Hardware, software, products, applications, motion control, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence updates provided for automation ecosystems. See photos, examples, videos.
Automation ecosystem insights
- Bosch Rexroth ctrlX Automation ecosystem has expanded number of partners, applications, hardware and software in an effort to make it easier to integrate and implement automation.
- Experts from Bosch Rexroth explained ctrlX updates in a media day presentation in November.
- Bosch Rexroth experts provide Control Engineering and Packaging OEM additional information and videos after the formal presentation.
Hardware, software, partnerships, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, motion control and edge applications were discussed by Bosch Rexroth experts at a media event to update capabilities related to the Bosch Rexroth operating system ctrlX OS. Control Engineering and Packaging OEM were among publications attending the automation ecosystem update. Bosch Rexroth calls its ctrlX OS a Linux-based, open operating system with its own ecosystem, available to third-party vendors, including competitors.
Third-generation Bosch Rexroth cabinet-free drives with one cable designs deliver control voltage, dc voltage and communications from the drive to the first motor in sequence, then from motor to motor, up to 100 units using line or star topology, as explained to Control Engineering by Joaquin Ocampo, drive product manager, Bosch Rexroth (left), and Dave Cameron, director of product management, automation and electrification solutions, Bosch Rexroth Corp. USA. Assembly cost savings of up to 90% can result. Courtesy: Mark T. Hoske, Control Engineering, WTWH Media
Among hardware advances are third-generation Bosch Rexroth one cable designs for motion control, where a hybrid cable delivers control voltage, dc voltage and communications from the drive to the first motor in sequence, then from motor to motor, up to 100 units using line or star topology, as explained to Control Engineering by Joaquin Ocampo, drive product manager, Bosch Rexroth (left), and Dave Cameron, director of product management, automation and electrification solutions, Bosch Rexroth Corp. USA. Cost savings for assembly is significant, “up to 90%,” as detailed in a short video.
Bosch Rexroth ctrlX FlowHS, with an expected second-quarter 2026 launch, offers multiple movers, modular configuration, accurate positioning, individual and flexible operation, single and double mover options, speed and acceleration of 5 m/s and 10 g, 48V power supply and other features unavailable in other track-based movers. The demonstration shown is not the final version of the motion system, said to operate more quietly. Courtesy: Mark T. Hoske, Control Engineering, WTWH Media
In another motion-control demonstration for Control Engineering, Bosch Rexroth ctrlX FlowHS is shown in a video clip. With an expected second-quarter 2026 launch, the high-speed transport offers multiple movers, modular configuration, accurate positioning, individual and flexible operation, single and double mover options, speed and acceleration of 5 m/s and 10 g, 48V power supply and features unavailable in other track-based movers, including faster movement and acceleration, mover pitch of 40 mm with 70N peak force, integration into the open ctrlX Automation platform, u-shaped (vertical) track configuration capability and easy attachments to the side rail, such as sensors. The demonstration is not the final version of the motion system, said to operate more quietly.
Automation ecosystem announcement summary
Among announcements were:
- Bosch Rexroth and Advantech combined modular industrial PCs and a secure, open operating system to create a turnkey edge platform, so that that Advantech’s UNO series of edge industrial PCs (IPCs) are supplied with the Rexroth operating system ctrlX OS and apps. The edge platform targets industrial internet of things (IioT) edge gateway and edge control applications. ctrlX OS was developed to be secure by design for industrial use and is prepared for the requirements of the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). The operating system is certified according to IEC 62443-4-2 Security Level 2 by TÜV Rheinland.
- SEW-Eurodrive, Emerson, and Schmersal are new Rexroth ctrlX World partners providing new hardware and software in the areas of drives, pneumatics, safety and programming and expanding the ctrlX OS Ecosystem with more than 110 providers.
- Bosch Rexroth is collaborating with others to help expand ctrlX Automation with more computing power and more AI functions, enhanced IPC, HMI and I/O, including scalable IPCs with an Nvidia 2000A GPU increase computing and image processing power for demanding vision and AI workloads at the edge. IPCs with integrated ctrlX OS are available. An optional AI module enables data to be processed and evaluated locally; ctrlX Coreplus adds computing power for AI and vision applications, and memory and storage capacity for local data handling and additional communication options.
- The ctrlX OS Store has new apps expanded with 23 new modules, for extended application options in automation and infrastructure. Apps number more than 80 total and more than 100 under development. Available applications include the new Security Scanner, which can conduct an machine inventory at the network level during acceptance to identify and address security status and potential attack vectors at an early stage.
More on Bosch Rexroth ctrlX Automation announcements
Other updates included Bosch Rexroth Hailo 8 M.2 AI Acceleration Module, 24 new CoDeSys libraries, 23 new I/O modules, IPCs with ctrlX OS and Nvidia GPU extensions for AI at the edge, compact, entry and mid-range HMI additions with twice the computing power in a more compact design, along with new ctrlX cabinet-free drives and compact drives offering energy and space savings. Third-party vision applications in the ctrlX platform use AI to bring easier set-up and increased accuracy to machine vision applications.
