Trends and Technology Machine Control Machine and Line Control Advancing machine control efficiency, modularity and performance. One key to productive, profitable manufacturing systems is superior machine control. Manufacturers in industries ranging from printing and converting and food and packaging, to automotive, machine tool and microelectronics all demand greater flexibility, greater uptime and better integration of machine and line automation platforms with enterprise systems. In turn, OEMs, systems integrators and technology suppliers like Bosch Rexroth seek to add intelligence and functionality to controls platforms. Balancing multiple (and sometimes competing) motion, I/O, machine control and automation demands is an engineering challenge that requires constant innovation and fresh thinking. Learn how Bosch Rexroth answers these challenges through an open and scalable approach to controls that maximizes creative and efficient machine design. Welcome to Control City Distributed Intelligence Key Machine Control Trend: Distributed Intelligence From computers to smartphones to automotive electronics, today’s technologies use powerful microprocessors to distribute previously centralized functionality to system endpoints, enabling faster operation and more complex, sophisticated performance. Called distributed intelligence, that same approach to controls architecture offers dramatic opportunities to improve machine performance, flexibility and total cost of ownership. Rexroth intelligent drives and integrated motor-drive technology implement this architecture, distributing functions such as motion control, safety and predictive maintenance to individual drives. Adding functionality and intelligence in a drive-by-drive distributed fashion gives designers greater freedom to create machines that give users more convenience and flexibility. Because processing power is no longer a critical issue, more servo controlled axes are practical along with the advantages of faster setup, greater precision, and higher reliability. Read The Advantages of Distributed Intelligence (PDF 685 KB) Related Resources Decisive Factors Guide Motion Control Solutions For Semiconductor Manufacturing (PDF 158 KB) IndraMotion MLD -- Rexroth’s advanced drive-based controls platform Expert Help on Controls Engineering Implementing new controls architectures demands an in-depth understanding of how distributed intelligence can sustain new levels of machine performance and sophistication without driving up machine costs. Our applications engineers can show you the most effective way to use Rexroth controls platforms, integrated drive-motor systems and advanced machine programming techniques to maximize creative automation design and long-term manufacturing productivity. Contact us.