Glossary · System coordination, integration and orchestration
Cell controller
Also known as: work cell controller
German: Zellensteuerung
In industrial automation, a cell controller is a control system that coordinates the machines, robots and devices of one manufacturing cell, managing sequence, material handover and status exchange with the line or area level.
- System integration
In one sentence
A cell controller coordinates the machines, robots and devices of one manufacturing cell and exchanges orders and status with higher levels.
Example
In a machining cell, the cell controller tells the robot which CNC machine to load next, tracks each part and reports finished parts to the MES.
How it applies
- Engineering: The cell controller is often a PLC or industrial PC. Separate its coordination functions from the safety functions of the cell, which belong in the safety-related control system even when both run on the same hardware platform.
- Commissioning: Test each handover between cell devices, including recovery after a device fault in the middle of a handover.
- Documentation: Cell documentation should describe the cell's operating modes, the sequence of the cell, the interfaces to each device and to the line level, and how to restart the cell after an interruption.
Cell controller vs. line controller
A cell controller coordinates devices that work together in one cell, often sharing a robot or fixture. A Line controller coordinates several machines or cells along a material flow.