PolyScope X is the new operating system for world-leading cobot manufacturer Universal Robots. With this article, we aim to explain what it is and what you need to know if you’re looking to develop a PolyScope X URCap.
Screencapture of Pally interface for Polyscope X on Teach Pendant
The basics of PolyScope X
As of November 2024, PolyScope X is Universal Robots’ new operating system for collaborative robots. It promises to be intuitive, inclusive, and accessible, making the development of robot programs more widely accessible. The operating system has been designed to make coding robot applications easier and less complex. To achieve this, fundamentals have been changed from earlier PolyScope versions to PolyScope X.
We will discuss how this has been done later in the article. First, let’s examine the status of its predecessor.
Future of PolyScope 5
Universal Robots will continue to sell and support robots running the PolyScope 5 operating system for the next few years. They will not develop new features but will continue to provide support and security patches. Once they’ve decided on a stop date, this will be announced. As the operating system has fundamentally changed, URCaps for PolyScope 5 are not and will not be compatible with PolyScope X.
Info: In our experience, you can reuse very little of your current URCap. We estimate it will be approximately 30% when you migrate to PsX.
What’s new in PolyScope X
Let’s dive into what’s new in PolyScope X and what this change means for you looking to develop a PolyScope X URCap. Here, you can learn more about why you want to build a URCap.
From our perspective, URCaps help make the robot easier to work with and more accessible to the operators and engineers. It makes the robot more valuable by helping the customer solve their needs.
(As our background is the existing and older versions of PolyScope, our dive into PolyScope X will be very focused on the changes from previous PolyScope versions to PolyScope X)
New framework and languages
Universal Robots has changed its framework and languages, so if you plan to build a PolyScope X URCap, you will need to have or learn a different development skillset.
On the front end, you can use any library compliant with Javascript WebComponent. If you know the Angular Framework and TypeScript language, you’re well set for PolyScope X. On the backend, you will work with ROS2 as the preferred communication and containerize your backend contribution as a Docker container – allowing for more flexibility in language and framework.
Improved communication under-the-hood
There are many improved PolyScope X features “under the hood” which are not available at first glance.
The communication architecture between the various software components is improved, and the design is future-proof around ROS2. The standard interface for communication internally in the robot makes it easier to build URCaps which can collaborate instead of building a chaotic integration regime where resource allocation appears “random”.
In short, with PolyScope X several URCaps can communicate more smoothly internally and externally via ROS2.
More compact coding
In PolyScope, the program structure has been improved to create more clarity and ease of use.
By using Modules and Functions that can be more easily reused, you can create a simpler program structure. This will improve understanding, maintenance, and troubleshooting and allow for quicker and better changes when needed.
The graphical library in PolyScope X is called three.js. It is a great library that allows you to create a very user-friendly Graphical User Interface (GUI). However, it can also be very time-consuming, as you don’t want your 100 MB CAD files to take up all the robot’s storage. These are the kinds of details that can create friction and be very time-consuming.
We have developed a great framework to convert files to three.js – please reach out if you want to discuss this with us.
What does the expert say:
Bent Martin Dyrdal, Head of Development at Rocketfarm, on the three biggest improvements in PolyScope X:
- Modern architecture and tech stack: It is possible to develop feature-rich and user-friendly applications with a modern look.
- Backend flexibility: Dockerized backend contributions allow for high flexibility and easy development.
- ROS2 communication: Makes communication both internally on the robot and externally much easier and more robust.
Conclusion(s)
The OS architecture has undergone such fundamental changes that little can be reused from old URCaps leveraging advanced Polyscope functionality.
The new framework and languages definitely make PolyScope X better and more accessible. Still, it can also challenge development teams specializing in Java and Java Swing. Even if more developers can work with PolyScope X, we see a clear advantage in having a robotics background to design a good user experience for the robot.
PolyScope X marks a significant step forward. For many in the UR ecosystem, we understand why it can be annoying in the short term to have to redo a lot of the work that has already been done. From our point of view, the possibilities of building great automation solutions with PolyScope have improved significantly with PolyScope X. We see vast opportunities for enhancing our URCaps and building much more functionality to increase the robot’s value for the customer.
Looking for help to build your PolyScope X URCap?
We can help you deliver the professional URCap you need to help your customers.
Our team of developers excels at delivering user-friendly robot software that will solve your needs. Our experience and framework for developing PolyScope X URCap (or migrating from PS5) will help you enter the PolyScope X market quickly with a professional product.
Learn more about our offering on URCap development for PolyScope X
Our experience with PolyScope X
Rocketfarm has long been a recommended developer for Universal Robots. We have worked with their cobots since 2012 and have had our Pally Palletizing URCap on UR+ since 2019. We also participated in the PolyScope X beta tester program and were chosen as one of the partners to participate in the PolyScope Festival and showcase our Pally PolyScope X URCap.
See our Live Demo On Demand here.
We have experience migrating URCaps from PolyScope 5 to PolyScope X, ensuring seamless transitions and optimized performance.
Let’s Discuss your Project
Reach out for a non-binding discussion of your project and how it can be solved. We always offer a free estimation of project costs.
Martin Schøber
Head of Customer Success
martin@rocketfarm.no
Links:
Continue reading if you want to dive deeper into the world of PolyScope X
