Open-source library makes it easier to integrate robot arms
2 August 2024 
Beckhoff has released a generic library that provides robot functions for PLC users. Called TcRobot (TwinCat Robot), it is an open-source library that simplifies the integration of any robotic arm with Beckhoff control technologies by providing a common set of functions for PLC developers, thus cutting the time needed to integrate new arms.
The library uses a uniform set of commands that simplify development using standardised interactions. It will be familiar to users of Beckhoff’s PLC motion library, and leverages the power of the company’s wider ecosystem. Any TcRobot interface with existing Beckhoff technologies can be re-used for all robotic assets.
The code can also be re-used, avoiding the need for repetitive coding and simplifying updates. New robots are said to be easy to add and integrate.
Beckhoff says that for users of its equipment, different robots will become interchangeable and easier to integrate and control using the same generic TcRobot APIs. A common interface reduces the learning curve for different robot APIs and avoids the need to rewrite existing code to work with other robots. Previous “islands of automation” can become part of larger ecosystems.
Beckhoff also argues that the new library will also simplify learning curves for manufacturers, and cut development times for PLC programmers. Future capabilities planned for TcRobot include support for the Industrial Internet of Things, condition monitoring, palletising, recipe building, and coordination with Beckhoff’s TwinCat Vision technology, including analytics and event logging.
TcRobot is available on an MIT open-source license, allowing it to be used and modified without consent or attribution. Users can add their own IP to the library.
