Siemens and ArtiMinds develop prototype interface for advanced robotics applications

Unlike its competitor ABB, Siemens has not recently been heavily involved in robotics. Here, "strongly" means under its own flag. As is well known, Siemens is a shareholder of Rethink Robotics or, via its American venture arm Next47, of Wandelbots. Now, one might think that Siemens is a large corporation and that the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing. But that this is not the case was clearly visible on the day of the United Robotics Group: The Siemens investment managers from Munich eagerly exchanged ideas with the representatives of Siemens Healthineers, which is also independently listed on the stock exchange. They helped each other with networking and a clear strategy is recognizable: With the help of Siemens Healthineers, Rethink Robotics, but also the other companies from the United Robotics cosmos, is to be established in the medical sector. Together, they automated a hospital laboratory for the first time using cobots(link).

Is it about more than collaboration?

Against this background, the following press release may have to be seen in a different context. However, Siemens and ArtiMinds have been cooperating for at least five years, as the video below shows. And ArtiMinds has no connection to Rethink Robotics or United Robotics Group. To my speculation: I think about the fact that at the Motek Rethink Robotics wants to present new models, into which Siemens know-how and presumably also that of third parties has flowed. In matters of PLC I am a layman, but it seems to me that the new interface may ultimately be directed against Beckhoff. Since it is about mastering variances, MicroPSI should also be affected, according to my understanding. But: in 2017, Rethink Robotics was still a US-only company.

The press release:

Connection of Siemens and ArtiMinds software

Crucial for the integration of advanced robotics applications into an automation environment is the coupling between programmable logic controller and robot controller. With ArTIA, a software connector has now been developed that links the engineering tools TIA Portal from Siemens and Robot Programming Suite (RPS) from ArtiMinds Robotics.

 ArTIA is a prototype developed jointly by ArtiMinds Robotics and Siemens that connects the ArtiMinds Robot Programming Suite and SIMATIC STEP 7 (TIA Portal). The aim of the software connector is to minimize the effort required to implement Advanced Robotics applications by automatically creating a communication interface between the robot controller and the programmable logic controller (PLC).

ArTIA automatically sets up the corresponding robot hardware in the TIA Portal project and imports the function blocks according to the robot subroutines generated in ArtiMinds RPS. This ensures consistent data exchange between PLC and robot controller. Analogous to the conventional procedure, TIA Portal can then be used as usual to set up the robot's interaction with the plant and to finalize the integration.

Robots should learn themselves during operation

In addition, ArTIA lays the foundation for self-learning of robots during operation. Through the connection between robot controller, SIMATIC controller and the analysis software ArtiMinds Learning & Analytics for Robots (LAR), algorithms can be used in the future for autonomous teach point optimization while complying with the underlying safety requirements.

Complex automation steps, such as the assembly of parts with high tolerances like THT components or flexible parts like bendable cables, push conventional automation solutions to their limits and are increasingly realized with advanced robotics applications. Advanced robotics is considered a key technology to overcome these challenges and differs from conventional robotics applications through the use of additional sensors and algorithms that enable, for example, force- or camera-based assembly. Crucial to integration into an existing automation environment is the coupling between the programmable logic controller and the robot controller. However, these factors increase both the time required and the programming expertise required.

With the prototype interface ArTIA, companies will be able to integrate advanced robotics applications into their automation environment with reduced engineering and cost efforts in the future.

Contrary to the speculation at the beginning of the article, a video from 2017:

(To the photo above the article: Advanced Robotics applications differ from conventional robotics applications through the use of additional sensors and algorithms, which enable e.g. force- or camera-based assembly; source: ArtiMinds Robotics GmbH).

Are we networking? LinkedIn
-> To the Cobot group on LinkedIn (Link) .

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The author of this blog is significantly involved in the AI/robotics project Opdra. He advises on almost all issues related to robotics incl funding/subsidies, but does not go in-depth into the technology. More about him can be found here.