Omron’s Innovation Lab (Ilab) has recently turned into the stage of the automation of the future. A day dedicated to live demos has on display the most advanced technologies and unpublished solutions, highlighting the crucial role that robotics and artificial intelligence play in the redefinition of industrial production.
The event, entitled “such as artificial vision and automation playback are revolutionizing industrial processes”, has highlighted the importance of production flexibility. Through the exposure of collaborative robots and advanced vision systems, Omron has shown that the latest product releases contribute to significantly improve the efficiency and quality of the production processes.
The event had four main themes: the evolution of automation technologies, innovations in vision and sensor, the progress of robotics and the new frontiers of smart maintenance. These topics offered a complete overview of the ability and potential of modern automation.
The growing interoperability between man and machines, and among the machines themselves, marks one of the most revolutionary tendencies in the field of automation. The use of the Packml library and the OPC UA information model by Omron enables safe and reliable communication, fundamental for production efficiency.
The evolution of intelligent and predictive maintenance, through Data-Driven automation, was highlighted by the automation playback function of the NX5 controller. This technology allows technicians to record and store data in real time, providing a powerful analysis tool for verifying anomalies.
Intelligent production environments require adaptive control systems capable of dynamically responding to changing conditions. Among the technologies on display, the 3D laser and the ia rooms of Omron represent the summit of innovation, guaranteeing unprecedented precision and adaptability. In addition, Omron’s Cobot TM series continues to evolve, now offering improved precision and new safety standards.
Adnkronos Tech & Games asked some questions To Dario Simontacchi, Omron’s Robotic Team Coordinator
What are the current trends in industrial robotics that are having the greatest impact on Omron and how you develop your solutions?
“One of the most relevant trends is The growth of collaborative robots, on which Omron pointed thanks to the strategic partnership with Techman Robotics. This allows us to develop advanced solutions that integrate cobots with our SYSMAC automation platform and with the rest of the robotic range, creating completely interconnected systems.
A concrete example is represented by the manipulator furniture (MOMA), which combine Amr, Cobot and 2D or 3D artificial vision. The Moma are gaining an increasingly broad market niche, as they offer unique flexibility: they become real self -propelled automatic machines, capable of moving to the area where they are needed, at the right time, and adapting to the specific operational needs. A particularly interesting development application concerns the automatic inspection of machines in the pharmis sector during production changes, an area in which precision and timeliness are crucial. “
Dario Simontacchi, Omron’s Robotic Team Coordinator
Can a recent robotics project on which Omron has worked on which represented a particular challenge or did you introduce new significant technologies?
“One of the most interesting projects concerned an application of pick and place with our four parallel robots, equipped with 4 arms, a unique feature compared to the canonical robots delta with 3 arms. This project has highlighted the value of the integration , a key element in Omron solutions.
We have developed a PLC -based workload distribution algorithm with robot control functionality. This algorithm, designed locally in Italy, responds to specific market demands and allows extremely efficient management of processes. In addition, we use a movement control and a personalized trajectory generator, which implements optimized motorcycle laws. These solutions have allowed us to significantly reduce the cycle times of robots, keeping energy consumption at the same time and decreasing the wear of the engines, with a positive impact also on maintenance. “
How is Omron integrating artificial intelligence into its robotic solutions and what benefits have you observed or expected to observe with this integration?
“In 2024, Omron started a strategic partnership with Neura Robotics for the development of a new generation of cognitive robots, represented by the Omron ICR (Intelligent Cognitive Robot) series. These robots, derived from the NEURA ROBOTICS majira line, combine artificial intelligence, Integrated sensors and an advanced control platform to offer a revolutionary solution in industrial automation. Intuitive user interface and a robust security architecture. Picking presented at the 2024 Automate in Chicago, which shows how these technologies are able to redefine the efficiency of the production processes. The programming of complex operations, such as assembly, is extremely simplified: for example, the teaching of the injugation of an edge can be carried out by simply indicating the edge to be followed with your finger.
These products are still in the study phase and will be released soon, but already today show the potential to break down the barriers of use, opening new application possibilities in various sectors. Cognitive robots are able to anticipate human actions, recognize people safely and act independently, making automation more and more intuitive and accessible. “

How do you adapt OMRON to the increasingly personalized requests than its customers in the robotic solutions sector?
Omron stands out for the local technical support service, developed in Italy by a highly qualified team of technicians with diversified skills. This service is divided into three levels of experience, offering assistance that ranges from technical advice to direct collaboration with our research and global development. This synergy allows us to be close to the customer at the same time and to provide innovative and personalized solutions.
Our support covers a broad spectrum of activity: from the feasibility tests for the preales, to the operator’s safety consultancy, up to the development of software bookcases and complete solutions. The latter are designed to meet the specific needs of machines and system integrators manufacturers. A central role in our approach is played by InnovationLab, our laboratory located in Italy, which represents a point of reference for the Pregeales. Here, customers can see our technologies in action and test their potential for their projects. Among the complete solutions, a significant example is the hypoallet, the ballot with collaborative robot. This system not only simplifies the dribble process, but also offers modular software that customers can use as a basis for developing customized machines. This approach allows us to provide scalable solutions ready to meet the increasingly specific requests on the market.
What is the importance of continuous training for a Robotic Solution Specialist in Omron and how to keep up to date with the latest technologies and methodologies?
In the technological issues I deal with, continuous training is an essential aspect, as well as having solid previous technical bases. Being updated is not only a requirement to keep up with the evolution of technologies, but it is a necessity to anticipate and respond effectively to the needs of a sector in rapid transformation.My position places me in a strategic point, acting as an interface among the highly specialized figures of our European offices, such as the Automation Technology Center (ATC) of Barcelona, and customers on the field. This role allows me to maintain a unique overall vision: on the one hand, I understand future technological trends and what is developing in the panorama of Omron; on the other, I remain in constant contact with the pragmatic and often challenging requests of our customers.
This combination of innovation and daily reality is a great opportunity: it allows me to continuously update myself, help customers to make the most of our technologies and contribute, through concrete feedback, to orienting research and development activities towards the real needs of the market Italian. The latter is known to be particularly demanding, and this makes our work even more stimulating and full of growth ideas.
What is your vision on the future of robotics in industry and what innovations do you hope to see or help develop in the coming years?
“In the future of robotics, we see two main trends of innovation. The first concerns the evolution of robotics as consumer technology. The average time of development of applications has significantly shortened, and to remain sustainable, especially in the simplest applications, it is It is essential to simplify development.
With the advent of collaborative robots, scheduled with Flow Chart languages, we have taken this path, as well as with Amr, which offer graphic and intuitive environments. In addition, the programming of the production lines with Wizard-based software and 3D simulation have become increasingly accessible tools. Cognitive robots represent the next step in this evolution. The diffusion of generative artificial intelligence will further contribute to reducing development times. I also believe that a key step will be the introduction of standardized programming languages for all brands, as happened with the IEC61131 for PLC, perhaps exploiting advanced languages such as Python, which will however require optimization work to improve its reliability And stability.
The second trend concerns the growing use of cloud resources for the supervision and diagnostics of robots. In addition to collecting information on the state of the various components of the robots and to analyze them through artificial intelligence algorithms to identify anomalies or calculate the consumption of the parts, allowing predictive maintenance, There is a growing request for safe communications between devices. This has now become not only a need for the market, but a provincial standard. We are working to implement solutions that guarantee the security of communication between robots and cloud systems, so as to comply with the regulations and guarantee the integrity of the data.
This approach will not only improve the efficiency of production processes, but will also contribute to making the use of robotics more reliable and sustainable in the long term. “