„Industry 4.0" is intended to computerize the factory world. What this means is the technical integration of cyber-physical systems (CPS) into Production and Logistics and the use of the Internet in industrial processes. FANUC is prepared for this change. A continuous flow of information is already the basis for „Factory Automation“ long before Industry 4.0.
"The aim of networking machines, storage systems and equipment with each other results in „Smart Factory“, in which intelligent machines exchange information with each other independently while constantly adapting to current production requirements themselves. Experts hope to obtain a rapid increase in productivity and major material and energy savings as a result.
The high level of integration, seamless communications and consequent networking of means of production are characteristic of all Industry 4.0 ideas. Even if many modules have already been developed and are available, it will not be possible to buy „Industry 4.0“ because it is still a vision.
How much of a vision? How much of a reality?
At FANUC the networked way of thinking has resulted in developments which can be integrated into an Industry 4.0 world or meet basic requirements today. For example, rapid communications. FANUC controls have long operated with a separate CPU for the processing of operating data and communications. The support of many fieldbus protocols, flexible functions to link CNC and robots to control systems are standard and do not need to be developed, at least in FANUC's view. An extremely powerful programming interface already exists. This API (Application Programming Interface) tool is available both for PC and for embedded computers. API enables the efficient exchange of data between the FANUC world in the form of a CNC and other „devices“.
Matthias Fritz, Technical Manager at FANUC Deutschland GmbH: „Regardless of the form in which Industry 4.0 finds its way into the production halls, we must strike a balance between a standardized platform on the control side and customized adaptation. FANUC has expanded this standardization with the new 'Seamless Concept' for all CNC controls. Part of this concept is to create communications processes and data exchange in the production process in real time wherever possible and to use separate processors/CPU for this.""
In addition to controls, robots have become a core element of Industry 4.0 scenarios. Flexibility is incorporated in the robots. If FANUC scenarios from own production and/or solutions which have implemented system integrators are analyzed, this flexibility becomes clear: These solutions dispense with rigid peripherals and are based on „intelligent input“ for the robot, be it via the inclusion of sensors, flexible software modules and „Dual Check Safety“ (DCS) or „Learning Vibration Control“ (LVC). Vision technology has emerged as an extremely flexible sensor instrument, a technology which FANUC itself has already been developing and implementing for more than 25 years.
How safely production data is processed (safety) and how secure operating data (security) is will be a key question for largely networked production. No instances of viruses or Trojans that have found their way into the control systems through the proprietary operating system are known of to date.
Robots as an integral part of Industry 4.0
The idea of regarding robot technology as an integral part of production is not new but nevertheless challenging. Cross-connections and interface control are a given at FANUC because „Factory Automation“ forms the chain from CNC control through processing machinery to automation with robots here. Operating robots via the interface of a CNC machine has long ceased to make the headlines, at least at FANUC.
Whether robots will be able to or should perform all the production steps in future is perhaps less a question of time than of money. Fundamentally, full-automation is indeed conceivable. In principle, it makes no difference to the robot whether it assembles fabric or leather seats. Our robots can see with integrated vision and other sensors and develop a certain sensitivity when touching, joining or carrying out assembly.
The question will be: can decision-making strategies which the robot „dutifully“ implements be developed and employed at reasonable expense.
