Motion Cards Add C-Motion Engine

For greater flexibility, the latest Prodigy motion cards exploit the company’s C-Motion engine, which enables onboard C-Motion program execution. This capability off-loads the PC host and increases the ability to distribute motion programs throughout the machine. Programs download to the cards over UDP and TCP Ethernet protocols as well as serial and CANbus protocols. Users can develop programs that run directly on the motion card without the need for a dedicated host PC or controller. The C-Motion development environment includes a library of motion-control code and relies on standard C/C++ programming. In addition to the library, a suite of software tools is on hand to facilitate program creation, downloading, and troubleshooting. The suite includes a programming editor, compiler, download utility, and debugging tools. The C-Motion Engine stores and independently executes the downloaded motion control programs. Additionally, it can manage digital and analog I/O signals locally, allowing for faster system responses and less need for extra I/O cards. Prodigy cards with the C-Motion Engine are available in OEM quantities starting at $575 each. PERFORMANCE MOTION DEVICES INC., Lincoln, MA. (781) 674-9860.