Universal Robots has become one of the first collaborative robot manufacturers to fully integrate the Standard Robot Command Interface (SRCI) into its software platform. This breakthrough enables seamless connectivity between UR’s cobots and Siemens PLCs, currently the only programmable logic controllers supporting the new industry standard. The implementation promises to dramatically simplify automation deployments for manufacturers using Siemens-based production systems.
Streamlining Industrial Automation Integration
The SRCI adoption addresses a critical pain point in industrial automation by creating a uniform cross-manufacturer interface. UR’s implementation standardizes robot commands and definitions when working with Siemens controllers, eliminating complex programming workarounds. “This integration means our customers can deploy cobots into Siemens environments with unprecedented speed and simplicity,” said Daniel Friedman, UR’s Global Director of Strategic Partnerships.
Siemens Partnership Accelerates Cobot Adoption
Siemens executives welcomed the development as a significant step toward democratizing industrial robotics. “SRCI compatibility allows our Simatic users to program UR cobots using familiar PLC workflows,” noted Rolf Heinsohn, Siemens’ Factory Automation SVP. The collaboration specifically targets small-to-medium manufacturers seeking to automate without specialized robotics expertise, aligning with both companies’ mission to broaden automation accessibility.
Available Across UR’s Product Portfolio
The SRCI interface supports UR’s entire e-Series cobot family along with next-generation UR20 and UR30 models. Manufacturers can activate the functionality through PolyScope software version 5.15 or higher via a dedicated URcap add-on. This wide compatibility ensures facilities can standardize on SRCI across diverse cobot applications, from machine tending to assembly operations.
Transforming Cobot Implementation Economics
By eliminating proprietary communication protocols, the SRCI integration potentially reduces automation project engineering costs and deployment timelines. The development marks a strategic shift in industrial robotics toward plug-and-play interoperability, particularly beneficial for manufacturers running mixed-fleet automation environments. As more PLC vendors adopt SRCI, UR’s early implementation positions its cobots as preferred solutions for standardized automation ecosystems.
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