Understand about KINGSTAR Soft Motion Platform

With 3.0, KINGSTAR now scans the EtherCAT fieldbus and provides a list of slave devices found without the need to start the master. To do this, we can scan the devices from the KINGSTAR Soft PLC Workbench using OPC UA internal communication.

KINGSTAR’s complete motion control and machine vision platform creates PC-based machine controllers with premium precision and performance. Built on the EtherCAT standard and enhanced by the power of a real-time operating system (RTOS) for Windows.

Hardware and software options available in motion control range widely. Most hardware requires a costly DSP board with cumbersome and expensive wiring cables to go along with it for connecting servo motors, drives and amplifiers. Real-time PC-based EtherCAT software provides with a variety of new features and advantages that exponentially reduces the amount of cables and thereby cost and yet increases the performance and efficiency need to control servo motors and drives, all from a single PC-based PLC box.

Auto-configuration is one of many ways that KINGSTAR delivers the most open and flexible soft motion platform on the market.

In a PC-based control system, a standard operating system such as Windows supports HMI and control software running on a PC platform. KINGSTAR provides a fully-featured and integrated software PLC based on an open and accessible RTOS.

With the highest quality and performance of pre-integrated and pre-tested motion libraries, KINGSTAR delivers motion control at half the cost of traditional hardware platforms.

KINGSTAR delivers an EtherCAT-enabled software PLC that empowers your PC to function as a motion controller by enabling it to handle all motion control, machine vision, EtherCAT I/O, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, kinematics, and industrial machine automation tasks in real-time.

KINGSTAR’s industrial automation software is a unique invention that every engineer involved in the development of machine automated systems should consider for greater performance in less time with lower costs.

Soft PLC is a software technology designed to turn an embedded computer into a fully functional and programmable logic controller, also known as a PLC. It combines PLCs’ discrete, PID and analog I/O control with high performing computer networking, data handling, and computational capabilities. As such, soft PLCs offer dependable operation, exceptionally fast and deterministic program scan durations, great instructions set, clear data table memory, unlimited user programs, and above all, an open architecture platform that allows users to connect to a wide range of I/O systems and networks among other devices.

Motion control software is designed to meet the engineering functionality and efficiency requirements of industrial machine automation standards. But, as is the norm with motion control processes and systems, you must sync compatible programs and features with the software in order to maximize productivity, efficiency and superior precision performance.

It is designed for plug-and-play capability for all the necessary devices. This feature removes the need for different installations to support the devices required. Storage space required for such applications is therefore reserved for complete projects alongside materials and resources. By using an EtherCAT infrastructure, the application is able to support new input and output accessories with no need for additional software.

This year, we’re excited to demonstrate and discuss the latest and greatest additions to our full line of products. We will be demoing both IntervalZero and KINGSTAR technology at our booth, located in Hall 3, Booth 202, throughout the show.

KINGSTAR Machine Vision is a comprehensive collection of software tools for developing machine vision, image analysis, and medical imaging software applications on GigE Vision® and many other camera interfaces.

KINGSTAR is a complete “plug-and-play” PC-based platform for industrial motion control, machine vision and programmable logic controllers (PLC). Built on the EtherCAT standard and supported by a real-time 64-bit Windows operating-system (RTOS), KINGSTAR empowers engineers to design, develop and integrate applications with KINGSTAR’s soft motion, machine vision and PLC or third-party software. Using a single industrial PC, you can replace all hardware with software-only motion controllers and machine vision positioning systems, quickly and cost effectively.

EtherCAT-Based robot control application, developed with KINGSTAR EtherCAT. Interesting application of applying robotics. apply robotics to digital signage to convey a message.

Industrial software automation tests are designed to precise specifications and are major components in executing future software test settings. Testing software is modeled to be flexible at accommodating unique products while complying with the ever-changing testing and security protocols.

Generally available hardware and software PLCs offer a proprietary real-time extension that is limited in both features and support of real-time processing, with no add-on support for motion control and/or machine vision. KINGSTAR provides a fully-featured and integrated software PLC based on an open and accessible RTOS.

Industrial automation processes such as motion control and machine vision have traditionally been based on hardware. This approach introduces a variety of challenges. Besides being expensive and proprietary, migrating to newer products is challenging when hardware components are involved. Further, the compatibility of hardware equipment like servo motors and drives with software applications from different vendors for processes like motion control is a major issue.

The EtherCAT Terminal system from Beckhoff is a modular I/O system consisting of electronic terminal blocks. The EtherCAT protocol remains fully intact down to the individual terminal. Suitable EtherCAT Terminals are available for all common digital and analog signal types encountered in the world of automation.

“KINGSTAR is a complete “plug-and-play” PC-based platform for industrial motion control, machine vision and programmable logic controllers (PLC). Built on the EtherCAT standard and supported by a real-time 64-bit Windows operating-system (RTOS).

As industrial processing power increases, real-time machine vision systems become more powerful and affordable. Machine vision technology has become a key element in the manufacturing sector. The technology utilizes industrial image processing and cameras mounted over production cells and lines to visually read, direct or inspect products in real-time without intervention from an operator. Machine vision systems can have many cameras that capture, interpret and signal information individually. The cameras are administrated by a control system set under pre-determined requirements and tolerance levels. In manufacturing environments, system reliability translates to increased product safety and production.

KINGSTAR EtherCAT allows motion control and machine vision engineers to integrate their own motion control algorithms or software with an EtherCAT network.

A motion controller is the core element of a motion control system: it calculates and generates output commands for each trajectory or motion path. Motion controllers vary in regards to sophistication, complexity, interpolator, and servo motor control loop. However, they are all designed to execute tasks at precise speeds, positioning and torque control. They rely on their calculated trajectories to determine the ideal torque command that should be sent to the motor amplifier and trigger motion. This explains why motion control systems are ideal for applications that require product positioning, separate elements synchronization, and prompt start and stop motion control.

EtherCAT helps engineers to integrate their own motion control algorithm or software with EtherCAT Network. It provides highly customizable motor control and machine vision.

Kingstar is the largest software platform for machine vision and motion control. Kingstar empower engineers to integrate, design and develop the application.