ORiN

Key takeaways

ORiN belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect ORiN to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of ORiN from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

ORiN (Open Robot/Resource interface for the Network) is a standard network interface for FA (factory automation) systems. The Japan Robot Association proposed ORiN in 2002, and the ORiN Forum develops and maintains the ORiN standard.

Background The installation of PC (Personal Computer) applications in the factory has increased dramatically recently. Various types of application software systems, such as production management systems, process management systems, operation monitoring systems and failure analysis systems, have become vital to factory operation. These software systems are becoming indispensable for the manufacturing system. However, most of these software systems are only compatible with specific models or specific manufacturers of the FA system. This is because the software system is “custom made” depending on the specific special network or protocol. Once this type of application is installed in a factory and if there are no resident software engineers for the system, the improvement of the system will stop, the cost-effectiveness of the system will be worsen, and the total value of the system will deteriorate. Another recent problem in production is the rapid increase of the product demand at the initial stage of the product release. The manufactures will lose the chance of possible profit if they cannot meet the demand. To cope with the problem, manufacturing industry is trying to achieve the vertical upstart of the production, and high re-usability of both hardware and software is the key for the goal. To solve these problems, ORiN was developed as a standard PC application platform.

Outline ORiN was originally developed as a standard platform for robot applications. Nowadays, ORiN became a manufacturing application program platform for handling wider range of resources including robots and other FA devices like programmable logic controllers (PLC) and numerical control (NC) systems, or more generic resources like databases and local file systems. ORiN specifications are on software only and are independent from hardware. Therefore, ORiN can be smoothly integrated with other existing technologies only by developing software. By using ORiN, development of manufacture-independent and model-independent application becomes easy. By utilizing ORiN, various application software development and active multi-vender system construction by third-party companies are expected. In addition, on economy side, increase of manufacturing competitiveness, expansion of FA market, advancement of software industry in FA, and creation of FA engineering industry are also expected.

Features ORiN is independent from hardware, and all ORiN specifications are for software. ORiN (Version 2) is composed of the following three key technology specifications.

CAO (Controller Access Object), standard program interface specifications : Specifications to facilitate generalization of application software CRD (Controller Resource Definition), standard data schema specifications : Specifications to facilitate data exchange between application software CAP (Controller Access Protocol), standard communication protocol : Protocol for communication between FA devices and applications Three types of CAP are defined: CAP (SOAP), e-CAP (HTTP), b-CAP (TCP/UDP). With these three key standard technologies, ORiN provides following features.

Unified accessing model and data representation Variable and file based access to the resources in the device Applicable to various devices in the factory No device modification is required for ORiN connection XML data representation to cooperate with other systems Easy device access over Internet with simple parameter setup Configurable application interface

History ORiN project started as a part of standardization activities in Japan Robot Association (JARA). With the support from New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), ORiN system was developed from 1999 (3 years activity). Member companies of JARA participated field robot connection test at International Robot Exhibition (IREX) in 1999 and 2001. ORiN Version 1.0 was formally created in 2002. ORiN Forum was created in 2002 to promote and advance the ORiN standard. (Key members of the Forum: FA device manufacture, software development company, system integrator company, etc.) ORiN Forum member companies participated various ORiN field application tests for three years. The test results were reflected to the ORiN Version 2.0 (created in 2005). ORiN2 SDK was released as a supported software product in 2005. ORiN application was proposed as an annex of ISO20242-Part4. The DIS of the standard was approved in July 2010.

ORiN related terms ORiN SDK

ORiN SDK is a software development kit for ORiN Version 1.0, including RAO, standard providers and development tools. The SDK is used to develop original RAO providers and ORiN applications, and the SDK is also used as ORiN execution environment. ORiN Forum distributes the SDK, but the Forum plans to stop the distribution and technical support of the SDK at the end of March 2011. ORiN2 SDK

ORiN 2 SDK is a software development kit for ORiN Version 2.0. The SDK provides standard interface specifications for applications and devices, standard data schema, and standard communication protocol. Development of provider module (extension module) based on the specifications is also possible with the SDK. DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED, a subsidiary of Denso Corporation, distributes and supports the SDK.

See also Application software Architecture Interface (computing) Computer network Software framework Middleware XML

References

External links ORiN Forum

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with ORiN

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what ORiN claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to ORiN before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about ORiN ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of ORiN

In research: ORiN appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses ORiN in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: ORiN is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 2002 establishments in Japan, Industrial computing, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for ORiN outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

How to study ORiN in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what ORiN means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain ORiN out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is ORiN in simple terms?

ORiN (Open Robot/Resource interface for the Network) is a standard network interface for FA (factory automation) systems. The Japan Robot Association proposed ORiN in 2002, and the ORiN Forum develops and maintains the ORiN standard.

Why does ORiN matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study ORiN?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on ORiN.