Talking to the Controller

The TwinCAT automation software from Beckhoff Automation combines machine functions such as PLC, motion, robotics, high-end measurement technology, IoT, HMI, and image processing on an integrated engineering and control platform. With "TwinCAT Speech", hearing, and speaking are now also added.

TwinCAT Speech represents an industrial standard of multilingual input and output of requests and information. According to Beckhoff Automation, using the software module makes interaction with the automation system more efficient and convenient across all industries in applications from mechanical engineering to building automation. When working on a machine component without a conventional operator terminal, the operating or maintenance personnel can simply ask how changed settings affect the current control or simulation program. In addition, when critical values of a system are reached  , corresponding alarm messages can be output acoustically.

Voice input is available as an offline function implemented via built-in functions of the Windows operating system, i.e., without internet or cloud connection. The voice output of TwinCAT Speech is available both as an offline function and as an online function. In the first case this is supported by the corresponding functions of Windows and in the second case by the text-to-speech service "Amazon Polly". With the help of deep-learning techniques, a realistic-sounding voice output is synthesized. Different voices and caching of online generated audio files are also possible.