Remote Access & Control for Mitsubishi Industrial Robots

Get secure VPN, VNC and data access for Mitsubishi collaborative robots

Mitsubishi Electric has a wide range of collaborative industrial robots used for palletizing, inspecting, processing, assembly, packing and more. To create more flexibility for robot operators and engineers, you can expand them easily with edge connectivity and remote capabilities using the IXON’s end-to-end IoT solution. This article explains the benefits, how it works and how to get started.

Industrial IoT platform for Mitsubishi Electric Robots

IXON has created a powerful Industrial IoT platform to upgrade your Industrial Mitsubishi MELFA Robots with Remote Access and data capabilities. Using IXON Cloud you get instant and easy access to your horizontal (RH), vertical (RV), working (RP) or smart plus MELFA robots over a secure VPN connection from anywhere in the world.

What IXON Cloud can offer to Mitsubishi Robotics

Thanks to IXON Cloud you get easy and secure web-based access to your Mitsubishi Robots to access and control the robot and its HMI interface on your smartphone or computers. With IXON Cloud you can:

• Remotely connect to your Mitsubishi robots controller, take over the HMI GOT teach pendant display and control it with VNC over a secure VPN connection.
• Collect and view the data you have collected in customizable robot dashboards with graphs and figures.
• You can also be notified when something goes wrong for preventive or predictive maintenance. These notifications can be sent in multiple ways: email or notifications on your phone.
• Manage all your robots in one place and control who can access them with user management.
• Create your custom apps or integrate with third-party applications through the IXON API.

To connect your Mitsubishi robot to the IXON Cloud, you use the IXrouter, an industrial VPN router optimised for security and ease of use, making setting up a connection a breeze. 

> Discover more benefits of an IoT platform for industrial robotics here.

Edge connectivity for Mitsubishi robots

The IXrouter is IXON’s edge gateway and fully compatible Mitsubishi industrial robots. It integrates the robot with the IXON Cloud for remote PLC/controller programming the robot over VPN and provides VNC functionality and data logging capabilities.

VNC is used to remotely control and view the HMI screen of the robot; the built-in data collector (using edge computing and OPC UA and Modbus/TCP protocols) is used to create useful robot statistics and provide you with preventive or predictive alerts when something requires attention.

Tip: Try the easiest secure remote access solution for Mitsubishi Robots: IXON Cloud. Request your Starter Kit here.

How to connect the Mitsubishi robot with the IXON Cloud

To make use of the IXON Cloud you need to create a free company account and connect your industrial robots to this platform using an IXrouter. 

Each IXrouter has four ethernet ports for connecting machines (PLCs) and robots and one WAN port to connect it to the internet. There are multiple versions of the IXrouter supporting additional ways to get internet access:

• Ethernet only
• Ethernet & 4G Global
• Ethernet & Wi-Fi
• Ethernet, 4G Global & Wi-Fi

Each device includes lifetime free VPN / VNC access and support and the option to activate Cloud Logging and Cloud Notify. Simply choose a way to get internet access, connect your robot(s) and you’re all set and ready.

In this video we briefly explain how to connect the IXrouter to the IXON Cloud platform in just 3 simple steps.

Get remote VPN access to Mitsubishi Robots

Once your IXrouter device is activated, you can log into your IXON Cloud account to set up a secure VPN connection to your MELFA robot. Choose the device you want to connect to and press the VPN button. Now, a secure VPN tunnel is created from your computer, via the IXON Cloud to your robot. You’ll have full network access to your Mitsubishi Robot for remote PLC troubleshooting, monitoring and to publish new programming software releases.

Remote control the Mitsubishi HMI GOT display via VNC

After configuring the VNC server, you can remotely view, configure and control the Mitsubishi robot arms from within the IXON Cloud by taking over its HMI screen. View, access and fully control the Mitsubishi Robot HMI GOT panel remotely via your browser or smartphone apps.

How to collect and log data from Mitsubishi Robots

Cloud Logging is a service with which you can collect your data from your Mitsubishi robot, send it securely to the IXON Cloud, and access it through advanced and easy to use dashboards — or use it to create cloud-based alarms. These dashboards can be viewed from any device (smartphone, tablet or PC) with an internet connection.

Data from the robot is cached by the IXrouter until it is uploaded to the cloud. Should the IXrouter temporarily lose its internet connection, this data is not lost. As soon as the connection is re-established, the data will be uploaded. Depending on the number of data points used, this is usually more than enough to bridge a few weeks. 

Setting up data collection from Mitsubishi robot to IXON Cloud

To collect data from your Mitsubishi robot activate Data Logging in your IXON Cloud account. IXON supports the MELSEC, OPC UA and Modbus/TCP protocols. You can configure the robot parameters you’d like to log and choose when these need to be logged (on interval, on change or using a custom trigger). The IXrouter monitors the parameters and send them to the IXON Cloud so you can present them in dashboards or use them for triggering alarms.

Create a Mitsubishi Robot dashboard from robot data

Once your data is collected from your robot, and securely transmitted and stored in IXON Cloud, you can use it to configure your robot dashboards. Using our drag & drop editor, you can add widgets and build multiple dashboards based on the collected data. Add a gauge, period, tables or graph widget to create a data report or live monitor for your Mitsubishi Robots. If you want to combine robot data with data from other sources, you can use our API, which makes all data accessible for whatever use case you have in mind. Remember, we’re an open platform.

Set up predictive maintenance alarms for Mitsubishi Robots

To create and receive alarms from your Mitsubishi robot you need to activate Cloud Notify in your account. Alarms can be created based on the condition of a parameter, like when robot program state is equal to “STOPPED”.

In the IXON Cloud you can add alarms in the Cloud Notify section. Choose the variable, the priority, set the condition and instructions for the operator. Next, you define who must receive a smartphone push message or email when the alarm is triggered.

Try IXON Cloud for remote maintenance of Mitsubishi robots

Experience setting up remote access for your industrial robot in just minutes! Leave us your details and we’ll send you a Starter Kit with our most advanced IXrouter (Wi-Fi, Ethernet and 4G/LTE) and all necessary accessories to jumpstart your project. Set up a complete scenario for remote access and test our IoT features with your own Mitsubishi robot. Experience the convenience of the IXrouter and IXON Cloud platform in our starter kit.

[[Request Starter kit]]

or explore the IXON Cloud platform in our Free Product Tour.

You are not the first one who connected an industrial robot to the IXON Cloud. Our support team will help you get started. Send any questions through our contact page.