Debut: Innovative RL robotic system with Schleicher controller produces considerably greater process efficiency

A fully functional RL Robotic System developed by the German innovation powerhouse ET-P will be presented to the pub-lic for the first time on the Schleicher exhibition stand at SPS/IPC/DRIVES 2010.

Using a pick-&-place application which groups six packs ready for palletizing as an example, the exhibit product demonstrates the enormous increase in the workpace that can be attained in comparison to conventional systems. The impressive design achieves an increase in speed of up to 50% and unites creative conceptual design, innovative robot engineering and intelligent CNC controls to provide a complete solution.

Highly efficient, innovative RL Robotic System: Powerful grip, dynamic motion, precise positioning

Cost effectiveness, low acquisition and operating costs, efficient performance, and good availability were given top priority in the product specification right from the start. Promoted under the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology‘s Central Innovation Program for SMEs, this newly developed product can be integrated into existing plants in almost any size thanks to its flexible design.

The target parameters consist of an acceleration of 4 g and a speed of 4 m/s for a payload of 40 kg and more. The real innovation compared to conventional technology, the design principle enables all drive assemblies to be placed in a fixed position outside the workspace. There is thus no need to movekey components making up the system‘s dead-weight load and its supply lines – for example power or compressed air, for example along with the payload. This reduces mass and improves failure and wear rates. The particular benefit of this feature however is being able to realize traveling at high speed with a heavy payload and a correspondingly high throughput rate. The travel being dynamically regulated by the controller also guarantee a consistently optimal relationship between acceleration and deceleration, speed and positioning.

The Intelligence behind the movement as a complete package from Schleicher: Drives + controller + operator terminal

When Schleicher supplies a complete package for drive technology, controller and operating systems, it guarantees that all components influencing the drive system will be permanently reliable. The optimally coordinated package includes electric motors by Bosch Rexroth, control configurations for both hardware and software plus a touch-screenoperator terminal. The drive system is connected to the controller via a Sercos III interface.

The controller:

An PLC/CNC/MC controller from the Schleicher XCx 1100 series is the »brain« of the RL Robotic Station . This robust control system combines PC operating and visualization functions with the advantages of a powerful, separate controller. A solid-state drive and passive cooling guarantee, amongst other things, optimum stability against jolting and vibrations, which leads to optimum reliability even under tough operating conditions. VxWorks and the special operating system Windows XP Embedded offer maximum flexibility with regard to communication and available functions. The XCx 1100 operates all standard communications protocols to allow integration into networked systems, a feature which Schleicher is also demonstrating at SPS/IPC/DRIVES.

The CNC control logic converts any type of kinematic transformation in the robotic system into dynamically regulated, optimized motion sequences. Required positions are calculated in realtime.

Operator terminal:

The system can be operated very conveniently using the touchscreen. Equipped with powerful microbrowser technology, Schleicher offers the optimum choice for modern, web server-based visualization solutions. Optional integration in TCP/IP network structures opens up a wide spectrum of flexibility and convenience. Thus remote monitoring or local operation are not only possible using fixed network visualization components, but also via WLAN using mobile terminals, such as a standard iPod.

The bottom line:

All in all, the RL Robotic Station based on ET-P‘s newly developed process is very impressive thanks to its highly promising performance and cost effectiveness while also offering high quality results and above-average system availability, resulting in an extremely rapid ROI.