In modern automation, machine control, IT and the Internet of Things are connected seamlessly. With the ctrlX AUTOMATION platform, Bosch Rexroth is connecting these worlds. Via the ctrlX World partner network, the company offers its own IoT solutions as well as applications from third-party providers as apps. Thanks to these apps, the functions of the ctrlX CORE control solution can be configured as necessary. ctrlX CORE functions not only as a machine control system – it is also a secure and intelligent gateway solution. With its open design and numerous interfaces, the control system is also suitable for brownfield installations in order to add IoT connectivity and functions to existing machines and systems.
With the ctrlX IOT software, Bosch Rexroth’s automation platform already has important basic apps such as a firewall, a VPN client and an OPC UA server and client. These are complemented by partner IoT solutions. As a result, users are offered a wide range of apps and enjoy a great deal of flexibility.
For quick IoT application development, Prescient Devices, Inc. (PDI) is part of the ctrlX World. With the Node-RED-based Prescient Designer, the company offers a SaaS solution in order to design, simulate, distribute, operate and expand IoT/AI systems. This makes it possible to program thousands of IoT devices such as ctrlX CORE centrally in the cloud at one location and to transfer the program code to the devices with a click. As a result, these can be commissioned and maintained efficiently.
Andy Wang, founder & CEO of Prescient Devices, Inc. says: “Together with Bosch Rexroth, we’d like to simplify and speed up the development of IoT applications without having to use complex technology. The Prescient Designer is tailored to the Bosch Rexroth community and platform. This allows an engineer to design and create an edge-to-cloud IoT solution for example within a few weeks. Compared to conventional IoT development, this leads to 12x quicker development, 6x lower costs and greater real-time management and analysis intelligence at all times.”
IXON B.V. is another ctrlX World partner. IXON offers an end-to-end IIoT solution for all remote maintenance requirements: from the hardware to the cloud. Bart van den Corput, Key Account Manager at IXON, explains: “Our aim is to encourage and support the IIoT transition among machine manufacturers by providing a secure cloud environment with all the technology needed to make the IIoT directly accessible anywhere in the world.”
IXON cooperates with Bosch Rexroth in order to offer machine manufacturers even greater flexibility when creating an IIoT solution, which meets their requirements. As a result, they can easily integrate the IIoT into their automation solutions. Users can download the IXagent app from the App Zone of the ctrlX AUTOMATION Community in order to gain access to all IXON cloud platform functionalities, e.g. remote access, cloud data logging, alarms and messages.
Solutions from HiveMQ GmbH are also available in the ctrlX World. HiveMQ offers an MQTT broker for the ctrlX CORE control system. This allows data to be exchanged between various hardware and software platforms. MQTT is an industry standard which is now very popular for IoT use cases such as intelligent production. At the same time, it is the basis for use cases such as connected vehicles, logistics, Industry 4.0 and connected IoT products.
Hans Michael Krause, Head of ctrlX World Product Management at Bosch Rexroth, explains: “With all these IoT solutions which are available through the ctrlX World, users can easily connect the necessary automation processes as they would with a smartphone. Simply download and launch the app. Bosch Rexroth also provides numerous sector-specific applications of its own. If the user would like to bring in their own personal knowledge, they can create apps themselves in all popular programming languages using the automation platform.”