RTSys, a machine vision motion control development software
The new version of RTSys has been officially released! The previous version, ZDevelop, has been widely used since its release, with users spanning major industries such as 3C, packaging, printing, laser, and pharmaceuticals, as well as numerous customers across the country.
While achieving a series of application results, it is also absorbing a large amount of user feedback. RTSys' major upgrades include the following aspects:
01. The software development environment has been comprehensively improved in terms of aesthetics, with clear module classification and multiple theme styles to choose from.
02. The software supports online upgrades. RTSys is continuously optimized to meet market demand. Users can receive notifications directly within the software and choose whether to upgrade to the next optimized version, eliminating the need for tedious uninstallation and reinstallation.
03. Update the file view to the project view.
Added convenient axis configuration and EtherCAT bus configuration functions.
04. The number of supported programming languages has increased from 3 to 4.
In addition to supporting RTBasic, RTPlc ladder diagrams, and RTHmi, C language has been added.
05. Oscilloscope fully upgraded
The interface has been completely upgraded; new features such as "overlay channels, compare waveforms, search waveforms" and "XYZD mode" have been added.
06. The HMI programming has been completely upgraded, improving ease of use, enhancing the style and visual quality of controls, and adding convenient new attributes to controls.
RTSys has even more exciting features waiting for you to discover!
The advantages and functions of the RTSys development environment in motion control will now be formally introduced! Due to the rich and diverse functions of RTSys, this article is divided into two parts. This part mainly introduces the following content:
I. Introduction and Advantages of the RTSys Development Environment
II. Environmental Requirements for RTSys Installation
III. Installation Steps for RTSys
IV. RTSys Simulation Function
V. Introduction to RTSys Main View Windows
VI. Commonly Used Operating Tools for RTSys Controllers
01. Introduction and Advantages of RTSys Development Software
▶▶▶ Introduction to RTSys Development Environment
RTSys is a domestically developed industrial software IDE launched by Zheng Motion. It integrates motion control and machine vision functions, supports secondary development using RTBasic, RTPLC ladder diagrams, RTHmi, C language, and RTVision machine vision, and supports mixed programming of four languages. Its advantage lies in its ability to quickly cater to users with different development needs, enabling one-stop development through a single software application and motion controller.
Meanwhile, RTSys software provides tools/functions such as real-time simulation, online tracking, and diagnostics and debugging. This allows users to quickly and in real-time debug programs. RTSys software enables the rapid development of systems for visual positioning, measurement, recognition, detection, and complex motion control of intelligent equipment. The RTSys software development interface is shown in the figure below.
▶▶▶ Advantages of the RTSys development environment
Developing with RTSys-supported programming languages in conjunction with Zhengdong's motion controller products allows for direct program download to the controller, supporting power-off save and offline execution. This provides an extra layer of protection compared to development using high-level languages like those used in host computer programming, which do not support offline execution. RTSys supports multi-tasking, with Basic supporting multi-tasking and allowing for mixed programming and interoperability with PLC, HMI, and C language programming. Additionally, RTSys provides an emulator and XPLC Screen tool for programming and debugging in situations where there is no controller or touchscreen.
▶▶▶ RTSys Software and Controller Development System
▶▶▶ The following hardware requirements apply to using RTSys software.
02. Installing the RTSys Development Environment
RTSys software is available for download as an installation package, thus enabling online upgrades and updates. When a software upgrade or update is released, a notification will appear, allowing users to access the latest version of RTSys software promptly and in real time.
▶▶▶ Software Installation Steps
1. Obtain the RTSys software installation package from the official website of Zhengdong Technology and save it to the target path (the user can choose the path). After decompressing the installation package, you will get the .exe application shown in the image below.
Note: The version number shown in the image below may not be fixed; the software version number will be updated as the software is updated. Download the latest version from the official Zhengdong Technology website.
2. Double-click the .exe application to open it. A window will pop up; click "Next".
3. Click "Browse" to select the software installation path. After confirming the installation path, click "OK" and then click "Next".
