OMRON integrated controller for fully automated robotic production

The new machine controller offers real-time synchronisation between all automation equipment, including robots, vision components, drives, and safety equipment.

Improving the speed and accuracy of production, users can simulate entire production lines without having to deploy physical equipment. This will simplify maintenance, and reduce time-to-market during the design, planning, commissioning, and changeover processes.

Many industries are facing labor shortage issues, and the world is experiencing a major turning point with how society conducts business due to new global health concerns. As a result, the demand of more advanced automation with robots has increased, along with a growing demand for digitalisation.

Traditionally, automation equipment for production facilities has been controlled by a number of different controllers creating a major challenge to setup and coordinate the speed and timing between various devices. Also, it was very difficult to verify a process design in advance and with a high level of accuracy prior to construction of a machine or larger production line. After the equipment is commissioned, adjustments need to be made onsite and backtracking and specification changes are common, resulting in a huge number of man-hours.

As a manufacturer of motion sensors, robotics, and safety equipment for fully automated production lines, OMRON has now addressed these issues by seamlessly integrating the control equipment.

The ‘Robotic Integrated Controller’ automates inserting and assembling processes that require delicate and skillful processing. The robots and equipment are controlled and fully synchronised in real-time by a single controller, improving device performance, and achieving the world's highest level of throughput.

OMRON has also unified the programming languages for robot and machine control, making it easy to simulate a production line with single programming software. The system visualises the process, reducing man-hours for process design and operational verification by up to 50%. Furthermore, all of this can be conducted remotely. Through Sysmac Studio’s user interface, users can design, program, troubleshoot, operate and maintain future automation systems remotely from anywhere in the world.

Key features:

• By integrating the PLC, motion, and robot control in a single controller, complex manual work that could only be conducted by humans can now be completed by robots.
• The programming language for the PLC and robot is unified in the generic IEC language, which allows engineers who typically manage PLCs the ability to also manage robots as well.
• With OMRON’s simulation technology, you can verify equipment performance at the early stage of equipment design, allowing mechanical designers and electrical designers to design in parallel. As a result, equipment commissioning can be completed in a shorter period, higher production capacity can be achieved, and mistakes and setbacks during equipment commissioning can be avoided.
• To run the simulation, the user can use the emulation function in Sysmac Studio. The system does not require a connection to the actual machine for operation verification. Also, the production capacity of the robot equipment can be monitored digitally.
• By re-using previous digitalised assets, it is easier to establish the next facility.