Background

Robotics has traditionally relied on physical hardware for development, making prototyping slow, expensive, and risky. Each iteration often required real-world testing, leading to high costs and limited scalability. With advances in physics simulation and computing, a new approach has emerged: Software-Defined Robotics (SDR). By decoupling robot logic from hardware, SDR allows developers to design, test, and iterate entirely in virtual environments — accelerating innovation while reducing cost and complexity.

What is the

Software Defined Robotics?

Software-Defined Robotics (SDR) is a new paradigm in robot development that separates robot intelligence from robot hardware. Unlike traditional PLC-based systems, where control logic is tightly bound to specific hardware and physical testing is required for every change, SDR enables developers to design, simulate, and validate robot behavior entirely in software — before touching a single screw. This shift allows for faster iteration, lower development costs, and more flexible deployment across diverse robotic platforms.

Comparison Between Conventional and SDR-Based Robot System Architectures

Decoupling Hardware :

Conventional systems are tightly coupled to specific hardware, making integration across brands and products complex and inefficient.

SDR abstracts software from hardware, enabling cross-platform development and reuse of control logic.

This decoupling accelerates innovation, simplifies integration, and supports flexible, scalable robot systems.

Keep System Consistency :

SDR uses middleware to provide a unified and consistent API across different hardware and software components.

This consistency reduces integration errors, simplifies maintenance, and ensures long-term system stability.

The same interface can be extended to synchronize real and virtual robots, enabling seamless digital twin integration

Why Robot Software Defined Robotics is

Essential

In traditional robot integration, development begins with hardware — designing mechanical and electrical parts, assembling them, and only then testing robot software like PLC and vision systems. If any issue arises, costly and time-consuming revisions must be made across hardware and software, including re-manufacturing parts and rewriting code.The Software-Defined Robotics (SDR) approach reverses this process. It starts with simulation: virtual models are created, and application logic is developed and tested in a fully simulated environment. Only after validation are physical components built, dramatically reducing the cost and risk of late-stage changes.As shown in the image, SDR eliminates most of the rework cycles present in conventional workflows, enabling faster iterations, leaner budgets, and more reliable deployment.

From Hardware-First to Software-Defined: A New Era in Robotics Integration

With Middleware

Without Middleware

Integration
Complexity

Simplified integration
with a unified system.

High complexity due to
different robot protocols.

Development
Costs

Lower costs with
a single protocol.

High costs from implementing
individual protocols.

Management

Easy and efficient
management.

Difficult and time-
consuming to manage.

Expansion

Scalable and
flexible expansion.

Challenging and slow
to scale the system.

Software
Maintenance

Flexible and cost-effective
software updates and maintenance.

Complex and costly
updates and maintenance.

Benefits of Software Defined Robotics

Software-Defined Robotics (SDR) redefines robot development by decoupling software from hardware, enabling flexible integration, long-term maintainability, and simulation-driven design. This approach not only reduces cost and complexity but also increases adaptability, accelerates innovation, and supports sustainable practices—delivering greater value with less resource waste.

Hardware Independence

SDR separates software logic from specific hardware, allowing robot intelligence to run on any compatible platform—enabling cross-device portability and reducing hardware lock-in.

Flexible and Scalable Integration

Robotic systems can be modularly assembled and expanded, with the same control logic applied across single or multiple robots, making large-scale deployment easier and more efficient.

Sustainable Management with Unified Middleware

A consistent software interface (API) through middleware ensures long-term maintainability, easier updates, and reduced technical debt—supporting continuous development and integration.

Maximized ROI with Contributing to ESG

SDR enables simulation-based development, minimizing hardware waste and energy use by reducing physical prototyping. This supports ESG goals while cutting costs and speeding up deployment—ultimately maximizing return on investment through sustainable, efficient innovation.