ctrlX AUTOMATION and ctrlX OS continue to develop rapidly in terms of its functionality and possible use cases. Bosch Rexroth therefore publishes new releases of apps and engineering software at regular intervals.
This gives the community, customers and developers access to new functions. LTS releases (Long Term Support) are published once a year at the end of July. They are maintained over several years in the form of Service Packs (SPx) with bug fixes and security updates.
For details on release cycle and download area, see Release cycle of Apps and Engineering software.
Following are recent new features and highlights of the current version since the 2.6 SPx LTS release.
New ctrlX OS Apps by Bosch Rexroth 👍
ctrlX OS - Security Scanner - Security Assessment: Collect comprehensive network information
ctrlX OS - Firewall - new basic license, see ctrlX OS - Firewall Basic: to fulfill basic cybersecurity requirements at a fair price
How to: Firewall Basic, a practical guideBosch Rexroth - ROKIT Locator - Laser-based localization software for mobile robots and manual forklifts
New ctrlX OS Apps by ctrlX World Partners
Bosch - IP Suite Universal Machine Connector (UMC) - Universal Machine Connector (UMC) from Bosch Manufacturing Solutions is an application for connecting to different industrial controls, shopfloor devices, IT systems or other data sources.
HELIO – The Future of Industrial HMI - HELIO is the professional tool for creating intuitive HMIs for all requirements
logiccloud Control - Virtual PLC - Modular, hardware-independent Industrial Control according to IEC 61131
MPDV - Smart Factory Gateway - Simple acquisition and integration of machine data into shopfloor and business applications
WAGO EEBUS Connector - Efficient energy management with the WAGO EEBUS Connector app
WITTENSTEIN - cynapse® Connect - Service for integrating sensor data enabling condition monitoring systems
WITTENSTEIN - cynapse® Monitor - Captures all features provided by cynapse® and visualizes them on a dashboard
WITTENSTEIN - cynapse® Analyze - Supports with intelligent gearbox monitoring for maximum performance
New ctrlX CORE hardware products 👍
The modular ctrlX COREplus is now available across all performance levels with AI capabilities. An optional AI module enables efficient AI integration directly at the edge, enabling localized processing and analytics.
New features
ctrlX OS - the operation system - new features and updates
Mount network drives with NFS and SMB 👍: mounting network shares for reading and writing files.
Storage: File browser and WebDAV for external media (USB stick and SD card) 👍: directly read and edit content on mounted storage media.
Storage: Partition Manager
Support of redundancy network protocols HSR and PRP
TCP Dump
Backup improved UX: support of password, selectively restore
Solutions: Configurations and content can be compared interactively
Fieldbus & communication
ctrlX OS - PROFINET Device: to connect the ctrlX COREplus as a subsytem below a third party PROFINET controller.
ctrlX OS - EtherNet/IP Adapter: to allow the ctrlX COREplus to connect as a subsystem below a third party EtherNet/IP scanner.
ctrlX OS - PLC
NEW PLC License Packets: tailored Solutions for the application needs. 👍
Integration of CODESYS V3.5.20.50
Open API provides functions to manage PLC applications
New authorization scheme (View, Operate, Manage)
New CODESYS PLC Add-ons EtherCAT Master, IO-Link
(only via CODESYS EtherCAT Master or CODESYS PROFINET Controller)New CODESYS Visualization licenses, scalable and optimally tailored to your application 👍
Loading of configurations with different retain data size
ctrlX OS - OPC UA Client
Performance improvements (Data Layer Bulk functions)
Supports now built-in data types “Bytestring” and “Guid”
ctrlX OS - OPC UA Server
Supports now built-in data types “Bytestring” and “Guid”
Reading variables returns now SourceTimestamp, ServerTimestamp & StatusCode
New authorization scheme (Access, View, Manage)
ctrlX OS - OPC UA Pub/Sub
Configuration is saved in JSON format
Configuration via ctrlX Data Layer possible
For an improved diagnostic: displaying publisher / subscriber configuration in ctrlX CORE UI 👍
Supporting nodes from loaded OPC UA information models
Runtime mode (standby function) for publisher / subscriber
ctrlX MOTION
Standard Motion
Performance boost for ctrlX CORE X3 and motion applications
new functions to support axes in open loop operation
special torque controlled operation mode for clamping or tightening applications
flexible operation mode change on-the-fly
programmable limit switch function
extended web based engineering for complete configuration and commissioning of motion systems
extended motion interface for easy PLC commanding of all motion functions 👍
Synchronized
Writing a Flexprofile depending on your needs up to deterministic writing for high dynamic applications
Extension of our PLCOpen function blocks and AxisInterface for more details and an easy access to needed information
More flexibility via activating the slave axis offset at the switching position of a flexprofile
Access to real time data of raw actual position of the encoder axis which can be used for applications like flying shear
Additional filters for encoder axis with and without the extrapolation of the actual position value
Extension of the ctrlX MOTION Cam Designer with the preview and the option to export a function block for the PLC Engineering
Robotic
Belt synchronous movement for Articulated, Delta and all other Kinematics 👍
Several kinematics like Delta 2-Axis slide, 3-Axis Flex Stamper, 2D Parallelogram, customer specific Kinematics via ctrlX Motion API
Point list
Jogging in Tool Coordinates
Extended blending function with PathSmooth
Improved and very smooth 2D orientation interpolation (SLERP)
Working areas / safe zones online changeable with continuous monitoring
Violated protection zone or workspace in the Data Layer
Programming via G-Code
Graphical programming with IDE:
Templates and modules with parent / child relation
Auto import of axes and kinematics configuration from Motion app
Teach Points from ctrlX MOTION as input for blocks
Several scopes available: full access, editor, viewer
CNC
G-Code Runtime App
Interpreter with basic set of common G-Code Commands (G0, G1, G2, G3, G47, G54, M-Codes, ...)
