All-inclusive control system from engineering to hardware

i³ CONTROL is Yaskawa’s innovative new automation platform. And the best thing about this ecosystem, turned IT concept: It provides a technically coordinated overall solution for industry-specific controllers — including everything from engineering software and controller hardware to integrated chip technology. And has the potential to do so much more.

Ahead of the new additions to the i³ CONTROL portfolio, the specially developed software environment, i³ Engineer, and the first machine controller of this new platform – the iC9210-PN – are now celebrating their world premiere. The market launch is planned by the end of the year 2022.

i³ Engineer software environment

The engineering software i³ Engineer provides access to the entire platform, offering openness, flexibility and scalability based around a Linux operating system. Programming languages pursuant to IEC61131-3 and PLCopen function blocks are supported as well as the script languages C#, C++, Python or MATLAB Simulink. This opens up entirely new opportunities for the development of individual applications, even in global teams.

At the same time, the software is tailored precisely to the performance range of the Yaskawa components. This means that the software will always guide the user easily and reliably to the optimal solution for maximum performance without the user requiring detailed knowledge of the corresponding products.

New iC9210-PN PLC

The first hardware product under the umbrella of the new platform is the iC9210-PN controller. It has a Profinet interface and an RS485 interface for the smart and cost-effective connection of Yaskawa servo and frequency inverters. HMIs can be connected via an OPC UA server. In addition, the PLC uses the components of the established SLIO system as an I/O platform. The controller therefore offers complete versatility right from the outset.

profichip TRITON processor

The core element of the new controller is the profichip TRITON from Yaskawa. The VxWorks-based processor, specially designed for industrial applications, with its three individually switchable cores is ideally suited for the fast processing of demanding motion sequences. The profichip TRITON combines a powerful multi-core processor with industrial Gigabit-capable Ethernet communication and a fast, reliable backplane bus system. It therefore offers a future-proof, flexibly scalable solution for customized systems with a low total cost of ownership.

Complete system for control and automation

i³ CONTROL is designed for the future and is now being gradually expanded into a complete system for control and automation. The next step for Yaskawa is to expand the system to include the motion control functions already available in its MPiec machine controller. This will be followed by the integration of safety functions and, subsequently, robotics.

The overall aim is to create a uniform platform through which the machine manufacturer can access all functions – from PLC, motion control and safety to robot programming and robot control – in the same environment.

News release from Yaskawa, 30/05/2022

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