12/08/2008

Soloist Software Release 2.52 features enhanced MODBUS TCP and MODBUS RTU interface, HLe controllers support, and backlash compensation.

Soloist Software Release 2.52:

• Improved access to global variables enhances programmability by treating the registers as a program variable

• Enhanced MODBUS TCP and MODBUS RTU interface for simplified programming

• Support for HLe controllers

• Backlash compensation for smoother reversals

For more information, Contact us.

10/06/2008

Soloist Software Release 2.51 features Microsoft Windows Vista support, loop transmission, loop shaping and frequency-based auto-tuning.

Soloist Software Release 2.51:

• Microsoft Windows Vista Support

• Loop Transmission provides powerful tools to increase your system performance.

• Loop Shaping provides tools to graphically drag the Bode plot and automatically calculate the appropriate gains and filters to achieve the desired response.

• Frequency-based auto-tuning automatically determines the resonant structures in the electromechanical system based on the loop transmission, calculates the appropriate notch filters and adds them to the parameter file.

• Motion Designer allows user to graphically create trajectories, compare multiple trials and auto generate a program for the trajectory that runs on the Soloist.

For more information, Contact us.

05/30/2008

Soloist-compatible Motion Designer software package generates, imports, evaluates, and optimizes motion profiles.

Aerotech’s Motion Designer is an easy to use software GUI for generating or importing motion trajectories, and running and then evaluating the trajectory.

These functions typically require hours of programming and debugging to implement. Based on Aerotech’s award-winning motion controllers, Motion Designer simplifies motion profile programming while providing important additional capabilities. Motion Designer allows customers the ability to fabricate and run a simulated trajectory by generating position, velocity, acceleration, and time profile points, and download them to the motion controller. It has a number of waveform tools for easy waveform generation, even allowing multiple waveforms to be linked or blended together.

For more information, Contact us.

07/02/2007

Software Release 2.06 is now available. This release adds support for the Soloist CL drive, LabVIEW 8.2, and echo out Auxiliary Encoder signals on the MP.

LabVIEW 8.2 provides the user with the flexibility of using the latest technology from National Instruments combined with the power of the Soloist. 60 VI's are included with the –LAB option for rapid development of the program and user interface. Many applications require cost effective but powerful line follower. The Soloist MP provides the identical robust and full-featured programming environment as the Soloist CP while now minimizing wiring, by echoing out the encoder signals (SIN and COS), on connector J201. Maximum clock frequency is 40 MHz. For very high accuracy motion systems use the Soloist CL, a compact linear drive with 10 amps at 80 volts or 20 amps at 40 volts. The linear drives are particularly useful when the motion trajectory has many zero crossings since the linear drive has zero distortion through the zero crossover. The Soloist CL was designed with panel space in mind, as this is the smallest footprint linear drive Aerotech offers. The Soloist CL runs the identical Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and Graphical User Interface (GUI) as the other Soloist family members. Therefore, all the programs written for the Soloist CP and MP will run directly on the CL without change.

For more information, Contact us.

02/26/2007

Soloist now supports absolute encoder ENDAT 2.2 protocol.

Soloist now supports absolute encoder ENDAT 2.2 protocol. Absolute encoder support has been added for applications that require position on startup to minimize startup time by eliminating home cycles or to ensure critical spacing at startup. The ENDAT 2.2 protocol is a standard supported by many encoder manufacturers, thereby extending Soloist flexibility. ENDAT 2.2 support is an optional feature of the Soloist that should be discussed with an Aerotech Application Engineer prior to ordering. Soloist Release 2.05 includes hardware updates for the Soloist MP as well as updates to the AeroBASIC programming language. Again increasing the flexibility and capabilities of the Soloist family, Soloist MP gives the designer the option to use a smaller, more compact controller with all the power of the Soloist software environment. See the Soloist MP description for more information. The Soloist MP firmware includes critical updates related to current feedback. These updates continue to increase the servoing capabilities of the Soloist. The AeroBASIC programming language has also been updated to clarify the use of an INCLUDE statement as well as allow the reading of any string parameter. Aerotech continues to increase the flexibility and power of the AeroBASIC language to use the latest in contemporary programming constructs. Refer to the programming help file for more detail, Contact us.

