Entering the Post-PLC Era: Introducing MachineMotion AI
September 24, 2024
By Quinn Harker
Vention is proud to introduce its AI-enabled automation controller: MachineMotion AI.
MachineMotion AI, powered by NVIDIA technology, is the first-of-its-kind AI-enabled automation controller. With its launch, Vention officially marks the beginning of the post-PLC era. Say goodbye to traditional custom-made control cabinets, manual integration with pigtail wires and terminal blocks, and outdated programming languages and frameworks. Now, you can replace all these tools with one advanced motion controller.
This launch signifies a major step towards autonomous robotics for small and medium manufacturers, simplifying the development and deployment of robotic applications for everyone.
Why Vention created MachineMotion AI
MachineMotion was first introduced in 2017 as the cornerstone of Vention’s plug-and-play ecosystem of industrial components. The second-generation version, released in 2021, eliminated the need for custom control cabinets, making it the first enclosure-free, plug-and-play motion controller.
Now, with the launch of MachineMotion AI, we are entering an era where automated equipment—including robots, conveyors, and computer vision systems—is orchestrated by a single controller that drives the entire machine. The divide between PLC and robot programming is eliminated as both are programmed in the same environment, using the same tools, and benefiting from an accurate digital twin that embeds physics simulation.
How MachineMotion AI can improve your operations
MachineMotion AI was created to continue democratizing industrial automation for small and medium manufacturers. One of the biggest hurdles for these manufacturers is gaining the advanced knowledge, time, and capex required to create custom-made control cabinets, manually integrate pigtail wires and terminal blocks, and then program it all with programming languages and frameworks that have a steep learning curve.
Now, component integration and programming are completed by the product itself, within a single environment. This significantly speeds up the deployment cycle and improves return on investment.
Experience the following benefits of MachineMotion AI:
- Plug-and-play: Simplified integration with hundreds of motion devices and sensors, from robot arms, conveyors, actuators, safety devices, computer vision systems, telepresence cameras, and more.
- Compact and robust design: Award-winning IP54-rated enclosure with a 360° beacon light for status communication.
- Intuitive programming: Supports both code-free and Python programming, either in the cloud with digital twin simulation or on the edge with the physical twin machine.
- Powerful performance: Available in three configurations, delivering up to 3,000W of power and driving up to 30 distributed and daisy-chainable servo motors via EtherCAT.
- Compatibility: Integrates with leading robot brands, including Universal Robots, FANUC, and ABB, and supports leading industrial protocols for external communication and sensor integration, such as Ethernet/IP, IO-Link, and MQTT.
- Secured and connected: Supports pull-based, over-the-air upgrades with WiFi and cellular connectivity. Certified for ISO27001, NIST-800, and ioXt.
- Comprehensive software suite: Powered by the Vention Manufacturing Automation Platform, including MachineLogic, MachineCloud, MachineAnalytics, RemoteView, and Remote Support.
- Robotic application configuration: MachineMotion AI will also be available in a Lite configuration, optimized for robotic applications that don’t require full motor-driven motion control, offering a streamlined solution for simpler automation tasks.
Collaborating with NVIDIA
MachineMotion AI wouldn’t have been possible without Vention’s collaboration with NVIDIA. Together, they integrated Vention’s modular hardware and plug-and-play motion control with NVIDIA’s advanced AI-ready hardware to create a democratized motion controller built for all manufacturers.
With NVIDIA’s Jetson technology, MachineMotion AI opens the door to AI-enabled and autonomous robotics with the ability to run 2D/3D perception models trained in synthetic and physical environments. In addition, this partnership is advancing the accuracy of Vention’s digital twin capabilities, so manufacturers can create simulations in the cloud, eliminating deployment risks before committing capex.
The evolution of MachineMotion & product specifications
From MachineMotion V1 in 2017 to MachineMotion AI in 2024, Vention has come a long way over the past seven years.
Compare the three generations in the chart below:
 MachineMotion V1 |  MachineMotion V2 |  MachineMotion AI |
| Loaded with code-free software | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Open-source with powerful development tools | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Rugged enclosure | IP30 | IP54 | |
| Status light for quick diagnostics | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Connectivity | Wired, W-iFi | Wired, Wi-Fi | Wired, Wi-Fi, Cellular |
| Peak power | 1,000 W | 1,000 W | 3,000 W |
| Plug-and-play with all Vention actuators | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Max # of motors | 3 | 4 | 30 |
| Daisy chainable motors | ✔️ | ||
| Motion control protocol | CanOpen | CanOpen | EtherCAT |
| Status light on all motors for quick diagnostics | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
| Compatible with robots | UR | UR, FANUC, ABB | UR, FANUC, ABB |
| Vision applications | ✔️ | ||
| Plug-and-play safety system with physical and software reset | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Digital I/O with expansion modules | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Analog I/O with expansion modules | ✔️ | ||
| IO link sensor integration | ✔️ |
Entering the post-PLC era
With the launch of MachineMotion AI, Vention ius completing a major milestone in their mission to democratize automation technology. No longer is PLC technology a barrier to automating. With MachineMotion AI, any manufacturer, no matter your size or expertise level, will be able to adopt autonomous robotics.
MachineMotion AI is available for pre-order and will be delivered in 2025. For additional information, talk with an expert.
