Ctrlx Automation | Third party hardware and floating mover
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Bosch Rexroth rang in 2020 with Ctrlx Automation a paradigm shift in the market. The open automation platform was developed on the principle of a smartphone. The company is now clearing the automation kit with the real-time capable, Linux-based operating system Ctrlx OS even more freedom. In addition, the integration of the new CtrlxFlow6D Transport systems in the Ctrlx portfolio new standards in the area of planar systems.
Contents
- Open automation platform Ctrlx Automation
- Non-contact hovering planar transport system in 6D
- What does Ctrlx Automation mean?
Open automation platform Ctrlx Automation
With the presentation of its open automation platform Ctrlx Automation in 2020, Bosch Rexroth took a radical step in the right direction Openness in automation. A year later, in 2021, the company dared to make the leap from an open platform to an industrial partner network with Ctrlx World. This is growing rapidly and the platform is also getting more and more freedom.
A new partner every week and Ctrlx - the film
09.11.2022 | A few weeks ago in September there were still 65 partners who joined the Ctrlx Community, but at the press conference for SPS 2022 Bosch Rexroth already announced the 73rd new addition. The following video was also presented for the first time the new freedom in automation illustrates:
Even more freedom in automation
21.09.2022/XNUMX/XNUMX | “Today, Ctrlx Automation is the most open Automations platform on the market with the fastest growing ecosystem,” says Walther Reithofer, Senior Vice President R&D Industrial Safety from the new partner Sick AG at a press conference.
There are already 50 Ctrlx apps and four Engineering Tools as well 19 third-party apps implemented. 65 partners from the areas of devices, services or technology have joined. Rexroth is looking for 340 employees for further expansion and is expected to exceed the 2022 million euro sales mark in 100. More than 600 customers are already using the technology in their applications.
Now comes the next step in terms of freedom and openness: after the real-time capable, Linux-based operating system was previously exclusively based on the steering Ctrlx Core was used, it is now used as a separate solution Ctrlx OS made available to the industry. "The hardware is decoupled from the software," it says dr Holger Schnabl, Director Product Line Control Software and Hardware Ctrlx Automation at Bosch Rexroth and sees this as an essential feature. This means that the automation platform can be integrated on all levels from the field to edge devices to the cloud on a wide variety of hardware.
Edge computing software efficiently increases productivity
"The trend in automation is increasingly towards distributed software and data-based automation solutions - from the field level via edge devices to the cloud - and at the same time maximum networking of information," comments Steffen Winkler the reasons for the new development at a trade press conference. The same standards apply to the entire network with regard to applicable software, security, tools and Communicationsinterfaces".
Ctrlx Automation is geared towards these requirements. The hardware and software as well as the partner network Ctrlx World existing automation kit provides all the building blocks for complete automation. Ctrlx Automation is a consistently open system.
The hardware-independent operating system Ctrlx OS
The new Ctrlx OS is a hardware-independent operating system for real-time use in industry. In this way, the Ctrlx platform seamlessly connects even more automation components with the entire Ctrlx Automation portfolio, including all partner solutions from the Ctrlx World.
With the open ecosystem software-based functions can be developed, installed, updated and operated easily and more flexibly across all levels of the automation topology.
Rexroth thus eliminates the prerequisites for the software-driven factory. Modern software practices such as virtual testing and devops become possible. The independent hardware also allows the operation of a virtual controller on hypervisor platforms, in Data Centers, on edge servers or in the cloud.
The Ctrlx OS Operating system supports app technology, secure user management, web-based engineering and powerful data exchange via the Ctrlx Data Layer. This is used to connect all devices in the network with high performance.
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There is a uniform tool chain and a software development kit (SDK) for all devices. The Ctrlx Device Portal allows effective device management worldwide. This digital service is used to deploy new software functions and to manage and maintain device settings or remote maintenance.
Automation at all levels
Ctrlx OS embodies automation on all levels. the Merging of IT and OT Applications are simplified in line with Industry 4.0. Ctrlx OS provides access to all apps from the Ctrlx Store and the Ctrlx Automation Community. Users can run their own software on any hardware - to suit the application. The whole thing takes place on a very secure level: A hardened software stack ensures a high level of cyber security.
