Bosch Rexroth Introduces New Automation Platform

With the new ctrlX AUTOMATION platform, Bosch Rexroth has eradicated the traditional boundaries between machine control systems, IT and the Internet of Things. Centralized and decentralized automation topologies can now be created flexibly with the scalable platform. Thanks to a Linux real-time operating system, open standards, app programming technology, web-based engineering and a comprehensive IoT connection, ctrlX AUTOMATION reduces the engineering time and effort by 30% to 50%.

Today, mechanical engineering is based on software development. Bosch Rexroth‘s new ctrlX AUTOMATION platform addresses this market requirement, encompassing the latest engineering software technologies and all PLC and motion tasks. Software functions are combinable in any number of ways with ready-made, customized and customizable apps. These apps can be created in a variety of programming languages such as C++, script languages such as Python or new graphical languages such as Blockly. This gives machine manufacturers new-found freedom.

ctrlX AUTOMATION offers users a choice: They decide whether to program in IEC 61131, PLCopen or G-Code, or in other conventional high-level or Internet languages. This liberates machine manufacturers from dependency on the availability of PLC specialists and proprietary systems. 

Configuration and commissioning of automation components is completely web-based, eliminating the need to install software. Within minutes of switching on the system, the software is programmed. A completely virtual ctrlX AUTOMATION system environment is available, enabling programming without hardware. System functionalities can be extended at any time via the user’s own process funtions, apps and open-source software. In total, ctrlX AUTOMATION cuts the engineering time and effort by 30% to 50%, which significantly reduces time to market for new machines. 

More than 30 direct connection options and communication standards offer maximum networking flexibility for economical, end-to-end connectivity, from field level up to the cloud. ctrlX AUTOMATION is also equipped for future communication standards, such as TSN and 5G, making it the best system on the market in terms of networking capability.

ctrlX AUTOMATION is based on a new generation of multicore processors which provide sufficient processing power for almost all automation tasks. These high-performance CPUs can be integrated into embedded PCs and industrial PCs, or directly into drives. The all-new hardware and software module will cover all automation tasks – from simple control applications and IoT solutions to high-performance motion control.