Drives & Controls February 2024

US-BASED SiLC TECHNOLOGIES has announced a LiDar sensor with “unmatched” submillimetre resolution, aimed at machine vision applications that need short-range vision detection with the highest accuracy. It says that its Eyeonic Vision System Mini will open new doors in automation, especially in AI applications and warehouse logistics. For example, AI-driven palletising robots will be able to view and interact with pallets, optimising package placement. SiLC says that the sensor delivers an order of magnitude better precision than other technologies while being a third of the size of earlier models. The robotics specialist Dexterity is incorporating the sensor into its platform, giving robots the intelligence to see, move, touch, think and learn. www.silc.com SIEMENS HAS UPGRADED the hardware and software of its Sinamics S210 servodrives, making them more suitable for dynamic applications, such as packaging and pick-and-place machines, with ratings from 50W-7kW. The new-generation drives have a second encoder interface, making it easier to control individual axes, and they can connect to direct-measuring systems to compensate for mechanical looseness and tolerances. This boosts precision, says Siemens, opening up new uses. New Basic and Extended Safety functions meet the requirements of SIL3 and PLe. Also new are Security Integrated functions that ensure greater safety. As well as Pro–net IRT, the drives can now communicate via EtherNet/IP, allowing third-party controllers to be connected. A new 3C3 coating helps the servodrives to resist aggressive environments such as sulphur gases. This guarantees high availability and productivity in di˜cult conditions. The Epos single positioner is now available as a technology function, allowing precision positioning tasks to be implemented quickly and easily. They can be calculated in the drive, reducing the computing load on the controller, which can instead be used to handle more complex tasks, or more axes. Motion control applications can be simulated using Siemens’ DriveSim Advanced simulation software, which can create digital twins of the S210 on its TIA Portal platform. These can be used to commission the drive system and to perform engineering tasks virtually. The digital twins can also be used for virtual training and demos, and to optimise the operation of real machines. The drives’Web server has been redesigned to support Siemens’latest Sinamics S200 and G220 inverters. The server enables fast commissioning and diagnostics, and supports maintenance using devices such as tablets and PCs. TECHNOLOGY n Upgraded servodrives open up new applications Siemens’ upgraded S210 servodrive system has a wider range of applications LiDar sensor o ers ‘unmatched’ sub-mm precision

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ0NzM=