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Skip Navigation LinksHome > Case studies > Phoenix Contact KUKA Roboter

Phoenix Contact KUKA Roboter

German Embedded Device Manufacturer Creates Cost-Effective PC-based Control

Business Situation

The organisation wanted to build a soft programmable logic controller (PLC) for automating processes thatdelivered hard real-time performance and a graphical user interface (GUI).

Phoenix Contact, based in Germany, wanted to develop a non-proprietary soft programmable logic controller(PLC) that automated the monitoring and control of industrial processes. The solution needed a softwareenvironment that delivered hard, real-time performance and a user-friendly, rich interface. Using Microsoft�Windows� CE .NET 4.2 as the operating system with Windows XP Professional, Phoenix Contact found the idealtechnology. Delivered as part of a single solution called CeWin 3.3, from KUKA Roboter GmbH, the softwareenvironment is providing stable, real-time capability and a convenient interface on a single CPU. For PhoenixContact, development time for the new soft PLC is extremely cost-efficient as developers can customise anddebug the environment faster using the robust developer tools provided.

Solution

Phoenix Contact used Microsoft� Windows� CE .NET 4.2 as the core operating system for the new PLC solutionand delivered real-time capability and a convenient interface.

Benefits

  • Reduces hardware costs and delivers reliable real-time performance
  • Faster time to market with robust developer tools
  • Rapid debugging from source-code availability
  • Maintenance and support during product lifecycle

Phoenix Contact plans to release a version to the soft PLC to market in 2007. Itwill be part of Phoenix Contact’s AUTOMATIONWORX solution, which providesan infrastructure for starting up and operating automated processes within anindustrial environment.

By using Windows CE, Phoenix Contact is helping drive innovation amongsolution providers in the industrial automation space. The organisation hasgained an environment that supports real-time performance and rapiddevelopment tools to create intelligent devices with superior cost-efficiencies.

Phoenix Contact engaged KUKA Roboter GmbH, which had worked with themanufacturer in the past on building automation solutions. Jeschin recalls:�KUKA Roboter GmbH already understood our business needs. It was responsiveto our demands for a control system that operated in a PC environment, anddelivered hard real-time performance with a rich graphical user interface (GUI).�

KUKA Roboter GmbH proposed using its CeWin 3.3 software solution toimplement Windows CE .NET 4.2 on the Intel Pentium M processor. By usingCeWin 3.3, the processor could support both Windows CE and Windows XPProfessional without any modification to either operating system. This hadclear business advantages, giving the soft PLC a familiar GUI that is used andtrusted worldwide, and with the real-time performance of Windows CE.

In July 2005, KUKA Roboter GmbH delivered the processorcomplete with Windows CE .NET 4.2 as the operatingsystem on an Intel Pentium M processor and Windows XPProfessional as the GUI. Phoenix Contact then began tocustomise the software environment and develop the softPLC applications.