The automation industry is shifting towards a unified control architecture where a single controller handles application control, safety, robotics, CNC, vision and HMI, Control Design reported.
RoboDK’s 10-year milestone highlights this trend, as it was among the first to enable robot simulation using Python. Universities like UCLA are now teaching young engineers to program robots in Java, and industry leaders like Rockwell Automation, Beckhoff and Schneider Electric are integrating robot control directly into their automation platforms.
This consolidation of control aims to reduce hardware and software costs while simplifying integration for machine builders. Open PLC logic plays a crucial role in this transition by embedding HMI and component libraries into PLC code, enabling greater flexibility in power, communication and system design.
While overall costs might not significantly decrease, reduced complexity and streamlined development processes could lead to shorter implementation times and more efficient use of space and wiring, Control Design wrote in this article.
