Testing and validation procedure of Communication between an Industrial Robot Controller and a PLC via SLMP IoT Protocol

Introduction: One of the main challenges of Industry 4.0 is ensuring effective communication between different automation systems, such as industrial robots and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). This work presents a validation test procedure for communication between an industrial robot controller and a PLC using a Seamless Message Protocol (SLMP) IoT protocol, addressing the critical need for seamless integration in modern manufacturing environments.

Methods: The proposed solution uses TCP/IP sockets in conjunction with the SLMP protocol, developed by the CC-Link Partner Association, which enables communication between industrial devices using conventional Ethernet networks. The implementation was carried out in the RAPID language, specifically designed for industrial robot programming. Systematic validation tests were conducted to evaluate communication performance, measuring success rate, average response time, and potential communication errors across multiple test cycles.

Results: The experimental validation demonstrated exceptional performance with a 100% success rate and an average response time of 11.3 ms over 100 consecutive test cycles. No communication errors were detected during the entire testing period, indicating robust and reliable data exchange between the robot controller and PLC.

Conclusions: The results confirm the viability and efficiency of the proposed SLMP-based solution for applications in industrial environments that require integration of different automation equipment, providing a reliable foundation for Industry 4.0 implementations