Bring Your Own Device (BYOD): ABB Releases e-Device Robot Interface

ABB Robotics has designed its new e-Device to integrate directly with PCs and tablets, letting users work on their own devices. E-Device is built on ABB’s OmniCore User Interface and is compatible with OmniCore-powered robots. It leverages built-in safety features to prevent collisions while the user is near the robot.

ABB’s e-Device enables robot control and programming from a personal electronic device. Image courtesy of ABB

Robot Programming With Personal Devices

There are several major advantages to programming, operating, and monitoring ABB robots on a personal device rather than a dedicated one. Perhaps the biggest advantage is simply convenience.

Technicians and engineers in a plant may spend most of their day on a laptop or tablet. If a robot needs quick reprogramming, rather than users leaving their devices at their workstations, walking over, logging into another machine (often with different credentials), and performing the task, they can simply reprogram the robot from their personal device.

This is also more convenient for checking data after programming is complete. In many cases, a robot is programmed using a local device while data is checked with another, perhaps pulled from the cloud or an internal server.

Depending on security and network configuration, this can involve walking back to a desk, checking a laptop, and then walking back out to the robot to make adjustments. All of these steps can now be performed from a single interface, thanks to ABB’s e-Device.

ABB aims to speed up and simplify the deployment of OmniCore-powered industrial robots with the release of e-Device. Video courtesy of ABB Robotics

ABB’s e-Device Robot Interface

Designed for OmniCore robots, e-Device provides the physical interface that enables users to program, operate, and monitor robots from their own devices. With e-Device, customers can access ABB RobotStudio and other software tools, including AppStudio, a no-code tool for creating customized application screens.

E-Device itself is not just a software UI; it is a physical device that connects to laptops and tablets. The connection includes a hardwired emergency-stop button that can be activated to safely pause operation. This button ties directly into the robot's emergency logic; it is not an add-on. It meets ISO 10218:2025 safety standards and is both CE and UL certified.

By running the OmniCore UI through e-Device, users get a consistent, intuitive control environment on their own devices. Image courtesy of ABB

Key Advantages of OmniCore BYOD Integration

Industrial and manufacturing facilities using OmniCore robots will likely see three key benefits with e-Device. First, programming and monitoring tasks can be performed much more efficiently, as programmers can complete these tasks from their own devices instead of walking back and forth to their workstations.

Second, it will likely save on hardware costs. Instead of having a dedicated machine for programming robots that sits largely unused except for specific events, teams can work directly from their own devices. One fewer machine means less hardware to purchase and one fewer machine to patch and update to secure from cyberattacks.

Finally, e-Device will enable users to train more efficiently. Because it is integrated with users’ personal devices, operators can learn programming basics anywhere in a familiar environment. Often, with shared computers, menus get customized, icons get moved, and so on, which can slow down the training process. Additionally, e-Device's built-in safety rails will protect programmers while they learn.