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Common Robots, together with different cobot producers, cobots can now use SRCI, a regular 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 manage robots from UR and JAKA via the TIA Portal utilizing the ‘Customary Robotic Command Interface (SRCI)’ perform.
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 collection of different main robotic manufacturers, reminiscent of ABB, KUKA, FANUC, Epson and Techman, are additionally scheduled to return 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 available on the market will help built-in robotic management, permitting their robots to be managed by automation programs.
The truth is, 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 pattern will speed up considerably and we anticipate 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?
At present, the combination of commercial or collaborative robots and machines usually 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 typical situation, robots are offered 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 completely different suppliers requires loads of engineering and could be very demanding.
The idea of machine-integrated robotic management emerged in a bid to unify management of machines and robots. There are two principal methods of doing this. One is to retain the robot-specific controller {hardware}. For instance, Siemens’ technique employs a PLC that helps SRCI capabilities to translate and merge the robots’ management directions into the TIA Portal. This allows engineers to make use of Siemens’ improvement setting to manage robots with out utilizing robotic programming languages.
One other integration technique is to remove the robotic controller {hardware} and use an automation controller with movement management capabilities as a substitute. Robotic axes are thought to be parts of the machine and might be managed immediately by the machine controller. Notable options utilizing this technique 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 circumstances the place machine builders or integrators construct robotic mechanics themselves.
The precise 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 area 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 price benefits. In personalized eventualities, machine builders make particular robotic kinematics in home, and a normal automation controller permits sensible integration of self-built robots with machines.
Built-in robotic management shouldn’t be a brand new idea. Cooperation between automation and robotic distributors on this space might be traced again to 2015, however market demand has beforehand been tepid. Nonetheless, over the previous three years it’s rising in recognition, with many producers launching options. Along with the benefits already talked about, we imagine the present market setting has accelerated the pattern in the direction of machine-integrated robotic management due to two key elements:
- The price of robots has been decreasing 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 similar time, finish customers are more and more requesting robot-machine synchronization and the pace 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. Because of continued labor shortages, unifying the management programs of robots and machines turns into more and more engaging to machine builders as it may assist them handle the scarcity of skilled engineers. For integrators and machine builders, this isn’t solely associated to product improvement and supply, but additionally essential within the after-sales stage.
Totally different market individuals can profit from the pattern
With the growing adoption of robots and the continued scarcity of skilled engineers, there may be 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 pattern. They lastly have probability to enter the robotic controllers market (which has been virtually completely dominated by robotic distributors). On the similar time, built-in robots may 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 companies by constructing their very own robotic mechanics.
For robotic producers, supporting integration options requires them to allow some entry to their robotic management system. Nonetheless, this may cut back the problem 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.
Last ideas
Contemplating the 2 integration strategies (retaining or eliminating robotic controller {hardware}), SRCI is an effective instance of the previous technique, which is appropriate for controlling difficult robotic kinematics. As SRCI is an open customary developed and maintained by Profinet, along with Siemens, different producers can also launch merchandise on this subject sooner or later, particularly these with robust presences within the PLC market. The latter technique is appropriate for high-speed machine-robot coordination, and lots of main suppliers have launched options on this space.
The marketplace for integrated-controlled robots is analyzed in-depth in Work together Evaluation’ new ‘Elements in Machine-Built-in Robots’ report. We examine the market measurement by robotic kind and by trade, quantifying demand for parts when it comes to income, items, and ASPs.
Editor’s Notice: This text was republished, with permission, from Work together Evaluation.