4. Click "Install" to begin installing the software. The image on the right shows the installation in progress.
5. Once the installation is successful, the following window will pop up. Click "Finish".
RTSys Development Environment Main Functions
1. Supports four programming environments: RTBasic, RTPlc, RTHmi, and C.
2. Monitor the controller's operating status in real time;
3. Supports online debugging;
4. Supports multi-tasking;
5. Supports controller and touchscreen simulation (for scenarios without a controller or touchscreen);
6. Supports manual controller operation – manual motion view;
7. Supports viewing various register data -- Register View;
8. Supports oscilloscope acquisition and display of various data types (oscilloscope view);
9. Supports operation of input/output port status (input/output port view);
10. Supports PWM write/read and SDO data dictionary read/write;
11. Supports encrypted downloading, controller locking, and protection of customer intellectual property (generating ZAR files, controller locking);
12. Facilitates quick firmware and user program upgrades for customers (firmware upgrade, ZAR file download).
03. RTSys Simulation
▶▶▶ Simulation Controller
For applications where no controller is required, the ZhengMotion platform utilizes RTSys software to support controller simulation. Online simulation debugging is supported, allowing monitoring of the controller's input states and output state changes via the simulator.
▶▶▶ Simulation configuration touch screen
RTSys provides the xplc screen configuration plugin for displaying the HMI configuration interface. There are two ways to simulate the HMI configuration interface: (1) The simulator interface “display” button function (only supports displaying the configuration interface when programming with the simulator); This method is supported when connecting to the controller or simulator through the xplc screen tool plugin that comes with RTSys. (Menu bar “Tools” → “Plug-ins” → “xplc screen”) (2) Users can edit the interface in RTSys through HMI programming and then run it to display it in the xplc screen. It supports simulating the triggering effect of clicking the control, which solves some of the limitations due to the lack of external devices such as touch screens.
04. Introduction to the Layout of Each Window in the RTSys Main Interface
▶▶▶ Engineering View / Label View / Configuration View
1. Project View: Displays the number, type, and task number of files in the current project. It also supports adding program files or configuration files (.bas/.plc/.hmi/.c/.zml). New features: Axis configuration and EtherCAT bus configuration functions, supporting one-click assignment of axis types, axis numbers, etc., and configuration of each axis. (For detailed function operation, please refer to the "RTSys User Manual")
2. Tag View: Displays a list of SUB functions contained in all files.
3. Configuration View: Displays all windows contained in the HMI file and the components contained in each window.
▶▶▶ Commands and Output
The command and output windows are primarily used to view program return and error information. This includes various controller parameters, control axis movements, printed program execution results, and printed program error messages. Online commands are used to send and execute commands in real time, commonly used for printing controller parameters (e.g., *max / *set), printing register values, and sending motion commands. Output functions include: ?, PRINT, WARN, ERROR, and TRACE. ? is short for PRINT, WARN for warning messages, ERROR for error messages, and TRACE for printed information. Whether WARN, ERROR, and TRACE commands are output is controlled by the ERRSWITCH instruction. (For detailed syntax, refer to the RTBasic programming manual.) Executing online commands and printing error messages:
In addition, this window provides a "capture" function to save the information in the window as a .txt file, facilitating data packet analysis by engineers. ▶▶▶ The axis parameter window supports monitoring common parameters used in motion control of each axis. Real-time changes in parameters during motion can be viewed in this window. Some writable parameters can be modified by double-clicking, while read-only parameters cannot be modified. The axis number to be monitored can be selected using the "Axis Selection" button; "Parameter Selection" is used to customize the axis parameters to be monitored and displayed. (For parameter command meanings, refer to the *RTSys User Manual* and *RTBasic Programming Manual*.)
05. Commonly Used Operation Tools for RTSys Controllers
▶▶▶ Controller Status
Displays the status information of the currently connected controller, allowing users to easily view controller-related parameters or Zcan/EtherCAT bus node status. Basic information includes: maximum number of virtual axes, maximum number of motor axes, number of tasks, number of files, size of various register spaces, program size, memory size, controller model, software version number and time, IP address, hardware version number, controller hardware ID, and configurable types and mappings on each axis.
