On the way to a new era of intuitive, fast and powerful automation for all, Kuka is presenting the first elements as a preview of the future operating system iiQKA.OS at the digital Hannover Messe. The operating system will form the basis of an entire ecosystem, provide access to programs, apps, services and accessories and be easy to install, operate and expand. For newcomers and all those who want to become automation experts - or already are.

"Automation is one of the megatrends of our time. That's why Kuka has set itself the goal of making robot-based automation easily available to everyone as part of its "Mission 2030"," says Dr. Kristina Wagner, Vice President Corporate Research & Director Robot X-perience.

This is where the new iiQKA.OS operating system and the iiQKA Ecosystem come in: The operating system is based on a modern and modular software architecture, has intuitive, user-friendly functions built in across the entire user journey - and will thus offer a quick introduction to robotics for beginners and a significant improvement in automation for experienced users.

Complete system comprising hardware and software

Software is more important than ever for the user-friendliness of an entire robot system. This requires an operating system that is intuitive to use and offers access to an ecosystem of programs or apps, services and accessories - as planned for iiQKA.OS.

The sensitive Cobot LBR iisy will be the first of its kind to run exclusively with the new operating system - supported by the iiQKA ecosystem and in combination with the KR C5 micro robot controller and the new smartPAD pro as an operating unit. Kuka not only wants to make it easier for newcomers to robotics, but also to further develop its existing customer base. The long-term goal is for every Kuka product to be equipped with the new iiQKA.OS operating system in the coming years - a long-term project in which the first steps have already been taken.

Network of partners and developers

In the coming years, the iiQKA Ecosystem is set to become a network of partners and developers who will provide hardware and software - for example, a selection of grippers, camera systems for optical recognition, safety sensors or application-specific programs. The first keystone partners of the iiQKA ecosystem are already demonstrating this today: Schunk, Sick and Roboception. Open and standardized interfaces play an important role here, enabling partners and developers to easily provide such hardware and software extensions. End customers and integrators benefit from this by quickly and easily obtaining the right combination of Kuka product and extension for their respective application. In the coming years, the ecosystem will offer functionalities and services that will make the Kuka portfolio more flexible and powerful and enable it to adapt quickly to changing market requirements.

Intelligent solutions for greater user-friendliness

Based on a Linux kernel, the entire architecture of the new operating system will be designed for rapid development and maximum user-friendliness: iiQKA.OS will provide updates and upgrades quickly so that more functions can be added over time. The new OS will also support the existing Kuka Robot Language (KRL). This means that existing customers who have expertise with Kuka.System software will be able to migrate smoothly to iiQKA.OS in the coming years and continue to use workflows and codes.