Realtime Robotics Inc., which provides motion planning for industrial robots and autonomous vehicles, today announced a strategic partnership with Siemens’ Digital Industries Software division. Realtime said its technology is being integrated into Tecnomatix Process Simulate to simplify robot programming and workcell coordination.

Boston-based Realtime Robotics has developed a specialized processor to generate safe motion plans in milliseconds. This enables robots to function together in unstructured and collaborative workspaces, as well as immediately react to dynamic obstructions when changes are perceived, said Realtime.

The companies said their partnership enables manufacturers and integrators to easily program, simulate, and validate automation, significantly simplifying the digital commissioning process.

Tecnomatix intended to ease multi-robot deployments

Currently, multi-robot workcells take prohibitive amounts of calendar and scarce engineering time in the simulation phase before going to production. Once deployed, they are inflexible, requiring significant re-programming for every modification. This has made multi-robot workcells cost-prohibitive for all but the most stable high-volume manufacturing.

Siemens‘ Tecnomatix Process Simulate, coupled with the RapidPlan software and Realtime Controller, which was released in April, can significantly simplifies the programming of automated robotic processes, said Realtime Robotics. As a result, the time to deploy and adapt to changes, both during simulation and on the shop floor, is reduced, it claimed. The integrated technology eliminates the need to enter teach points and to create and manage interference zones.

Joint customer proofs of concept demonstrated programming cycle-time reductions of more than 70%, enabling quicker, more robust deployments, said Realtime and Siemens.

“We are excited to announce our collaboration with Siemens,” stated Peter Howard, CEO of Realtime Robotics. “Our combined solution provides manufacturers with the flexibility and efficiency they have been clamoring for to expand the deployment of industrial automation. Together, we will accelerate the pace of automation.”

“Our partnership with Realtime Robotics reflects a paradigm shift in the way robotic applications are programmed and deployed,” said Zvi Feuer, senior vice president of manufacturing engineering software at Siemens Digital Industries Software. “Together, we have created a unique value proposition that will open up a world of possibilities for robotic automation.”