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Common Robots, together with different cobot producers, cobots can now use SRCI, an ordinary interface between PLCs and robots. | Supply: Common Robots

Simply earlier than Hanover Messe, Siemens introduced its cooperation with two collaborative robotic distributors, UR and JAKA. It will allow Siemens PLCs to regulate robots from UR and JAKA by means of the TIA Portal utilizing the ‘Customary Robotic Command Interface (SRCI)’ operate.

Previous to this, Siemens was already working in cooperation with Comau, Stäubli, Kawasaki and Yaskawa in built-in robotic management by way of SRCI. A sequence of different main robotic manufacturers, equivalent to ABB, KUKA, FANUC, Epson and Techman, are additionally scheduled to come back on board, and another well-known Japanese and Chinese language suppliers are pending, together with Yamaha and Estun.

It will imply that essentially the most influential industrial robotic and collaborative robotic manufacturers in the marketplace will help built-in robotic management, permitting their robots to be managed by automation programs.

In truth, automation suppliers have been providing options for machine-integrated robotic management for a few years, however with the robust enhance within the adoption of robots since 2021, demand for built-in management has surged. With new actions from main suppliers like Siemens, this development will speed up considerably and we count on the marketplace for machine-integrated robotic management to develop quickly over the subsequent few years.

Companions of Siemens SRCI Robotic Management System | Supply: Siemens

What’s machine-integrated robotic management?

Presently, the mixing of commercial or collaborative robots and machines typically makes use of communication networks. The robotic and the machine make the most of impartial management platforms, and robotic controllers are linked to the machine PLC by way of communication protocols to facilitate machine-robot coordination.

On this standard situation, robots are bought with proprietary controllers. If an integrator or machine builder must adapt robotic kinematics to machine actions, robotic programming experience is required. Because the management software program and programming languages of every robotic vendor typically differ, integrating robots from totally different suppliers requires numerous engineering and may be very demanding.

The idea of machine-integrated robotic management emerged in a bid to unify management of machines and robots. There are two foremost methods of doing this. One is to retain the robot-specific controller {hardware}. For instance, Siemens’ methodology employs a PLC that helps SRCI features to translate and merge the robots’ management directions into the TIA Portal. This allows engineers to make use of Siemens’ growth surroundings to regulate robots with out utilizing robotic programming languages.

One other integration methodology is to get rid of the robotic controller {hardware} and use an automation controller with movement management features as an alternative. Robotic axes are considered parts of the machine and could be managed straight by the machine controller. Notable options utilizing this methodology embody Rockwell’s Unified Robotic Management, B&R’s Machine-Centric Robotics, Schneider’s PacDrive, and Omron’s NJ501-R controller. Along with robotic mechanics coming from robotic producers, there are additionally many instances the place machine builders or integrators construct robotic mechanics themselves.

The fitting time for machine-integrated robotic management

In contrast with communication networks, built-in management of machines and robots has many benefits; for instance, eliminating the proprietary robotic controller saves house within the management cupboard. When a number of robots are built-in, the built-in controller makes it simpler to realize higher machine-robot synchronization and better speeds, main to higher efficiency and value benefits. In custom-made eventualities, machine builders make particular robotic kinematics in home, and a basic automation controller allows sensible integration of self-built robots with machines.

Built-in robotic management will not be a brand new idea. Cooperation between automation and robotic distributors on this space could be traced again to 2015, however market demand has beforehand been tepid. Nevertheless, over the previous three years it’s rising in reputation, with many producers launching options. Along with the benefits already talked about, we consider the present market surroundings has accelerated the development in the direction of machine-integrated robotic management due to two key components:

• The price of robots has been lowering over time as manufacturing volumes enhance. This allows extra widespread adoption of robots in machines, pushing up the typical variety of robots per machine. On the identical time, finish customers are more and more requesting robot-machine synchronization and the velocity of robots utilized in machines. Standard programs with separate robotic and machine controllers typically have problem assembly efficiency necessities, enhancing the necessity for built-in robotic management programs.
• The experience required for integrating robots stays excessive. Resulting from continued labor shortages, unifying the management programs of robots and machines turns into more and more enticing to machine builders as it could assist them handle the scarcity of skilled engineers. For integrators and machine builders, this isn’t solely associated to product growth and supply, but in addition essential within the after-sales stage.

Completely different market individuals can profit from the development

With the growing adoption of robots and the continued scarcity of skilled engineers, there’s robust progress available in the market’s curiosity in built-in robotic management. Various kinds of related market gamers try to grab the alternatives and advantages supplied by this know-how.

Automation system suppliers see essentially the most direct advantages from the development. They lastly have probability to enter the robotic controllers market (which has been nearly completely dominated by robotic distributors). On the identical time, built-in robots may also generate progress alternatives for his or her servo drives – and even motors – companies.

Machine builders are additionally actively adopting built-in robotic management, as they worth the development in machine efficiency it brings, in addition to the power to save lots of prices, management the availability chain, and supply customers with extra full after-sales providers by constructing their very own robotic mechanics.

For robotic producers, supporting integration options requires them to allow some entry to their robotic management system. Nevertheless, this could scale back the issue for customers adopting their robots and subsequently enhance the competitiveness of the model.

For finish customers, the machine-integrated robotic management system is extra handy to function and has efficiency benefits in multi-robot eventualities, growing their willingness to decide on built-in options.

Since ABB and B&R launched machine-integrated robotic management a number of years in the past, each main automation suppliers and robotic distributors have created their very own options. Producers specializing in robotic mechanics that help varied built-in controllers have additionally emerged. Machine builders – particularly suppliers of packaging machines and customised automation options – proceed to launch merchandise with built-in robotic management, and a few have even began serial manufacturing of self-made robots for his or her machines.

Remaining ideas

Contemplating the 2 integration strategies (retaining or eliminating robotic controller {hardware}), SRCI is an efficient instance of the previous methodology, which is appropriate for controlling sophisticated robotic kinematics. As SRCI is an open normal developed and maintained by Profinet, along with Siemens, different producers may launch merchandise on this subject sooner or later, particularly these with robust presences within the PLC market. The latter methodology is appropriate for high-speed machine-robot coordination, and plenty of main suppliers have launched options on this space.

The marketplace for integrated-controlled robots is analyzed in-depth in Work together Evaluation’ new ‘Parts in Machine-Built-in Robots’ report. We examine the market dimension by robotic kind and by business, quantifying demand for parts when it comes to income, items, and ASPs.

Editor’s Word: This text was republished, with permission, from Work together Evaluation.