FANUC Partners with Cisco, Rockwell, Preferred Networks

FANUC_LogoFANUC CORPORATION has collaborated with Cisco, Rockwell Automation, and Preferred Networks. The companies will use FANUC Intelligent Edge Link and Drive (FIELD) system, a platform that connects not only computer numerical control machines (CNCs) and robots, but also peripheral devices and sensors.

By working with Cisco, Rockwell Automation, and Preferred Networks – FANUC will offer a complete solution including network and compute infrastructure, applications, and an enabling middleware platform. Application developers, sensor and peripheral device makers, system integrators can build solutions with this open platform.

The companies are working together to implement systems for automotive manufacturers by leveraging the Allen-Bradley Stratix Ethernet switches from Rockwell Automation to connect robots to a Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) – all of this running on FANUC and Cisco’s ZDT Data Collection software.

Intelligent Manufacturing

FANUC and Preferred Networks have established these new technologies for applications such as Bin Picking robots, anomaly detection, and failure prediction. The FIELD system combines both artificial intelligence and edge-computing technologies – enabling distributed learning. Data is generated from robots and machines and is processed in real time at the edge of the network.

Who provides What for the FIELD System?

FANUC: Provides CNCs and robots with embedded sensors to track key variables required to improve machine reliability, quality, and speed.

FANUC, Cisco and Preferred Networks : Provides enabling middleware Platform Software, as well as security and application lifecycle management applications. It will also leverage Preferred Networks’ open deep learning framework (Chainer), IoT Stream Engine (SensorBee) within its Deep Intelligence in-Motion (DIMo) platform.

Cisco and Rockwell Automation : Provides networking, compute and security infrastructure to connect the robots, CNCs, and other cell equipment to the FIELD applications. Based on the Rockwell Automation and Cisco collaboratively developed Converged Plantwide Ethernet (CPwE) architecture.

FANUC, Rockwell Automation and Preferred Networks : Delivers the initial application software on top of the FIELD middleware and infrastructure platform. This will extend the LINK-i and ZDT applications currently deployed, along with additional deep learning applications from the FANUC and Preferred Networks partnership. It is planned that Rockwell Automation manufacturing software products (including FactoryTalk View, FactoryTalk VantagePoint, and FactoryTalk Production Center) will seamlessly integrate with the FIELD system to speed deployment.

For more information about Cisco, please go to http://thenetwork.cisco.com.

About FANUC CORPORATION

FANUC CORPORATION, headquartered at the foot of Mt. Fuji, Japan, is the manufacturer of Factory Automation, Robots and ROBOMACHINE. It has 252 offices in 46 countries.

For more information, visit http://www.fanuc.co.jp/eindex.htm.

About Preferred Networks

Preferred Networks Inc. (PFN) is a Tokyo-based startup focusing on applications of  artificial intelligence technologies to emerging problems in the Internet of Things (IoT). PFN develops software related to deep learning and IoT, and provides Deep Intelligence in-Motion solutions.

For more information, please visit www.preferred-networks.jp.

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