Edge Computing | Devices, applications and lots of tips
Steffen Winkler summarizes: "The market has clearly confirmed it to us: We offer the most modern, most open and most secure operating system in automation technology. We are now taking the bold step of making this operating system available to other suppliers of automation components, thereby once again demonstrating our commitment to maximum openness".
Non-contact hovering planar transport system in 6D
21.09.2022/XNUMX/XNUMX | Bosch Rexroth has added a Ctrlx Automation portfolio to its portfolio Planar system in six degrees of freedom expanded. Due to their modularity and easy adaptability, planar systems can be used in numerous industrial sectors such as the Semiconductor industry, Food industry, pharmaceutical industry or in assembly plants. For this, the automater has the contactless Ctrlx Flow6D develops and thus raises the non-contact high-performance positioning, transport and handling of a payload to a new level.
Several Ctrlx Flow6D Movers of different shapes and sizes can be controlled in six dimensions. The movement is made using strong, specially arranged permanent magnets generated. The free-floating transport systems are moved on a horizontally, vertically or overhead work surface. Each mover acts with high precision and speed in six degrees of freedom, without any friction or contamination. By integrating it into the automation kit Ctrlx Automation, users receive an overall solution with a compact control system and apps for an extended range of functions.
For the smart factory of the future
The new planar system was developed for the highly flexible factory of the future. The Ctrlx Flow6D Mover takes non-contact transport to a new level. “You can use our Ctrlx Flow6D Mover build machines that the world has never seen before,” says a delighted Hansjörg Sanwald, Head of Market and Product Management at Bosch Rexroth on the new development. The planar transport system thus creates new scope for action and enables innovative concepts for production plants.
Each mover acts with high precision and with six degrees of freedom high speed. With numerous functions, the mover clearly stands out from the previously known technology. It offers significantly larger ranges of movement such as 20 mm flying height, 10 degree tilt angle and endless rotation at any location. The six degrees of freedom of the Ctrlx Flow can be combined with one another as desired. the Payload is 5 kg and can be expanded to 7,5 kg with another row of magnets.
Several movers are "MINTvernetzt"so that they can communicate with each other. Power and data are available to users on the floating platform. Equipped with actuators Sensors and handling components, a mover can be turned into an active agent.
New system concepts and workflows in focus
These and other functions allow completely new system concepts and workflows. For example, movers can be operated in a process chamber, transport and process tasks can be seamlessly combined, or transport systems can be standardized. Thanks to additional degrees of freedom Savings in the periphery possible. This makes the entire system more compact and cost-effective.
The new planar system Ctrlx Flow6D Mover was developed for the highly flexible factory of the future and brings the contactless transport to a new level. “You can use our Ctrlx Flow6D Mover build machines that the world has never seen before,” says a delighted Hansjörg Sanwald, Head of Market and Product Management at Bosch Rexroth on the new development. The planar transport system thus creates new scope for action and enables innovative concepts for production plants.
"Ctrlx Flow6D is the backbone of flexible and efficient production. As an open system, it can interact seamlessly with different plants and systems," says Steffen Winkler. "The software-controlled production enables rapid adaptation to changed products or processes". With the embedding of Ctrlx Flow6D in his automation world Bosch Rexroth creates a holistic, agile system. "Ctrlx Automation provides the software platform for design, simulation, engineering, operation and service," says Steffen Winkler. "With the Ctrlx Core, we offer a compact and powerful controller that enables users to make optimal use of the new planar system technology. New functions can easily be added as an app via the Ctrlx Store. In this way, the potential of levitation can be fully exploited”.
Bosch Rexroth is exhibiting at the Motek 2022, K 2022 and SPS 2022.
What does Ctrlx Automation mean?
Ctrlx Automation is a scalable automation platform from Bosch Rexroth that connects machine control, IT and the Internet of Things. The open software architecture, with its flexible app technology, allows you to work in a wide variety of IT programming languages. The so-called "smartphone for industrial production" can thus be individually expanded with desired functions. Ctrlx Automation is its own ecosystem with third-party providers who create partner solutions in the Ctrlx World. With the brand new Ctrlx OS operating system, the automation kit has become hardware-independent, can be used on all levels and is available for third-party providers. The new development thus offers even more freedom in automation.
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Angela Struck is editor-in-chief of the development scout and freelance journalist as well as managing director of Presse Service Büro GbR in Ried.