CUSTOM SOFTWARE • INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION • LONG ISLAND, NY
Industrial Robot Software & Operator Interfaces
A robot's mechanical capabilities are only part of the system. Operators also need software that presents live video, sensor readings and positioning information clearly. Net/Works has developed a custom graphical interface for an industrial robot, working alongside specialists in robotics manufacturing and electronics.
Our industrial robotics software project
Working with an industrial robot manufacturer and a specialist in digital and analog circuit design, we programmed the robot's graphical user interface (GUI). The application displayed a live video feed alongside real-time operational data:
Live video
Visual feedback from the robot to help an operator observe the work area.
Temperature & humidity
Environmental measurements presented in the same interface.
Position
Distance traveled from the robot's starting point, measured in feet.
Pitch & roll
Robot orientation displayed in degrees for immediate situational awareness.
The work called for integrating different sources of information into one usable screen. It is a good example of the custom software challenges we enjoy: taking real-world measurements and turning them into information an operator can act on.
Robotics manufacturing capabilities of our project collaborator
The robot manufacturer we worked with brought experience developing and commercializing robotic products for demanding industrial environments, including:
- Video inspection equipment for challenging environments
- Remote inspection and rehabilitation of industrial equipment
- Robotic systems for internal-diameter weld removal, grinding and brushing
- Tethered and untethered crawlers for inspection tasks
Electronics and embedded systems expertise on the project
Our electronics collaborator contributed experience in embedded hardware and firmware, circuit design, instrumentation and prototyping. Areas of expertise included:
Embedded systems
Microprocessor and microcontroller hardware, firmware, serial communication, data logging, flash memory and real-time clocks.
Digital circuit design
TTL and HCMOS designs, 3.3 V and 5 V circuitry, through-hole and surface-mount components, A/D and D/A conversion, and schematic capture.
Analog electronics
Electro-optics, signal conditioning and filtering, amplifiers, low-level signal processing and discrete transistor design.
Instrumentation & prototyping
Medical and industrial instrumentation, gas detection, battery charging systems, industrial controllers, and hardware/software prototyping.
From sensors to useful software
Projects like this sit at the intersection of software development, electronics, data acquisition and practical field operations. Our contribution to this project was the operator-facing application, developed in collaboration with specialists responsible for the robotic and electronic systems.
For related work, see our custom programming, JavaScript development, Node.js development and database systems pages.
Discuss an industrial software project
If you need a custom interface, data display, control-system integration or other specialized software, tell us about the equipment and the problem you're trying to solve.