Discover Jody, an alternative to ABB RAPID that offers additional functions and a flexible approach to controlling ABB robots
Programming ABB Industrial Robots in Jody
Jody is a less widely known but interesting programming language for ABB robots, serving as an alternative to the popular ABB RAPID. Thanks to its modular design and extended functions, Jody enables precise motion control and dynamic integration with external systems, such as vision or force systems. At NexaRob, we use Jody primarily in projects requiring non-standard motion solutions or particular flexibility in defining control logic.
Why Jody?
- Flexibility in trajectory definition: The language supports both standard point-to-point movements and more complex paths with speed and acceleration control.
- Extended integration options: Jody can connect to additional libraries and control systems, making it easier to design applications with unusual requirements.
- Full Control over the Robot: Thanks to its open structure and the ability to define custom procedures, Jody can be an ideal tool for complex or unique industrial operations.
How Can NexaRob Help?
- Needs analysis: Together with the customer, we assess whether Jody is the right solution for a given project, taking into account process specifics and the expected level of code complexity.
- Code Creation and Optimization: We create applications in Jody, test them in a simulation environment and fine-tune them at the workstation to achieve high efficiency and reliability.
- Service and training: We offer comprehensive support, including training for operators and engineers, as well as assistance in maintaining and developing the system as production needs grow.
See what distinguishes the Jody language and in which areas programming ABB robots in this environment provides significant benefits
Key Functions and Application Examples in Jody
Although ABB RAPID is a widely used standard in ABB robotics, Jody is sometimes chosen for more complex or non-standard applications where RAPID's basic functionality is not always sufficient. Below are the most important Jody features and example areas where it performs particularly well:
Advanced Motion Instructions
In addition to standard commands, such as linear, joint and circular movement, Jody offers additional parameters defining acceleration, deceleration and trajectory profiles, providing greater control over dynamics.
Application: Applications requiring exceptionally smooth transitions between points or strict maintenance of movement speed, for example in the food or pharmaceutical industries.
Extended Integration with Vision Systems
Built-in functions and libraries make it easier to connect 2D/3D cameras, allowing the ABB robot to dynamically correct its movement based on images of the surroundings.
Application: Sorting randomly scattered parts, real-time quality control, precision assembly in electronics.
Ability to Define Custom Procedures and Libraries
Jody enables the creation of custom functions and modules, allowing programmers to adapt the environment to the specific needs of a given application.
Application: Production lines with unusual processes where different tasks, such as bonding, soldering, and inspection, must be combined into a single sequence.
Advanced Safety Features
The language makes it easy to configure safety zones, monitor force and speed parameters, and define emergency robot stop procedures.
Application: Industries where human-robot contact is unavoidable, such as automotive and medical laboratories, as well as workplaces with stringent occupational health and safety requirements.
Industry Versatility
ABB robots using Jody can perform a wide range of tasks, from typical pick & place through welding and processing to highly advanced assembly projects requiring complex control logic.
Application: Automotive, electronics, food, pharmaceuticals, and even aerospace and space industries, including research and prototyping.
Jody is an alternative to ABB RAPID, providing additional functions and flexibility in path design and integration with external systems. NexaRob supports the implementation and maintenance of Jody applications, from early consulting through code development and testing to long-term service and system expansion. This enables your production to reach a higher level of automation and respond more effectively to changing market challenges.
Explore different ways to create code for ABB robots in Jody and choose the solution best suited to your processes
Main Programming Modes and Methods in Jody
ABB robots programmed in Jody offer several methods for creating and modifying applications, from quick editing on the operator panel to advanced offline tools that enable code optimization without downtime. At NexaRob, we select a method suited to the characteristics of your facility to ensure fast, safe and flexible implementation. The main modes are:
Teach Pendant (Online Programming)
- Direct editing: The operator uses the panel at the ABB robot to define movements point by point and store them in Jody code.
- Rapid Adjustments on the Line: Ideal when small changes or corrections are required during operation without shutting down the entire process.
- Limitations: More complex sequences, involving many points or complex logic, can be more difficult to enter using only the pendant.
Offline Programming (Simulation Environment)
- Working on a computer: Jody code can be created and tested in a simulation environment, such as RobotStudio with dedicated extensions, allowing trajectories to be checked and errors avoided without stopping production.
- Time savings: After verified code is uploaded to the robot, only minor adjustments are required, minimizing production-line downtime.
- Application: Advanced projects requiring detailed collision analysis, cycle-time testing, and integration with other systems (e.g. vision systems).
Remote Online Programming, Network-Based Control
- Remote access: With appropriate infrastructure security in place, NexaRob engineers or your specialists can connect to the ABB controller over the network and make code adjustments.