Modern High Level Language Extension with Variables, Sub-Programs and control structures (IF, THEN, ELSE, WHILE, FOR, ...)
Read and Write Access to the complete Data Layer
Realtime synchronization with other Apps like PLC
SDK for real time programming available for the next level of freedom in motion control. Motion programmers can use the complete tool box of the ctrlX MOTION app and extend it with own special motion IP via the ctrlX MOTION API.
ctrlX OS - EtherCAT Master
Configure and use multiple EtherCAT Master instances on one ctrlX COREplus X5 or X7 👍
Usage of Sync Units to group your slaves for a purposeful error reaction of the different sync units
Up to 1024 slaves with up to 512 sync units on an ctrlX COREplus X7
Easily read and write variables via the web Engineering without additional software
Display of SoE parameterlists with the export option in the web Engineering
3D Viewer
Improvements of real-time subscription to ctrlX Data Layer nodes
Implementation of visual Effects (visibility, color, transparency) for model objects depending on the value of ctrlX Data Layer nodes
Introduction of parent favorite model, which applies to new users and those without model management permission
Customization of the graphics window (color of background and grid, vertical gradient, panoramic image)
Support of parallel kinematics in conjunction with the ctrlX MOTION 👍
to visualize any kinds of robot typesGraphical representation of teach points for robotic applications defined in ctrlX MOTION
New licenses: Basic license for integrating the 3D Viewer into a machine or robot HMI, Advanced license with the complete functionality, e.g. for engineering purposes (Note: existing licenses remain valid)
ctrlX OS - Model Connect
In addition to the ability to run MATLAB scripts and Simulink models within the ctrlX OS environment, the Model Connect app now also supports the upload, compilation and execution of Co-Simulation FMU V2.0 👍
Beside the already available view and manage permission the operate permission has now introduced
New license: Advanced license for limitless usage of the Model Connect App (Note: existing Performance licenses remain valid)
ctrlX OS - Oscilloscope
Performance improvements during the rendering of large amounts of data
Reading, displaying data from and saving of single-axis measurement data to InfluxDB
"Continue" mode for single axis measurement
UX improvements for an user-friendly application👍
re-design of the UI, persistency of instance changes, bit analysis diagram, user-defined signal aliases
Engineering
ctrlX PLC Engineering
Integration of CODESYS V3.5.20.50
all licenses at a glance: adapted license overview shows now also PLC Add-on licenses 👍
Library CXA_DataLayer supports data type WSTRING, subscriptions & events
Library CXA_OPC_UACLIENT is optimized for subscriptions
Library CXA_EthercatMaster
Reading the configured AoE-NetID of an EtherCAT slave device
Asynchronous reading of data from an AoE EtherCAT slave
Asynchronous writing of data to an AoE EtherCAT slave
Reading the Distributed Clock configuration as specified in the EtherCAT network configuration
ctrlX IO Engineering
Integration of CODESYS V3.5.20.30
Memory viewer for a detailed overview of the raw data
Support of SCI (Sub Device Configuration Information) files for the configurations of complex devices
Virtual Ethernet port is enabled by default in new projects
Improvements in handling Sync Units
PDO (Process Data Objects) upload via I/O Engineering
ctrlX WORKS
New "Utilities"menu with the "ctrlX OS Recovery" utility program for creation of ctrlX OS recovery media
Interface for integrating external software into the ctrlX WORKS frame 👍
to have one central entry point for all engineering tasks, including third-party tools
Download
Software Download here.
[table]
Release
Release date
Release notes
1.20 LTS
03/2022
2.6 LTS
07/2024
3.6 LTS
07/2025