| RabbitCores Give Logosol Total Control |
Since its inception in 1991, motion control innovator Logosol, Inc.,
has been providing its industrial automation customers with highly integrated
and reliable control components and systems. Now, Rabbit Semiconductor
is playing a key role in helping Logosol market a unique new family of
products designed to meet the increasing demand for more versatile and
feature-packed motion control devices.
Expanding on its traditional offering of fully integrated multi-axis
servo boards, Logosol is employing RabbitCore microprocessor core modules
to power a variety of cost-effective devices for distributed motion and
I/O control.
"Using the Rabbit core modules, we've developed several products
that are essentially network master controllers," says Lubo Kostov,
CEO of Logosol. "The new architecture of these controllers allows
supervisory control of up to 32 intelligent servo, stepper, and I/O nodes
over an RS-485 network."
The ability to accommodate a broad range of designs and accomplish multiple
tasks were key considerations in Logosol's decision to choose Rabbit.
"We are very strong in building customized versions of almost any
product," says Kostov. "That's why I wanted to have flexibility
with these master controllers--and that capability was what we found very
attractive about the Rabbit core module. It is specifically tailored to
the needs of this product family."
The result has been a migration away from Logosol's previous design approach,
which was rooted in PC/104 designs and 386/486-based modules, to the company's
current implementation of Rabbit-based boards and the supporting Dynamic
C® development software. "With the old modules, we were running
DOS, which has certain limitations: The cost is higher, we have to purchase
a DOS license with every single unit we ship, and then there is the lack
of real-time multitasking capabilities," says Kostov. "This
last point was very important because typically you're running several
tasks simultaneously. Dynamic C, however, is an excellent platform that
gives you all the options, including integrating the environment of developing
and debugging."
Logosol's designs are uniquely adaptable in their ability to support
a multitude of different configurations, depending on customer needs.
To build an effective system for motion control or general automation
purposes, a master or host module is needed to control many individual
devices. Brush-type and brushless motors, servomotors, digital I/O modules,
single controllers, and other RS-485 controllers--devices such as these
are all "daisy-chained" together and then directed by a master
controller that imparts customized command sequences.
"We've developed our master controllers with different configurations
and different connectivity options, so the customer is able to program
the network and all the different devices for motion control, as well
as other devices such as I/O modules and joysticks," says Kostov.
"That's why we started using Rabbit--it gives us more flexibility
and options. We can ship different configurations that are not available
from any other company because they are very specific to what we are doing."
Logosol utilizes all the basic functions of the RabbitCore, as well as
the Rabbit 2000 microprocessor's advanced math-processing capabilities.
"We use all four serial ports, and on certain modules we use some
of the numerous I/O," says Kostov. "For applications where we
need to do coordinated motion and interpolation, we also use the advanced
functions."
Because the concept of distributed control in the motion industry is
relatively new, Logosol is blazing new paths with its custom turnkey products
that promise rapid application development and a distinct competitive
advantage for customers. "Using the RabbitCores and the Dynamic C®
platform helps us offer products that are very flexible, scaleable, and
easy to use," says Kostov. "Our typical development cycle is
2 to 3 months, which is one of the shortest times to market in the industry."
Logosol began shipping the first wave of its Rabbit-equipped master controllers
late last year, and Kostov is awaiting client feedback to make any necessary
modifications before taking volume orders. "As always, when you switch
product lines, it takes some time for the customer to embrace the change
and get used to the new platform," he says. "But we already
see that these products have very good acceptance with our customers and
that they'll soon be in volume production."
Currently, the lion's share of Logosol's customer base is in Silicon
Valley, where manufacturers of semiconductor capital equipment reside
in close proximity to the company's Sunnyvale-based research and production
facility. But the RabbitCores' diminutive dimensions, rich functionality,
and low cost are helping Logosol position its new products for broader
market penetration.
"This is a unique product line that is very cost effective and
very different from mainstream motion control products," says Kostov.
"The compact packaging and comprehensive set of standard features
for motion and I/O control--combined with the attractive price--are making
our new controllers ideal for a broad range of applications."
Logosol's latest plans include the possibility of developing a new motion
controller with a Rabbit core module inside, which will provide programmability
for single-axis applications. "We definitely see potential for the
Rabbit processor and core modules," says Kostov. "The products
Rabbit is offering are ideal for embedded systems, and that's what we
do."
For more information:
(408) 744-0974
www.logosolinc.com
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