Omron releases next-generation Sysmac machine automation controller series

ntttttttttttt

Omron Corp has released a new programmable logic controller series and related software. Omron says its new Sysmac platform will be the first step toward revolutionizing machine automation

In line with Omron’s new 10-year strategy, “Value Generation 2020,” Omron Industrial Automation Business Company (IAB) is attempting to create unique new value in the factory automation field with the aim of becoming an automation partner to more global manufacturers than ever before. The new Sysmac NJ series is the first step toward achieving the goals of the Value Generation 2020 strategy. In collaboration with Intel Corporation, Omron IAB has totally rebuilt the architecture of its automation controllers and software as the first step in a new effort to meet the changing needs of customers around the world with revolutionary new products.

Conventionally, factory automation devices have been developed and designed expressly for the factory environment in order to meet the market demand for robustness, stability, and reliability. The fact that the functions and performance of controllers, the “brains” of factory automation, are developed independently by each maker and installed on an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), means there is an inevitable time lag in responding to the needs of customers as they emerge, and this limits the speed of advancement of customers’ automation systems.

In addition, the “ladder language” used to program factory automation controllers is a language originally designed for electrical engineers working in the factory automation field, and each manufacturer uses different variations of the language according to their own particular specifications. This makes it difficult to train software engineers, as they are required to learn several different ladder language variations specific to each maker.

The NJ controller series was designed with the aim of creating the best factory automation devices on the market by integrating Intel Corporation’s latest high-speed MPU, the Intel Atom Processor, and Omron’s vast range of knowledge and know-how accumulated while serving the factory automation market. The result is a series of highly-robust, high-speed, high-performance, next-generation controllers. From now on we will be introducing controllers that allow the seamless connection of a variety of I/O devices such as servo drivers and vision sensors, that are capable of high-performance motion control (which is difficult with conventional programmable logic controllers), and that enable control of an entire system with one single device.

As the new Omron controllers will be constantly updatable in tandem with the advances of Intel’s MPU technology, customers will be not only able to enjoy world-leading performance without delay, it will be possible to transfer and accelerate all user programs, and it will also be possible to comprehensively elevate the performance of machines and devices. This will mean that users will no longer be forced to go through the burdensome learning process that has up till now been required when upgrading to new controllers, and they will be able to focus more on enhancing the functions and performance of their machines.