Universal Robots (UR), a manufacturer of collaborative robots (cobots), has integrated the Standard Robot Command Interface (SRCI) into its software, making it one of the first cobot vendors to offer this functionality.

The SRCI is a new standard for robotics manufacturers that aims to create a single interface between PLCs and robots. Full integration of SRCI into UR’s software will enhance the connectivity capabilities of the company’s cobots and will ensure customers a frictionless integration with Siemens PLCs, since Siemens is the first – and currently only – PLC vendor supporting SRCI in the automation market.

“By having our robots connect seamlessly to a global industry leader like Siemens, we can now offer our partners and customersfaster integration and higher ease of use,“ saysDaniel Friedman,global director -strategic partnerships at Universal Robots. “We strive to make cobot automation as simple as possible for our customers and this is yet another step in our commitment to provide automation for anyone, anywhere.”

The uniform cross-manufacturer data interface of the SRCI makes robot implementation interoperable, and it standardises definitions and robot commands between UR cobots and Siemens PLCs. This allows for easier and quicker set-up, and simplifies the deployment of UR robots into existing and new Siemens ecosystem-based production lines.

“We are encouraged that cobots from Universal Robots can now be controlled via the SRCI and programmed by Simatic users,” says Rolf Heinsohn, senior VP -factory automation segment control at Siemens. “We want to accelerate factory automation and scale the use of robots in industry by making them simple and available to all our customers’ employees.”
For further information www.universal-robots.com