Modular Mechatronic Robotic Plug-and-Play Controller

Most current industrial robot arms require a dedicated controller for the actuating systems. This can be a disadvantage when trying to integrate several robots into an agile manufacturing environment. More flexible and adaptive modular plug-and-play controllers can highly enhance the use of these robots and eases their integration into modern, agile manufacturing environments. Interfacing automated machines can then be done at a PC level. At this level, “plug-and-play” becomes the benchmark for new devices being added to the system, allowing ease of operation and increased flexibility for agile manufacturing. The modular mechatronic control system described in this paper was used to operate a Unimate PUMA 560 series industrial robotic arm.