New ABB OmniCore robot controllers offer faster, scalable, more energy efficient manufacturing

To meet the demand for faster, more efficient production, ABB is adding two new members to its OmniCore™ controller family. Available for a range of robots across ABB’s portfolio, the new E10 and V250XT controllers offer best-in-class motion control, as well as 20 percent energy savings and future-proofing through built-in digital connectivity and 1000+ additional functions to meet changing requirements. These two new controllers extend the possibilities for enhanced robot control in a variety of industries, from electronics assembly to automotive, logistics, and general manufacturing.

“The growing demands of the industry for quicker, more diverse production and greater responsiveness to changing market conditions calls for solution that bring new levels of speed, accuracy and flexibility,” says Antti Matinlauri, Head of Product Management for ABB Robotics. “As part of ABB’s OmniCore controller family, the E10 and V250XT provide manufacturers with an expanded range of possibilities, enabling them to maximize their productivity and meet changing demands with minimum downtime.”

Both controllers offer increased scalability through the inclusion of over 1,000 hardware and software functions encompassing areas such as programming, offline commissioning and simulation, maintenance, vision and safety. The controllers also feature built-in connectivity to ABB Ability™ Connected Services cloud-based service suite for robots, offering new opportunities for improving performance through enhanced predictive maintenance and lifecycle management.

ABB is also introducing its IoT Gateway open automation software for OmniCore.  IoT Gateway makes it possible to achieve truly joined-up production by enabling the seamless transmission of data from the factory floor, machine to machine (M2M), robots to other machines and robots to sensors, to the MES/ERP system, or to the cloud.

Featuring a slimline 19-inch rack-mount design, the E10 is ideal for confined space and high-density production lines where space saving is a key requirement, such as small parts assembly and material handling in the electronics industry. The E10 controller is designed to power ABB’s SCARA robots and articulated robots with payloads of up to 11kg such as the IRB 920T and IRB 1300.

Designed to power articulated robots with a payload of up to 300kg such as IRB 6700, the OmniCore V250XT controller offers a versatile and powerful solution for use in electric vehicle production, automotive manufacturing, logistics and general industrial applications.

The OmniCore E10 and V250XT controllers consume up to 20 percent less energy compared to ABB’s previous IRC5 controllers due to energy-saving power re-generation technology and brake energy recovery, enabling manufacturers to cut their energy costs and improve energy efficiency by contributing towards overall reductions in energy consumption.

Both controllers are used with ABB’s FlexPendant hand-held controller. The large 8” multi-touch display supports standard gestures, such as pinch, swipe, and tap, simplifying robot programming. FlexPendant is “hot-swappable”, which means it can be unplugged or re-connected without interrupting ongoing production. This allows the FlexPendant to be shared between multiple robots, accelerating robot deployment and minimizing costs.

The launch of the E10 and V250XT is the latest chapter in ABB’s OmniCore family, with 14 robots now benefitting from enhanced power and flexibility. All OmniCore controllers are based on ABB’s industry leading RobotWare operating system. The OmniCore controller family will be extended across ABB’s robot portfolio and more applications will follow into 2022.

For more information, visit https://new.abb.com/products/robotics/controllers/omnicore

ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB’s success is driven by about 105,000 talented employees in over 100 countries. www.abb.com

ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation is a pioneer in robotics, machine automation and digital services, providing innovative solutions for a diverse range of industries, from automotive to electronics to logistics. As one of the world’s leading robotics and machine automation suppliers, we have shipped more than 500,000 robot solutions. We help our customers of all sizes to increase productivity, flexibility and simplicity and to improve output quality. We support their transition towards the connected and collaborative factory of the future. ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation employs more than 11,000 people at over 100 locations in more than 53 countries. go.abb/robotics