Robotics & Automation News

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Mitsubishi Electric Automation releases new 3D simulator software

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Mitsubishi Electric Automation has released its MELSOFT Gemini 3D Simulator Software to allow users to expedite the design and construction of manufacturing projects as they introduce new automation components to their facility.

By connecting to a variety of software and factory devices, Gemini provides visualization, simulation, and the streamlining of work processes.

Gemini operates using a PC-based 3D digital space and connects directly to factory devices without having to go through an OPC server. This enables 3D data to be updated in digital spaces approximately 12 times faster than OPC environments. [Read more…] about Mitsubishi Electric Automation releases new 3D simulator software

IDS introduces AI-complete industrial vision solution: ‘Even more functions thanks to free upgrade’

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The recently released software update for the IDS NXT platform provides users of the all-in-one AI solution IDS NXT ocean with many new features.

It extends the system’s AI capabilities to include object detection, offers turnkey solutions with vision apps and, with a new development environment, ensures that users can program their own image processing tasks and execute them as vision apps on their cameras.

Using OPC UA, AI-based image processing can also be integrated directly into factory automation without writing a single line of code. The update is free and can be used with all IDS NXT cameras. [Read more…] about IDS introduces AI-complete industrial vision solution: ‘Even more functions thanks to free upgrade’

Universal Robots adopts industry standard protocol OPC UA

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Universal Robots, the largest manufacturer of collaborative robots, is now supporting the OPC UA data communication standard to its robots. (See video below.)

Norwegian software company Rocketfarm has developed the application that enables UR robots to support OPC UA, and is available through its developer network UR+.

Egil Mundal, CEO of Rocketfarm, says: “We initially developed the software for a local factory but thought it would be great if this functionality could be available for anyone who wants to connect UR robots with OPC UA. [Read more…] about Universal Robots adopts industry standard protocol OPC UA

Connected world: The death of proprietary networks

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smart kettle

Jonathan Wilkins, marketing director of EU Automation, takes a look at one of the casualties of fluid communication in the factory – that is, the death of proprietary networks and communication protocols in favour of the uninhibited free flow of data 

Like it or not, we live in modern world of fluidity and interconnectedness in which the once ordinary now transcends all previous boundaries.

Take the humble kettle for instance. It’s a sign of the times that you can now purchase a kettle you can control from your phone via the internet. It will even send you notifications when it needs filling or if it’s at optimum temperature. Because it was hard to tell before.

Joking aside, one place where interconnectivity really is making a difference is on the factory floor.  [Read more…] about Connected world: The death of proprietary networks

B&R claims ‘world’s first’ OPC UA device

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b&r opc ua system

B&R claims to have become the first company in the world to develop a field device for Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture (OPC UA). 

The company says it has added the vendor-independent communication protocol to their X20 I/O system.

B&R says the new X20 I/O system bus controller makes it possible to implement OPC UA communication from the sensor layer to the enterprise resource planning (ERP) layer “without any interfaces whatsoever”. [Read more…] about B&R claims ‘world’s first’ OPC UA device

Microsoft adds OPC support to IIoT applications

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microsoft-internet-of-things

Company to support Open Platform Communications standard across IoT offerings 

Microsoft says it is working with the Open Platform Communications Foundation to enable almost any industrial internet of things network through interoperability between the millions of applications and industrial equipment compliant with the OPC Unified Architecture standard.

Microsoft will further enable its IIoT customers to connect a broad range of manufacturing equipment and software that can span decades of investment with extended support of the OPC UA open source software stack.

Interoperability between devices and assets is critical for today’s factories, which are increasingly bringing new and legacy systems online and modernizing their plants and facilities.  [Read more…] about Microsoft adds OPC support to IIoT applications