Advantech is among recent additions to the ctrlX OS Ecosystem. IoT gateways and edge platforms need to do more than transport data: They need to be secure, flexible and ready to use within a short timeframe. Many systems are difficult to scale or require long integration cycles. Bosch Rexroth and Advantech offer a turnkey platform for industrial applications offering. Customers benefit from the Bosch Rexroth ctrlX OS app-based operating system coupled with modular edge-computing hardware from Advantech for higher security and faster implementation of custom solutions than previously available.
Advantech Uno-series edge IPCs will be shipped from the factory with the Linux-based ctrlX OS and pre-installed apps from the ctrlX OS Store, such as a firewall, Node-RED, InfluxDB and IoT Dashboard. The app modules and hardware modules allow customers to configure IoT gateways quickly and easily.
Advantech hardware offers needs-based scaling of memory and storage, and the open software approach of ctrlX OS offers modular software functionality. Use cases include simple IoT gateways, sophisticated edge AI, and edge control applications.
The ctrlX OS Store allows end users or original equipment manufacturers to install and easily integrate ctrlX OS apps from Bosch Rexroth and ctrlX World partners and develop their own solutions. Add-ons are available for database connections, visualization and IIoT protocols.
Steffen Winkler, senior vice president sales, business unit automation and electrification solutions at Bosch Rexroth, described the Advantech partnership as a “prime example of co-creation in industrial digitalization.”
Jash Bansidhar, AVP IoT automation at Advantech, added, “The requirements in the industrial environment are changing rapidly. Shorter product life cycles and greater system complexity require flexible, scalable platforms. With our bundle, customers can quickly develop, adapt and implement new solutions. This reduces development work and accelerates time to market.”
Advantech said it can transfer data streams from the edge level into usable cloud services for end-to-end solutions with the Wise IoT Marketplace.
More on the automation software expansion
Bosch Rexroth said that ctrlX World, encompasses the automation system ctrlX Automation and the operating system ctrlX OS, continues to expand and add new partners, hardware, software and apps, including digital drive control, pneumatic solutions, machine safety and intuitive development environments.
The automation system includes controls, input/output (I/O) devices, IPCs, human-machine interfaces (HMIs), safety solutions, drives, motion, programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and IoT functionalities.
Winkler said, “Our partner world reflects the market, growing in line with the requirements of our customers. They benefit from greater choice, a shorter time to market and the possibility of mapping entire value chains end to end.”
Another motion control provider, SEW Eurodrive, added frequency converters and gear motors to the ctrlX OS Ecosystem. Further drives and an SEW Eurodrive app for the ctrlX OS Store are expected to follow. The future app will control drives according to the CiA standard (CAN in Automation), using the profile CiA 402, using a modern frontend.
This will give users more options for drive control and diagnostics. Multiple drives from SEW Eurodrive can be addressed centrally via hardware running ctrlX OS, making handling easier and increasing efficiency.
Emerson’s Aventics brand expands the ctrlX World with pneumatics and servo-electric handling. These include the IIoT-capable, modular AV valve system, which can be connected to ctrlX OS. Users can control valve functions, use intelligent I/O capabilities and analyze diagnostic data in detail helping with transparent, efficient processes.
Emerson plans to integrate Aventics servo-electric handling systems into the ctrlX OS Ecosystem. This will enable users to control movement sequences precisely, carry out targeted diagnostics and achieve greater efficiency and flexibility in automated applications.
Schmersal, the first pure provider of safety solutions in the partner network ctrlX World. The Safety Fieldbox from Schmersal enables simple, decentralized connection of up to eight safety devices such as sensors, tumblers, light curtains or emergency stop buttons via pre-assembled 8-pin M12 connectors – which reduces the wiring required as well as errors.
The Safety Fieldbox communicates seamlessly with the control system ctrlX Safety via Safety over EtherCAT (FSoE) or with ctrlX OS devices using the new Safety PLC app. This enables ctrlX OS-based machine solutions and easy installation and commissioning of safety components.
“We now have over 110 providers in ctrlX World. For our customers, this means they can combine automation solutions even more freely, scale them more quickly and bring innovations directly to industry,” Winkler said.
Solution sets combine optimally coordinated hardware and software components, thereby reducing integration risks and project runtimes. An example is the solution set “Mobile Robots.” It combines control, I/O modules and laser-based localization software that positions mobile robots and manual forklift trucks. Goal is to dramatically accelerate time to value, based on typical use cases.
AI assistance for engineering, support
In addition to hardware and software functions, Bosch Rexroth is also expanding the services that accompany ctrlX Automation. An AI virtual assistant, “Ask iXi,” first shown at the SPS 2025 trade fair, is integrated into the website and the ctrlX Works engineering tool. It answers questions about products, functions and documentation around the clock, and supports users with decisions and day-to-day engineering tasks.
“With Ask iXi, our customers now have a digital co-pilot by their side to help save time and to provide all the knowledge of our platform right when it is needed,” said Winkler. “New AI apps are constantly being added to the ctrlX OS Ecosystem. We are integrating artificial intelligence at all levels of automation, from configuration through to implementation.”
Bosch Rexroth provides automation hardware, software and services to mobile, industrial and factory automation markets with of drive and control technologies for motion control, machines and systems.
Edited by Mark T. Hoske, editor-in-chief, Control Engineering, WTWH Media, [email protected] with information from interviews, media event and press releases.
Keywords
Automation ecosystem, interoperable control software, automation optimization
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