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Automation promises a future where robots can work around the clock, seven days a week, without tiring, but unexpected downtime still prevents that future from being realized, according to Festo Corp. The company this week introduced the Festo AX Motion Insights platform, which it said can reduce unplanned downtime in robotics.
Festo manufactures pneumatic and electromechanical systems, components, and controls for process and industrial automation. The Esslingen am Neckar, Germany-based company has subsidiaries in more than 60 countries, and a wide-ranging 36,000-product catalog.
Its new platform combines AI-based predictive analytics with maintenance workflows. Festo said it can reduce unplanned downtime across conveyors, sortation systems, palletizers, gantry robots, and other material-handling equipment.
Festo AX provides predictive maintenance
Festo said the new platform works with its existing software lineup. Festo AX Motion Insights Electric software monitors servo drives and electric axes. AX Motion Insights Pneumatic software provides condition monitoring for pneumatic cylinders.
AX Data Access serves as the data layer that makes operational technology (OT) data available for information technology (IT) analysis and integration. Together, Festo said the platforms enable fulfillment centers to scale predictive maintenance capabilities as needed rather than committing to a single, monolithic software rollout.
Festo added that its platform provides flexible deployment options that support on-premises and cloud-based environments. This allows fulfillment and distribution centers to align predictive maintenance with existing requirements while maintaining control over how and where data is collected and used.
Motion Insights looks for problems, takes action
Motion Insights identifies where problems are likely to occur. Smartenance AX is the link to action. Festo said its software turns predictive insights into planned maintenance by directing crews to the most likely point of failure instead of reacting after a machine stops.
Smartenance AX combines asset tracking, maintenance planning, and a digital machine logbook, allowing condition data from Motion Insights to trigger targeted maintenance tasks.
Motion Insights can also be integrated with other management systems, allowing condition data to inform existing workflows where customers prefer to keep their current platforms.
AX Motion Insights Pneumatic provides universal condition monitoring for pneumatic cylinders from all manufacturers without requiring additional sensors, hardware changes, or mechanical modifications.
The software detects anomalies and performance drift in pneumatic motion. It can identify not only impending failures, but also underperformance that can lead to inconsistent handling, increased air consumption, and throughput loss.
AX Data Access connects automation systems to enterprise IT environments by making operational data available for analysis beyond the control layer. By bridging OT and IT, Festo said AX Data enables fulfillment centers to correlate motion performance, maintenance activity, and energy use with broader operational metrics.
AX Motion Insights designed to scale
AX Motion Insights software is scalable by design, according to Festo. Machine builders and system integrators purchase licenses only for the functions and assets they need, with the ability to expand coverage over time as automation requirements evolve.
They can incorporate AX motion insights software into their after-sales support contracts as a value-added service for their customers.
AX Motion Insights Electric integrates directly with Festo CMMT multiprotocol servo drives and electric axes used throughout fulfillment center automation systems. Festo multiprotocol servo drives are compatible with the leading industrial communication protocols, allowing a single drive platform to operate across mixed PLC and network environments.
This simplifies standardization, reduces hardware variation in inventory, and helps system integrators commission and support automation systems more efficiently, Festo claimed. The company plans to include support for additional brands of servo drives and axes.