For automation engineers, learning how to interface their PLCs with ROS2 is no longer a niche skill—it is becoming a requirement for building the next generation of intelligent machinery. As the tools for bridging these environments improve, the line between the "Industrial Controller" and the "Robot Brain" will continue to blur.
For decades, the worlds of industrial automation and mobile robotics have run on parallel, yet distinctly separate, tracks. codesys ros2
By combining CODESYS and ROS 2, developers can create systems where ROS 2 acts as the strategic "brain" for high-level decision-making, while CODESYS serves as the tactical "spinal cord" for low-level, real-time actuation and sensor acquisition. A common and effective architecture is to let CODESYS handle the industrial hardware layer and ROS 2 focus on higher-level motion planning and control. This article provides a comprehensive guide to the methods, tools, and best practices for achieving this powerful synergy. For automation engineers, learning how to interface their
Engineers use CODESYS because it offers hard real-time performance. The scan cycle of a PLC is sacred; inputs are read, logic is processed, and outputs are written in a guaranteed timeframe. It is designed to handle the "low-level" reality of hardware: turning on hydraulic valves, reading safety light curtains, and managing motor drives via EtherCAT. By combining CODESYS and ROS 2, developers can
It isn't just a bridge; it is a native integration. The ROS 2 nodes communicate directly with the CODESYS SoftMotion PLCopen parts via shared memory.