08/10/2006

In an effort to make the Soloist run as fast as possible, all of the mathematical methods run through a user program that's been optimized for the Soloist's DSP.

In an effort to make the Soloist run as fast as possible, all of the mathematical methods run through a user program that's been optimized for the Soloist’s DSP. Two double parameters, two integer parameters, and two string parameters have been added to allow users the ability to store their own data along with all of the system parameters. For those customers with the -PLUS option, we have added support for motors with Absolute Encoders. Currently, the only supported absolute encoder protocol is EnDat 2.2, Contact us.

03/25/2006

The two UDP and two TCP/IP sockets added to the Aerobasic programming language allow the user to develop their own custom low level protocol to any Ethernet enabled device. Devices such as these include touch screen displays, embedded control cards, or any program running on a Linux operating system. The support for LabVIEW on the Soloist platform has increased considerably to include separate installations of the VI’s for 7.0, 7.1, and 8.0. This guarantees that regardless of which version of the LabVIEW you are using the Soloist will provide a collection of VI’s tailored for that version. Sample programs demonstrating how to design the Soloist as a MODBUS slave have been added to the installation. Using these examples will save development time and bring your MODBUS application up and running with less errors. The latest version of the Aerobasic compiler has been optimized for speed so developing programs is quick and simple. The Soloist now implements step up, step down control. This is similar to clock and direction except one line is the clock for moving clockwise and the other line is the clock for moving counter clockwise, Contact us.

01/16/2006

Two new parameters have been added to allow the user to setup offsets for the Analog inputs on both port 1 and port 2. This allows users to more finely tune their external devices. The installation has also been updated to read the product key if you are upgrading the software. This means you no longer need to search for you product key or original installation disks to upgrade the software, Contact us.

12/14/2005

Release 2.01 supports the newest Soloist family member - Soloist MP. The Soloist MP is compact form factor with the many of the same features as the Soloist CP. The Soloist MP offers cost effective, high performance control to your application. Soloist MP uses the identical programming language, development environment.

The Soloist MP is a 10 Amp peak / 5 Amp RMS with input power 24 to 80 VDC. The Soloist MP like the CP has an Ethernet interface for programming or networking as a single or multi-axis controller. At only 157 mm X 107 mm X 41 mm the MP features includes MXU multiplication, PSO, axis calibration, dedicated Estop, RS232 and standard dedicated I/O such as encoder feedback, halls and limits. With I/O expansion board the Soloist has 8 digital in, 8 digital output, two 12 bit analog input, one 16 bit analog output, 1/2 amp brake relay on expansion I/O board. Based on customer feedback, the GUI and Configuration Manager have again been refined to be more user-friendly . The Loader has been upgraded for Soloist MP support and the Help file now supports Intellisense, Contact us.

10/14/2005

Soloist 2.0 is released. Faster data collection, Windows®-like network setup, simplified program initialization, enhanced debugging features, and redesigned USB interface make the Soloist the fastest, easiest, and most cost-effective motion control solution on the market.

Data collection has been increased 10-fold over Ethernet and 4-fold over USB. The network setup through the Configuration Manager has been made to function identically to that of Windows®. Program variable values can be collected while the program is running instead of just when it is stopped. A program can be set up to run stand-alone with just a few mouse clicks. Additional parameter wizards and parameter comparison make setup times even shorter. The ability to give each Soloist a unique name allows for quick and easy network identification of systems. The USB interface is completely plug and play having eliminated the annoying interference of Windows® when the Soloist is shut down or the connection is lost. For more information on why the Soloist 2.0 software is a must have for everyone needing a motion control solution, Contact us.

10/07/2005

Soloist MSC option allows for multiple Soloist control from any user-developed application. Control multiple Soloists without the need for the IDE.

