„Openness is eveything“ – this is the motto of the ctrlX AUTOMATION magazine 2023/2024. This year, it´s all about openness and co-creation, which enables a completely new world of automation. Furthermore, there will be innovations of the product portfolio, exciting case studies and expert opinions on digitalization and connectivity.
Program robots – without a single line of code
Today’s robots act with ever greater technical finesse. With improved sensors and advanced control systems, they help to reduce the workload in industry. Because they are so precise, modern robots can help to reduce scrap and thus save resources and energy in production. And their potential is growing. To take advantage of this, they must be connectable as well as easy to program and control. This is now becoming increasingly easy – with new apps from the ctrlX Store.
Programming robots is often complex and requires expert know-how. Unfortunately, this know-how is not available in every production company. Making robotics as easy to use and program as possible is therefore crucial to allow widespread use in industry.
With the automation system ctrlX AUTOMATION, Bosch Rexroth has taken programming concepts and technologies from the world of smartphones and applied them to the automation of machines. Thanks to the partner network ctrlX World, users can choose from numerous apps in the ctrlX Store and take advantage of a constantly growing range, including robotics apps. Three new robotics apps make programming and controlling industrial robots and cobots much easier.
Develop robotic applications in record time with Fuzzy RTOS
Fuzzy Logic, a start-up from France, is one of the new partners. The Fuzzy RTOS app for ctrlX AUTOMATION changes the way in which robotic applications are developed. Instead of creating brand-specific robot programs, commands are simply transmitted to the robots via a generic high-level interface.
In conjunction with the intuitive programming and simulation solution Fuzzy Studio, the robots can easily be programmed via this interface – without having to write a single line of code. Fuzzy RTOS converts the commands into low-level robotic commands. This works in real time and seamlessly with all leading robot brands such as ABB, KUKA, FANUC, Stäubli, Yaskawa and Universal Robots. This way, applications can be developed in record time with just one item of motion control software.
Control FANUC robots centrally via ctrlX CORE
FANUC Deutschland now offers an app in the ctrlX Store. The company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of factory automation systems, industrial robots, CNC systems, EDM and injection molding machines and vertical machining centers.
With the FANUC RMI-Connector, FANUC robots can be controlled centrally via the control platform ctrlX CORE. If the app is installed on a ctrlX CORE device, it can connect to the FANUC Remote Motion Interface (RMI) of the FANUC robot. The connected robots are automatically integrated into the ctrlX Data Layer. Via this, the FANUC RMI-Connector allows control of the robots and provides current robot data, for example on joint positions or cartesian poses. As a result, every other app on ctrlX CORE can evaluate the dynamically updated robot data and send movement instructions for example to the robots. The app also includes a web server which can be used for a number of basic operations and for monitoring the robot status.
FANUC-specfic programming languages do not need to be learned in order to control robots centrally via ctrlX CORE. Instead, users can use the tools they are familiar with such as ctrlX PLC, the IDE app or applications from third party providers. This makes it easier to integrate robots into the production environment and operate them.
Get robots moving quickly with voraus.motion
voraus robotik, a start-up which specializes in software for robotics, has also come up with an alternative to time-consuming robot programming. The partnership with Bosch Rexroth includes the provision of the voraus.motion and voraus.operator applications in the ctrlX Store as well as the integration of customer robots into these applications.
The voraus.motion robot motion application makes it possible to control any industrial robot using ctrlX CORE. Programming can be carried out in a unique no-code style or with an advanced development environment for customer-specific code. The software stack gives users access to the latest robotic functions with simplified application packages which are ready for immediate use. This represents the next stage of no-code programming.
The solution combines high-performance control hardware with powerful robotic software. The application packages included in voraus.motion allow solutions for complex tasks. However, users are also free to add their own robotic software functions. Other components from the ctrlX World can also be integrated with minimal effort.
The ctrlX World is growing, with new robotics apps being added all the time. The move towards greater connectivity and ease of use promises to further diversify the robots’ areas of application and make them even more effective in various branches of industry.
If you have any questions or require further information regarding ctrlX AUTOMATION, please contact us:
Hans Michael Krause
Game Changer
ctrlX World