ZCAN Node: Reads and displays node device information on the CAN bus, including: CANID, device ID, number of axes, number of inputs/outputs, and number of analog inputs/outputs. The CAN bus is generally used to connect ZIO series/ZMIO-CAN expansion modules.
Slot 0 node: Reads and displays device information on the EtherCAT bus node, including: device node number, manufacturer/device ID, number of axes, number of inputs/outputs, and number of analog inputs/outputs. This window can be used to check whether the controller has scanned the corresponding number of EtherCAT devices.
Communication Configuration: Check the CAN communication configuration and RS232/RS485/RS422 serial port parameter configuration. At this time, the CAN communication settings are: CANIO_ADDRESS = 32, CANIO_ENABLE = 1. Combining the information of CANIO_ADDRESS and CANIO_ENABLE, we can know that the controller is in ZCAN Master mode, the CAN bus communication rate is 500kbps, and CAN is enabled. If you need to modify the CAN communication settings, you can modify the relevant parameters of CANIO_ADDRESS and CANIO_ENABLE. (1) Port0 is the RS232 serial port, in ModbusSlave state, address 1, VR and MODBUS registers are two independent ranges. (2) Port1 is the RS485 serial port, in ModbusSlave state, address 1, VR and MODBUS registers are two independent ranges. (3) Baud is the serial port baud rate, DataBits is the data bits, StopBits is the stop bits, and Parity is the parity bit.
▶▶▶ Firmware Upgrade Firmware upgrades are used to update the existing firmware version of the controller. If the current firmware version cannot meet the program's operational requirements, or if some instruction functions are not supported, an upgrade is necessary. There are two methods for firmware upgrades: one is to use the firmware upgrade function built into the RTSys software, and the other is to use the zfirmdown tool to download the ZFM firmware package and perform the upgrade. First, obtain the firmware file for your current model from the controller manufacturer. Then, in the RTSys software menu bar, click "Controller" → "Firmware Upgrade," and in the pop-up window, click "Browse" to select the target firmware file for the firmware upgrade operation. For detailed firmware upgrade instructions, click → Firmware Upgrade for Pulse Full-Closed-Loop EtherCAT Motion Controller.
▶▶▶ Change IP address
The controller's factory default IP address is 192.168.0.11. The controller's network port IP address can be changed via the IP_ADDRESS command sent online, or directly through the "Controller" → "Modify IP Address" window in RTSys. The IP address is changed after connecting to the controller. After successful modification, the connection will automatically disconnect, and the online command will print a controller connection error message. You will need to select the new IP address and reconnect to the controller. The changed IP address is permanent.
Note: The new IP address must not exceed the range (generally xxx.xxx.xxx.1 - xxx.xxx.xxx.254). Exceeding the range will result in the inability to connect to the controller.
More useful features and tools will be introduced in the next article! The next article will introduce tools related to intellectual property protection, oscilloscopes, input/output port debugging tools, manual motion tools, and more!
Stay tuned for more exciting developments!
1. RTSys installation package download address:
https://nas.zmotion.com.cn:36888/sharing/SCa6nsPi1
2. Download link for the RTSys portable version:
https://nas.zmotion.com.cn:36888/sharing/FdyG7gquh
That concludes our presentation on RTSys's release of "An Independent, Controllable, and Easy-to-Use Motion Control Integrated Development Platform (Part 1)".
For more exciting content, please follow the "Zheng Motion Assistant" WeChat official account. For related development environment and example code, please contact Zheng Motion's technical sales engineer: 400-089-8936.
This article is original content from Zheng Motion Technology. We welcome everyone to reprint it for mutual learning and to jointly improve China's intelligent manufacturing level. Copyright belongs to Zheng Motion Technology. Please indicate the source if you reprint this article.
