May 2020

n TECHNOLOGY May 2020 www.drivesncontrols.com 20 ABB HAS ANNOUNCED a graphical programming aid for its single-arm YuMi cobot (collaborative robot) that allows users with no prior knowledge of robot programming to create programs quickly without needing specialised training. The Wizard programming tool is based on the Blockly open-source visual coding system that presents programming languages or code as interlocking blocks. Users simply drag-and-drop functions on the robot’s FlexPendant, seeing the results immediately and adjusting the robot’s actions within seconds. The Wizard is pre-installed on all new FlexPendants and can be retrofitted to earlier pendants. “We’ve reduced the learning curve for new users,” says ABB’s global product manager for collaborative robotics, Andie Zhang. “This will help reduce the cost, time and skills required to implement collaborative automation in a wide range of workplaces, which may lack a dedicated engineering or automation programming resource.” Combined with the YuMi robot’s existing lead-through programming method, the new technique is said to help any robot user to develop effective robot programs. It offers functions such as “move”, “pick” and “vacuum”, as well as functions for error handling, allowing novice programmers to avoid problems such as collisions.. The Wizard programming is converted into ABB’s Rapid programming language in real time. This means that complex robot programs, such assembly tasks, can be created by skilled programmers and turned into Wizard programs for use by novice programmers. • ABB has also produced an add-on for its RobotStudio offline programming and simulation software that allows users to commission and control Scara robots directly from a PC or laptop. The Robot Control Mate add-on allows users to jog, teach and calibrate robots, and to control the movements of a robot in real-time. The add- on also makes it possible to program robots without needing a pendant. It is available initially for ABB’s IRB 910INV ceiling-mounted robot before being expanded to other ABB robots later this year. RobotStudio provides a digital twin of physical assets or systems on production lines. The offline programming tool can be used to create, simulate and test robot installations in virtual 3D without disrupting production lines. New production lines can be installed faster and ramped up to full speed without any surprises during commissioning. https://new.abb.com/products/robotics p National Instruments has released two free versions of its flagship LabView engineering software for use in personal projects.The LabView and LabViewNXG Community Editions offer the same functions as the professional versions.They include updated versions of the Linx toolkit to interface and/or deploy LabView applications to platforms such as Arduino, Raspberry Pi and BeagleBoards.The NXG version includes aWebmodule to help users with limitedWeb skills to createWeb applications and LabView applications that run inWeb browsers. https://ni.com/labviewcommunity p ODVA has enhanced its EtherNet/IP specification to provide improved network diagnostics, newmethods to reduce bandwidth and resource requirements for devices, and the addition of an IIoT building block infrastructure. The new networkmanagement tools remove obstacles to adding EtherNet/IP to the simplest of devices, and prepare forTSNwith LLDP.The enhanced diagnostics will enable a better understanding of the number of connections, resource usage, the number of Ethernet errors, missed packets and CPU utilisation. www.odva.org p Realtime Robotics , the US inventor of responsivemotion planning systems for industrial robots and autonomous vehicles, has launched a controller that simplifies the programming for integrating robotic workcells. The Realtime Controller automates many core processes and can adjust dynamically to varying production conditions, resulting inmore flexible multi-robot cells.The controller connects with PLCs and robot controls to calculate, communicate, and execute collision-free motions. Development and cycle times are shorter and robots can be deployed quicker. https://rtr.ai p Port Industrial Automation , a German company specialising in industrial real-time data communications, has developed two CC-Link IE TSN products: a hardware-independent master/slave software stack containing the tools needed to configure, manage and install the new open specification, thus cutting development times and costs for component manufacturers; and an embedded system-on- module (SoM) that which can be used as an add- on or expansion board for existing platforms. www.port.de p The US developer of silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors Cree has formed a strategic partnershipwith the automotive supplier ZF Friedrichshafen to develop efficient SiC-based drivelines that will increase electric vehicle ranges compared to today’s silicon-based systems, especially in EVs using 800V system voltages. ZF has already received orders for SiC systems from several car-makers. p Two US companies, BehrTech and MAJiK Systems , have signed a partnership to bring wireless connectivity to legacy PLCs, allowing companies to transformbrownfield plants into digital factories without having to build new plants or reprogramming old PLCs.The technology combines BehrTech’s Mythings wireless connectivity platformwithMAJiK’s PLC datamonitoring and analytics software suite. The partners say it will provide robust, long- range connectivity for PLC communications in remote and complex industrial environments. https://majik.io https://behrtech.com Graphical software allows novices to program cobots ABB’s Wizard programming tool allows non-experts to program its single-armYuMi cobots