Help communication problem, I am new

huiyi1990

Help communication problem.

I would like to use PC to control ABB robot. I have the location numbers (X,Y,Z) to control the end effector of the ABB robot.

Right now, I don't know how to set up connection between PC and ABB robot.

I have use cable to connect PC and use robot studio online to revise the rapid program. But I can't revise the data in rapid program when the robot is running.

Question: Can I real time change the value in rapid program on robotstudio online ?

or I have to send up some kind of connection to finish the task ??

John Wiberg

Hi huiyi1990,

There are a couple of levels when answering a question like this.

1) If all you want to do is reach the RAPID data on the controller using RobotStudio user interface, then you can

use the RAPID Watch window.

Using the RAPID Watch window you can 'watch' and edit whatever RAPID data you want (within reason of course).

But I don't think that is what you want. Which brings us to the next level.

2) There are multiple ways to communicate with an ABB robot especially if what you want to transfer is XYZ

coordinates and then use them. Here is a list of some of them (but not all):
-Analog IO
Setting up hardware or SIM signals then using RAPID code like ISignalAI to update data.
-File transfer (FTP/NFS/etc)
Sending a file with the XYZ pos then catching and updating in RAPID
-Socket Messaging
Sending data using Socket Messaging. Need to develop a program on the PC side and lots of RAPID to catch the back-and-forth.
-IRC5 OPC Server
This is relatively easy. You install the server from the RobotStudio/RobotWare DVD. Then find a 3rd party OPC client. Define the data to subscribe to and write some program that connects the data to the OPC client. (Don't have a link right now but the manuals etc will be on Developer Center soon).

There are many more.
If you'd like I could go into details but I'm going to guess that you are a student. Then all of the above requires setup and coding. Which leads me to the next level.

3) Developer Center > PC SDK
Which is what I recommend since it will probably be the easiest for you since most of the above will require something on the PC side anyway.
With the PC SDK you use Microsoft Visual Studio and create applications for robot communication. This is what most do when they get position data from a PC.
If that sounds like an acceptable way out then head over to
http://developercenter.robotstudio.com/DevCenter.aspx?DevCenter=RobotCommunication
and start with Getting Started.

Here is an old RAPID read/write sample I threw together a while back, its 5.14 refernces but if you run it vs a virtual controller in RS it will.

=John

huiyi1990

Thanks so much for your help. I am a graduate student right now! I would like to do something to remote control the robot.

My new problem has upload http://forums.robotstudio.com/discussion/comment/23030/#Comment_23030

Please help me if it's Ok for you.

Thanks sooooo much