KUKA Controls, a leading developer of real-time operating system solutions for Windows XP, announced today that it successfully completed a technical demonstration at the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference in Los Angeles California. KUKA Controls was one of the few companies invited to exhibit real world applications of Windows software solutions. The five-day Conference updates developers on the Windows platform in multiple half-day learning tracks. Bill Gates gave the opening address. The Conference drew over six thousand attendees from all over the world and featured over one hundred corporate exhibits showing Windows-related products.
In the demonstration, a KUKA robotic system machined a futuristic automobile body from a one hundred pound block of high-density polyurethane foam. The robotic control system featured KUKA Controls’ real-time extension that combined the Windows® XP operating system and a high performance real time operating system on a single industrial PC. The robot drew a large audience as the one of the few operational machines at the show. It weighed nearly a ton and a half and was set in a safety fence protected area for safety. Information on Medical and Test and Measurement applications was also distributed.
“Developers attending the Conference write code all day at their terminals and rarely have the opportunity to see large industrial robots actually producing physical products,” noted Gerd Lammers, Director Sales and Marketing KUKA Controls GmbH. “The KUKA Controls software enables equipment manufactures to incorporate the familiar, high-end graphical user interface by adding the Windows platform to the existing real-time operating system already on the machine.”
KUKA Controls’ real-time software extensions are distributed worldwide and are deployed in Aerospace, Automation, Defense, Medical and Test & Measurement applications. The company is a Microsoft Gold Level Windows Embedded Partner (WEP) and a Wind River Platform Partner. These long-term relationships provide smooth integration of the latest OS updates and assure customers of the necessary long-term platform stability. KUKA Controls also certifies third-party hardware compatibility to simplify development of new real-time applications.
The new software extension versions, CeWin® V3.3 and VxWin® V3.1, now feature support for both APIC and multiprocessor systems including support for the ACPI uniprocessor and ACPI multiprocessor HALs used with most modern PC hardware. The ACPI support adds hibernate and power management functionality to the system. The extensions can now be started by a service, allowing the application to begin real-time processing without user logon.
VxWin and CeWin real-time extension technology enable the coexistence of two operating systems on a single computer, in part, by dividing the PC memory so that the RTOS (either VxWorks or Windows CE) and Windows XP each execute in separate, protected memory areas. No modifications are made to either operating system allowing developers to take advantage of previous experience and existing code while maintaining maximum flexibility.
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About KUKA Controls GmbH (www.kuka-controls.com)
KUKA Controls GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of KUKA Roboter GmbH, the number one European industrial robot manufacturer and a part of IWKA AG Group. KUKA Controls specializes in real-time software, operating systems, motion control, graphical user interfaces (GUI), handhelds, dynamic algorithms, PC-based hardware development and application programming. KUKA Controls globally markets real-time extension technology for automation and robotics as well as test and measurement instrumentation and medical devices and equipment. KUKA robot controllers are developed and produced for the parent company.
About KUKA Roboter GmbH (www.kuka-roboter.de)
KUKA Roboter GmbH, Augsburg is an IWKA Group company and is the worlds’ leading manufacturer of PC-based industrial robots. The company’s core competencies are the development, production and sales of industrial robots, controllers, software and linear units. KUKA is the market leader in both Germany and Europe and ranks 3rd worldwide. The KUKA Robot Group employs 1.650 people and is represented by over 20 subsidiaries in Europe, USA and Asia. In 2003, company sales were 420 million Euros. For more information on KUKA Roboter GmbH, contact Mr. Jürgen Schulze, PR Manager. Tel.: 0821-4533–3473 or juergenschulze@kuka-roboter.de.
