Automation Canada - Robotic Integration Issue - 20

SINGULAR CONTROLS ARCHITECTURE

The definition of Singular Controls Architecture changes based on the usage context. In production and packaging systems, we define the
Singular Controls Architecture as a single primary controls platform for the entire work cell, so that the programming, diagnosis and troubleshooting
is done in a single place. Singular Controls simplifies the system design because it decreases the number of cables, communication nodes and
controls that are necessary in a traditional system's architecture. A reduction in components leads to a reduced number of failure points and spare
parts required.

PLC INTEGRATED ROBOTS:
THE CASE FOR A SINGULAR CONTROL ARCHITECTURE CNT'D
The Singular Controls Architecture approach promotes greater
inter-operability among components and systems, both upstream and
downstream in the packaging line. Singular controls make the system
more user-friendly because there is only one programming language to
learn and maintain throughout the manufacturing plant. Robot motion
programming is accomplished through the population of the same type
of Add-On Instructions or Function Blocks with which PLC Programmers
are familiar. Robots become more maintenance staff friendly as
troubleshooting of the entire system happens in one place, in one
language. Multiple programming languages are no longer required.
With the advent of smart sensors such as vision systems, the architecture
makes it simple to integrate sensor guidance and line tracking options
that may be required for packaging applications. Very little extra
hardware is required to make the Singular Controls style of
programming a reality because the software that allows for this to occur
exists within the robot controller's logic stack. This means that the
group that implements the robot as a part of their solution has all the
robot controller benefits available to them. These would include
functional safety, collision detection and options such as conveyor
tracking and vision.
The Singular Controls Architecture benefits the end users of the
automation by providing maintenance-friendly systems. And it offers
tremendous advantages to system integration houses, since
programming the robots and all the peripheral equipment happens in
one place. Additionally, a single person can usually both program and
C A N A D I A N A U TO M AT I O N

debug the systems. This approach makes the system development
more efficient in comparison to a traditional approach.
Another key benefit that a Singular Controls Architecture offers is the
ability to redeploy assets with your own maintenance staff. As the robots
in this architecture are programmed, taught and controlled entirely
through a PLC, your resident experts could easily redeploy them into
another application or perform required upgrades as needed.
Therefore, a Singular Control Architecture makes robotics system
ownership a practical reality.

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