Siemens has announced a new collaboration with Universal Robots (UR) and JAKA Robotics, just ahead of Hanover Messe, to enable its PLCs to control robots from these vendors via the TIA Portal using the Standard Robot Command Interface (SRCI) function. This move aims to streamline the integration of industrial and collaborative robots with automation systems, signaling a significant leap in machine-integrated robot control technology.
Siemens’ ongoing cooperation efforts with other prominent robot manufacturers, such as Comau, Stäubli, Kawasaki, and Yaskawa, demonstrate a broader push for unified robot control. These partnerships aim to simplify the integration process for engineers and enhance the efficiency of industrial automation. Integrating robots with PLCs through SRCI reduces the complexity traditionally associated with robot programming languages.
Siemens’ Strategic Move
This announcement underscores Siemens’ strategic position in the automation industry. By expanding its cooperation with leading robot brands, Siemens is addressing the growing demand for seamless robot integration in industrial settings. Notably, automation suppliers, including Siemens, have provided machine-integrated robot control solutions for years, but the surge in robot adoption since 2021 has heightened the need for more efficient integration methods.
The increasing demand for integrated control is driven by the need for better machine-robot synchronization and higher operational speeds. Siemens’ SRCI-enabled PLCs offer a practical solution by unifying machine and robot control platforms. This trend is expected to accelerate, with the market for machine-integrated robot control projected to expand rapidly in the coming years.
Benefits and Implications
The advantages of integrated robot control over traditional communication network methods are manifold. Eliminating proprietary robot controllers saves space and enhances synchronization between machines and robots, leading to improved performance. The simplification of robot kinematics integration and the reduction of engineering demands make this approach particularly attractive to machine builders and integrators.
- Integrated robot control systems reduce the complexity of programming and maintenance.
- They enhance machine performance and speed through better synchronization.
- Machine builders gain more control over robot mechanics, saving costs and improving after-sales services.
- End users benefit from easier operations and performance advantages in multi-robot scenarios.
Conclusion
Machine-integrated robot control, exemplified by Siemens’ SRCI, allows for more sophisticated robot kinematics control within the TIA Portal environment. As SRCI is an open standard maintained by Profinet, other PLC manufacturers may adopt similar solutions, furthering this trend. The broader adoption of integrated control is not only driven by technological advancements but also by market demands for streamlined operations and reduced reliance on specialized engineering skills.
The market’s shift towards integrated robot control systems reflects a growing recognition of their operational and economic benefits. As production volumes increase and costs decrease, more industrial applications will likely embrace these solutions. This trend promises to enhance machine performance, reduce costs, and address the challenges posed by a shortage of experienced engineers in the automation sector.
