HxGN Robotic Automation
A connected platform where engineers plan, program and execute robotic inspection — uniting digital-twin modelling, automatic path generation, virtual commissioning and live cell execution in a single intuitive workspace.
Problem & Context
Programming a robotic inspection cell used to mean stitching together vendor-specific tools, swapping files between systems, and discovering issues only after the real cell was built and powered on. The product set out to change that: bring the entire workflow — from modelling the cell as a digital twin, to generating robot paths automatically, to simulating and validating the program offline, to running it on the real shop floor — into one connected platform that scales across sensors, robot brands and metrology software.
Responsibilities
- Led the UI team for the engineer-facing desktop application: architectural direction, mentoring, code reviews and technical hiring
- Designed the modular shell that lets the platform integrate new sensors, robot brands and metrology software without rework
- Built the cell-modelling and layout tools where engineers drag and drop parts, fixtures, robots and sensors to compose a digital twin of their inspection cell
- Integrated the 3D engine that powers full-cell visualization, robot motion preview and real-time collision detection
- Delivered the path-programming workspace where engineers compose, validate and simulate inspection programs before execution
- Established the reusable control and theming system that gave the application a coherent look-and-feel across every workflow
Architecture & Stack
- Modular desktop shell with a plug-in model for sensors, robot brands and metrology integrations — open by design
- Digital-twin foundation: drag-and-drop machine and cell modelling, CAD import, visual alignment between virtual cell and real shop floor
- 3D visualization engine for cell geometry, robot motion preview and real-time collision detection
- Backed by simulation, data and control services that handle the heavy compute off the UI thread
- Direct interface to live cell hardware for online execution, plus a fully offline simulation mode for virtual commissioning
- GPU-accelerated simulation loops for fluid interaction with large cell models
Outcomes
- A single connected workspace replaced the patchwork of vendor tools — engineers plan, program and execute inspection from one application
- Digital-twin modelling and offline simulation enable full virtual commissioning, so issues are caught before they reach the shop floor
- Automatic path generation cut the time from inspection plan to ready-to-run program from days to minutes
- Plug-in architecture made the platform genuinely scalable across new robots, sensors and metrology software as the product grew
- Vendor-agnostic execution gave manufacturers freedom to use their preferred robot brands and Hexagon's sensor portfolio without lock-in
Demo
Learn More
Official product page: hexagon.com ↗