Development kits support advanced robotics

Based on the xCORE range of multicore microcontrollers from XMOS and Synapticon’s SOMANET technology, the kits enable efficient, standards-compliant and safe motion control applications, ranging from simple single-axis solutions to innovative distributed motion control systems.

The first product in the family includes a SOMANET control subsystem, an EtherCAT communications module, 120W motor driver and an example brushless DC (BLDC) motor. The compact kit measures just 40x50x15mm when assembled, making it suited for use by designers seeking to add intelligence “close to the node” in their automation projects. Options are provided for Hall Sensor and Quadrature Encoder sensing, with support for CiA 402, the CANopen device profile for drives and motion control.

Configured and programmed in a high-level C-based environment via the XMOS xTIMEcomposer integrated development suite, the hardware package is augmented with robust, proven motor control IP modules from Synapticon that implement position, speed and torque/current control loops. The powerful xCORE multicore microcontroller subsystem is equipped with up to 32 processing cores, providing up to 2000MIPS of raw performance.

Synapticon’s SOMANET technology allows the construction of a range of robotic and cyber-physical systems (these combine collaborative computing elements, sensors and actuators to allow software programs to interact with the physical world), from simple motor controllers to complex motion control solutions where the intelligence is distributed and runs alongside the sensors and actuators. This allows the systems to react much faster, improving precision and quality as well as enabling new advanced applications. SOMANET technology delivers high levels of energy efficiency, functional safety and standards compliance. The new development kit allows users to take the first steps on the road to creating these intelligent embedded systems, with fast and easy creation of both single- and multiple-axis control systems.

The motor and motion control kit is available immediately, priced at $909 (USD) for the Hall sensor-only version and $999 (USD) for the version equipped with Quadrature Encoder sensing.