The standardized SRCI data interface (Standard Robot Command Interface), whose development, expansion and maintenance were taken on by PI (PROFIBUS & PROFINET International), forms the basis for easier robot use and therefore more flexible production. Users need considerably less detailed knowledge about the respective robot manufacturer, handling and the functional scope of the hand-held robot control unit. 

The implementation process for robot manufacturers just became even easier thanks to the SRCI-SDK (software development kit). This is a toolbox for robot manufacturers which simplifies—and therefore significantly accelerates—the development of an SRCI interpreter. Developers are able to pick out the functions they need from this development kit, just like in a modular system, and then assemble and test them depending on the planned interpreter functionality. 

“The aim is to make the interpreter implementation of SRCI as simple as possible,” explains Markus Leopold, SRCI Working Group at PI. “With the new development kit, the development effort is reduced by more than half, as the SRCI functions only need to be linked to the firmware functions.” The latest version of the SRCI-SDK has been further developed, optimized and already tested in practice in collaboration with the robot manufacturers Kuka and Stäubli. Version 1.0 is ready for use and is already being used by other robot manufacturers. The development of the SRCI-SDK will be continued so that all SRCI functions can be supported in the future.

Several innovations have also been made with regard to the interface itself. In the current version, new functions have been implemented, feedback from the market has been taken into account and further optimizations have been made. For example, logging and diagnostic mechanisms have been significantly improved and further developed in the current valid version (V1.5). As multiple cobot manufacturers came on board over the past year, several cobot-specific improvements were also made. Other changes were made based on feedback from users needing specific functions, for example to make robot manufacturer-specific safety applications possible. The SRCI now offers more than 126 robot functions ranging from simple traversal commands (e. g. linear movements) to more complex commands like force control. 

In the meantime, around 30 members (PLC and robot manufacturers) are collaborating in the working group, and by now, eight manufacturers have introduced products with the SRCI data interface to the market. More products from other manufacturers are also expected.