🧭 Learning Roadmap: Robotics & Industrial Automation

A modular map of essential technical topics, tools, and real-world systems I’m learning and building — aligned with IEC, ISA, and Industry 4.0 standards.

🔌 Module 1: PLC Programming & Control Logic

Learning Focus:

  • Designing ladder logic and structured programs (IEC 61131‑3)
  • Timers, counters, sequences, analog I/O, and PID loops
  • UDTs, AOIs, and state machines for modular design
  • Interlocks, failsafe logic, diagnostics, and simulation testing

Tools:
Rockwell Studio 5000 + Logix Emulate
Siemens TIA Portal (S7-1200/1500)
CODESYS (Structured Text, FBD)

🖥️ Module 2: HMI & SCADA Development

Learning Focus:

  • Designing operator screens with status indicators, graphs, alarms, and toggles
  • Real-time tag mapping between PLCs and HMI
  • Alarm systems with acknowledgment and reset logic
  • Exploring SCADA-level tools and architecture

Tools:
FactoryTalk View ME
Siemens WinCC
Ignition SCADA (Perspective)

🌐 Module 3: Industrial Networking & Communication

Learning Focus:

  • Understanding Ethernet/IP, PROFINET, OPC UA, and MQTT
  • PLC-HMI-Robot tag exchange over industrial networks
  • Packet-level diagnostics and network simulation
  • Intro to MES integration, ISA-95 layers, and ICS zone architecture

Tools:
Wireshark
RSLinx / TIA Diagnostic Tools
Ignition OPC UA, UaExpert

🦺 Module 4: Functional Safety & Diagnostics

Learning Focus:

  • Safety logic: E-stop, door locks, interlocks, alarm resets
  • Safety standards: ISO 13849, IEC 61508/61511
  • SIL/PL concepts, fault tolerance, and safety validation
  • Emulated testing of safety routines and system responses

Tools:
Rockwell GuardLogix
Siemens Safety PLC (TIA Safety)
Safety requirement specs, latch logic

🤖 Module 5: Robotics Programming & Integration

Learning Focus:

  • Jogging, teaching, and programming industrial robots
  • Tool center point (TCP), frames, motion paths
  • PLC-robot synchronization using handshaking
  • Pick-and-place sequencing and palletizing logic

Tools:
FANUC RoboGuide
KUKA.Sim
ABB RobotStudio (planned)

📸 Module 6: Vision Systems & Adaptive Control

Learning Focus:

  • Object detection, frame alignment, lighting setup
  • Camera calibration for robot or PLC-based vision control
  • Vision-guided movement and logic adaptation
  • AI-based vision tools and visual feedback loops

Tools:
Cognex In-Sight Explorer
FANUC iRVision
Keyence VisionTech

🧪 Module 7: Digital Twin & Simulation

Learning Focus:

  • Virtual testbeds for PLC, HMI, robot integration
  • Model-based testing of motion, alarm, and process logic
  • Aligning simulations with production KPIs and downtime analysis
  • Exploring predictive control and control tuning in twin environments

Tools:
Factory I/O
PLCSIM + KUKA.Sim
Python, Simulink (optional)

📁 Module 8: Project Integration & Documentation

Learning Focus:

  • Building full-featured automation systems
  • Organizing project folders, tag tables, I/O maps, and subroutines
  • Writing Functional Design Specs (FDS), logic comments, and summaries
  • Publishing projects via GitHub Pages and PDF documentation

Tools:
Studio 5000 / TIA Portal
Markdown, GitHub, draw.io
PDF & screenshot tooling

This roadmap is intentionally modular and ongoing — designed for self-paced learners or professionals who want to bridge theory with real industrial experience. Each module complements a hands-on project and grows into a system-level portfolio.