction for the soldering stations in laboratories to avoid energy waste. The ctrlX CORE acts as MQTT broker and sends signals to ctrlX I/O.

Group picture on stage of the ctrlX developR Challenge 2022, participants, winners and jury

The jury

Rolf Najork

Member of the board of management, Robert Bosch GmbH
Chairman of the executive board of Bosch Rexroth AG

"Many new features and improvements are the result of close collaboration with our partner companies and users. The ctrlX developR Challenge also relies on this principle. Ideally, it brings out unprecedented features for us as a company to embed in the ecosystem, all the while nurturing talent. All in all, it’s an opportunity for everyone", explains Rolf Najork in an interview about the ctrlX developR Challenge.

Dr. Kristina Wagner

Senior Vice President Technology and Innovation Center & Director iiQKA - The Robot X-perience - KUKA

"The openness and technology stack of ctrlX AUTOMATION offer a lot of room for creativity and state-of-the-art automation. This is the ideal foundation for implementing and marketing new visions and developments. For me, the focus is always on customer added value. When this comes to life through exciting technology and scalable concepts, it is the most fun. I am therefore very excited and looking forward to the results of the ctrlX developR Challenge."

Gabriele Geiger

Vice President Global Marketing & Customer Journey at EPLAN

"Innovations need the right breeding ground - ideally a platform for ideas and absolute openness. That's exactly what the ctrlX developR Challenge offers. The participants from all over the world are curious, open, creative and have one thing in common: the unconditional will to achieve something. Exciting visions have emerged. It's great fun to follow the resulting projects."

Volker Glöckle

Senior Vice President Technical Industry Competence and Innovation at SICK

"Being active in the field of innovation requires you to keep changing your perspective to get new impulses. Participating as a jury member in the ctrlX developR Challenge offers me precisely this opportunity. By presenting different problems and their approaches to solving them, everyone gets new ideas. The discussion in the jury on the dimensions of technology, realization and market opportunity provides food for thought and helps to sharpen one's own view."

News & Stories

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ctrlX developR Challenge: Seeing the bigger picture

Together with the mentors, Christian Zentgraf is supporting participants during the solution phase of the ctrlX developR Challenge. In this interview, he gives exclusive insights into project ideas and explains what table tennis has to do with automation.

Blue colored image with ctrlX CORE, the industrial control hardware for CNC, PLC and motion applications, in the center the ctrlX devolopR XCON 2022 lettering can be read

ctrlX developR Conference 2022

A conference made for developers! On July 13 and 14, we will bring together developers and industry experts at the ctrlX developR Conference in our Innovation Center in Ulm. An agenda highlight: the winners of the ctrlX developR Challenge will be announced.

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Deep learning during the ctrlX developR Challenge

Andreas Schiffler and Cesare Bornaghi are facing a particular challenge during the competition: “Deep learning”. In this interview, the two developers talk about what makes their projects so unique and what they personally have learned from them.

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ctrlX developR Challenge: “Showing real passion”

The ctrlX developR Challenge is more than just an ordinary competition. In this interview with Jasmin Heim, you can find out how participants take part in the development process of ctrlX AUTOMATION, what the resonance is like, and how the challenge will continue.

Blau gefärbtes Bild mit ctrlX CORE, der industrietaugliche Steuerungshardware für CNC, PLC und Motion-Anwendungen, oben links ist der ctrlX devolopR Challenge Schriftzug zu lesen

ctrlX developR Challenge: Who will develop the winning code?

The countdown continues: on September 21, the registration period for the ctrlX developR Challenge began. From now on, ambitious developers are invited to submit their creative ideas for innovative automation solutions.

Blue colored image showing a stage with jury chairs in front of it, top left is the ctrlX devolopR Challenge writing

The ctrlX developR Challenge is an opportunity for all

Turning ideas into projects – that is the objective of the ctrlX developR Challenge. Developers can still apply until 31 December. The international competition invites you to realize visions for innovative automation solutions with the ctrlX CORE control platform.

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Ready Steady Go: ctrlX developR Challenge is starting

From now on, ambitious developers can help to shape ctrlX AUTOMATION through the international ctrlX developR Challenge. The challenge is now under way: Numerous innovative ideas have been received, the participants have been selected and the critical phase is now beginning.

Blue colored image, a young man at a desk looks into a monitor and high-fives his colleague, top left is the ctrlX devolopR challenge lettering

The ctrlX developR Challenge brings people together

What motivates the participants to realize their project idea for ctrlX AUTOMATION in the international competition? Three developers give exclusive insights …

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Challenge completed!

Developing the future! Developing future-viable new solutions from ideas – that was one of the goals of Bosch Rexroth’s ctrlX developR Challenge. The international competition motivated developers from all over the world to strive for excellence and exceeded all expectations.

Blue background with the control hardware ctrlX Core. In the foreground the lettering ctrlX developR XCON can be read in large letters, advertising the ctrlX Conference

ctrlX developR Conference

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