MachineMind: Vention’s AI Brain Boosts Automation

Vention announced the commercial availability of its AI-driven, Bell-connectivity-enhanced third-generation industrial automation controller, MachineMotion AI. The latest controller iteration boasts integrated Bell and WiFi connectivity, secure cloud connectivity, compatibility with top-tier robotics brands, hassle-free programming, plug-and-play integration, a compact design, and simulation capabilities.

A unified system with centralized, flexible, AI-driven control, MachineMotion AI ushers in a new era of smart industrial operations. Image used courtesy of Vention

Legacy Systems Lag behind

Traditional PLCs and IPC-based controllers often need complex programming (structured text/ladder-logic), which can mean industrial companies spend more time and resources on training and development.

Poor scalability can hinder industrial automation environments using traditional controller setups with extensive reprogramming, hardware reconfiguration, rewiring, and debugging required to facilitate deployment. These costly and time-consuming changes can delay commissioning and stall productivity.

Other facility- and workforce-wide barriers include outdated (UX/UI) system interfaces, which can make troubleshooting and operation laborious if not upgraded. Legacy systems might lack AI-supported operations, limiting predictive maintenance, workflow optimization, and other key aspects of operations that require visibility and insight generation to adapt effectively to keep up with product/output demands.

Vendor lock-in to legacy system rigidity (in terms of lacking an AI-supported, flexible, and unified system architecture) can hinder innovation and evolution of smart manufacturing and other industrial practices.

Towards Agile Industrial Control Systems

MachineMotion AI advances interoperability, offering plug-and-play access to a litany of sensor technologies and devices, such as robot arms, pick-and-place stations, machine vision systems, conveyors, and more.

MachineMotion AI is the first controller to boast integrated cellular connectivity courtesy of seasoned communications provider Bell Mobility (part of Bell Canada). Bell provides broad connectivity with 4G, LTE (Long-Term Evolution), and 5G technology for its 5G+ network.

An overview of the capabilities of the MachineMotion AI controller. Video used courtesy of Vention

Bell-powered connectivity runs independently of local firewalls and networks, allowing manufacturers and other industrial players to tap into system monitoring, software updates, cloud programming, and live support securely and in real-time. This configuration, along with WiFi connectivity, makes it possible to update software and firmware over-the-air (OTA), access Vention RemoteSupport directly through the pendant, and use cloud analytics for AI-driven improvement and performance monitoring.

Other key features available with MachineMotion AI include a power capacity of 3,000 W and the ability to power 30 daisy-chainable servo drives with built-in motors over EtherCAT. The cloud platform is secure with ISO27001 and NIST-800 certifications. Customers also benefit from the capacity to connect (through Ethernet/IP, IO-Link, and MQTT) to robotic hardware from leading brands including Universal Robots, FANUC, and ABB.

The MachineMotion AI controller is housed in a casing that features passive cooling and an ingress protection rating of IP54 for limited protection against the ingress of dust, water spray (from any direction), and other particulates.

Customers can leverage the MachineBuilder software suite's MachineLogic drag-and-drop interface, which requires no coding, to configure Vention's MachineMotion AI. Users may design, model, develop, install, and monitor automated systems on the cloud using this unified platform. Real-time simulation and more accessible, less labor-intensive programming eliminate the need for specialist expertise, while AI-powered performance tracking and optimization help improve operational efficiencies. The outcome is an automated process from ideation to manufacturing that is quicker and more intuitive to use.

Vention at Automate 2025

Attendees of Automate 2025 were able to investigate the full capabilities of MachineMotion AI controllers, access live demos, and witness applications in action, such as autonomous bin-picking.