An Insider Look at Advanced Automation Control Infrastructure
Aerotech's Automation1 Motion Control Platform is a precision machine- and motion-control platform designed to streamline and automate industrial processes. Automation1 offers the flexibility of deploying both PC- and drive-based controller architectures and with API and industrial Ethernet support. In this video, Simon Smith from Aerotech explains the company's technology at SPS 2022 in Nuremberg.
Recent developments in the Automation1 motion-control platform include:
Additional hardware product support: Servo motor drives include the XC6e higher-powered PWM servo motor drive, the XL5e and XL2e linear amplifier servo drives, the XI4 servo controller, and the GI4 galvo laser scan head controller, which features XY2-100 and XY3-100 support. In addition, the Automation1-iSMC motion controller is flexible enough to be run on an industrial PC (such as the Automation1-iPC) or Automation1 drives, including the iXR3, iXC4e, iXC4, iXC2e, iXC2, iXL5e, and iXI4.
Ability to build custom human-machine interfaces: The new MachineApps tool lets users quickly build and deploy new graphical user interfaces for their machines and motion systems. Canned layouts and ultra-fast drag-and-drop functionality enable users to quickly add and configure machine interface modules such as programming interfaces, jog pads, data visualizers, and customizable push buttons.
Additional API tools: The Automation1-iSMC controller connects with broader factory and lab automation systems using the new Python API and LabVIEW VIs, which build upon existing .NET and C APIs as well as EPICS drivers.
Industrial Ethernet connection options: The Automation1 controller extends automation solutions by connecting to PLCs and other automation devices using popular industrial Ethernet protocols. PC-based Automation1 controllers now support MODBUS/TCP, and drive-based Automation1 controllers support EtherCAT.