The Soloist is now available with multiple axis control from a custom application without the need of purchasing the IDE. This allows LabVIEW®, C++, and .NET developers who don’t need the debugging features and customization of the IDE to control multiple Soloists. For more information on how to get the Soloist MSC, Contact us.

09/30/2005

The standard Modbus over TCP/IP interface is redesigned for higher speed operation from any operating system or PLC.

The Soloist can act as a Modbus master or a Modbus slave. As a slave, the Soloist can replace legacy amplifiers that interfaced with a PLC over Modbus. The industry standard compliance ensures that the Soloist can communicate with Modbus implementation. Using Modbus, a system can be enhanced with digital feedback and fault handling without redeveloping the control interface. This can enhance the stability of a system without the cost of a major redesign. For more information on how this can help drive down your system cost, Contact us.

09/16/2005

Improved C++ and .NET libraries make controlling the Soloist from a PC simple and straightforward.

This redesigned library structure allows for shorter development time, driving down time to market. With the addition of the Control Center, real-time data collection is as simple as enabling a control and reading a variable. The Soloist can now raise events in your application, eliminating the need for polling. The simplified layout of the library help file makes developing your application faster and easier. Spend less time digging for information and more time coding. For more information on how the Soloist libraries are right for you, Contact us.

08/22/2005

Soloist-to-Soloist data sharing over Ethernet allows communication from drive-to-drive for multi-axis control.

Multiple Soloists can now share sections of their memory space via Ethernet. Through parameter setup each Soloist can be given a section of memory to share and a section to read from other Soloists. A customizable update rate makes this ideal for any application. A group of Soloists can now coordinate motion without the use of a PC. For more information on how this can help drive down your system cost, Contact us.

07/20/2005

DHCP support is added to the Soloist for making Ethernet setup even easier.

The Soloist can now connect to a DHCP server to get an IP address automatically, the same as any other computer on a corporate network. Using this feature makes connecting the Soloist on your network as easy as finding a printer or a server. For more details on how this functionality can help your system setup, Contact us.

06/13/2005

The IDE software package now includes enhanced debugging features that reduce development time.

While developing an AeroBasic program, the user can now set a breakpoint on any line to stop the program at a precise location. This makes finding those obscure bugs fast and simple. Breakpoints can be set before an application is run or after it has started for maximum flexibility. Once the program has paused, the variable display window can be used to interrogate values to determine the problem. For more details on how this functionality can help your system setup, Contact us.

04/15/2005

The Soloist is upgraded to include camming as well as velocity and torque mode operation for easy integration with other controllers.

The camming operation allows the servo position to be adjusted by an external source such as an encoder, analog input, or virtual input. Velocity and torque modes allow the Soloist to be incorporated with an external controller. For more details on how this functionality can help your system setup, Contact us.

03/16/2005

The Soloist IDE is released providing support for multi-axis coordinated motion.

The Soloist IDE software option allows the user to connect a combined 1024 Soloists over Ethernet and USB simultaneously. Multiple Soloists can be controlled from the IDE front-end or a custom user application developed in C++ or .NET. The IDE software package allows the user to fully customize the development environment through docking toolbars and animated windows. These features allow the user to display all of the necessary information for a given application and hide that which is not. For more details on how this functionality can help your system setup, Contact us.

02/04/2005

The Soloist 1.3 release allows users to connect using USB, making startup painless.

Users now have a choice between Ethernet and USB connectivity. Ethernet connections are ideal for incorporating systems into a corporate network and multi-axis control. The USB provides fast and simple local access. Options such as these provide the user with a wide array of system configurations. For more details on how this functionality can help your system setup, Contact us.

01/04/2005

Soloist is released as a stand-alone single-axis controller

The Soloist makes its debut as a stand-alone single-axis controller built on .NET. Using the AeroBasic programming language, the Soloist provides the fastest programming execution of any stand-alone controller. The state-of-the-art program editing tools make developing programs fast and easy. For more details on how this functionality can help your system setup,, Contact us.