- Expert support: Enables a rapid response in the event of a failure or need for optimization without requiring physical presence at the robot.
Hybrid Approach
- Combining methods: The Teach Pendant is typically used for simple changes and calibration, while offline tools are used to develop and optimize more complex functions.
- Gradual improvement: Once written, code can be improved iteratively by testing alternative versions in a simulator and deploying final corrections online with minimal downtime.
Programming Methods in Jody are flexible and can be combined depending on the complexity of operations and the pace of production changes. This makes it possible to use ABB robots in many applications, from simple component handling to advanced assembly or welding tasks. In the following sections, we will look at how Jody integrates with vision systems and sensors, further increasing intelligence and safety ABB robots.
Discover how the Jody language allows ABB robots to use cameras and sensors to respond dynamically to changing line conditions
Integration with Vision Systems and Sensors in ABB Jody
ABB robots controlled in Jody do not have to be limited to reproducing static motion paths. By working with vision systems, force sensors, and other peripheral devices, they can actively correct their actions, improving the process and reducing errors. Below, we show how Jody facilitates this integration:
Vision Systems
- Protocols and libraries: Jody enables communication with 2D/3D cameras and real-time transfer of data about part position or shape to the robot.
- Trajectory Correction: If objects are arranged randomly, the robot can calculate a motion offset and immediately adjust its path, increasing the speed of pick and place operations.
Force and Torque Sensors
- Pressure Control: In applications requiring delicate assembly or joining of components, Jody can continuously monitor force and modify movement to avoid damage.
- Collision Detection: When torque on an axis exceeds the permissible threshold, the robot stops the operation and initiates an emergency procedure, protecting equipment and employees.
Integration with PLCs and Additional Axes
- Greater flexibility: ABB robots programmed with Jody can control additional axes, such as rotary tables, positioners, or vision devices, ensuring motion synchronization in an extended system.
- Application: Welding large components, precision assembly involving multiple stages, or palletizing products of different dimensions.
Application Examples
Food Industry
The camera recognizes the shape and size of packages, while the ABB robot, using Jody, dynamically adjusts its grip and position to sort products quickly on the conveyor.
Electronics
Assembly of integrated circuits with a force sensor controlling the pressure applied to components on the PCB, preventing pin damage.
Logistics
Sorting parcels in a warehouse by barcode and size, where data from the vision system enables continuous correction of motion offsets.
Thanks to integration with vision systems and sensors, ABB robots in Jody can dynamically adapt to changing conditions and increase the efficiency of the entire process. NexaRob helps with selecting and configuring suitable devices, writing and optimizing code, and training operators so that your production line can fully utilize the potential of automation and robotics.
See how Jody accelerated and improved the assembly of delicate components in the demanding electronics industry
Precision Assembly in the Electronics Industry with ABB Jody
We present an implementation example in the electronics sector, where ABB robots controlled using the alternative Jody language helped significantly accelerate the assembly process and improve the quality of final products. In the production of sensitive components, not only high speed but also precision that prevents damage is essential.
Context and Key Challenges
- Delicate integrated circuits and sensors: Even minimal excess force or inaccurate positioning could result in damage to the component or reduced quality.
- Complex Trajectories: Tight tolerances required smooth transitions between points, and the robot had to operate freely in multi-axis arrangements.
- Frequent Model Changes: The lines handled many product variants, requiring rapid code reconfiguration whenever new components were introduced.
Solutions in ABB Jody Code
Modular Structure of Assembly Code
Each activity, such as applying a seal or connecting a connector, was separated into an individual procedure in the code. Simple parameter modifications, such as speed or contact force, were sufficient to adapt the robot to a different device model.
Integration with a force sensor
A camera checked whether components were positioned correctly. If a deviation occurred, the robot corrected the trajectory by calculating the movement offset on the fly. This reduced the number of defective assemblies and improved the work of operators, who previously had to manually inspect some stages.
Vision Verification and Motion Correction
Thanks to the force sensor, the robot immediately stopped moving whenever excessive resistance was detected, preventing damage to components. Most cases of accidental pressure on delicate boards were eliminated, reducing costs and waste.
Results and Benefits
- Productivity Increase of Approximately 15-20%: Shorter cycle times and elimination of unnecessary downtime through efficient trajectory correction and dynamic force control.
- Fewer Rejected Components: Precise pressure control and vision correction reduced damage, lowering the production reject rate.
- Easy Adaptation to New Products: Jody's modularity enabled rapid code adaptation when additional variants of electronic devices were introduced.
This example shows that ABB Jody can effectively increase the speed and precision of assembly in the electronics industry, especially where maintaining tight tolerances is essential. NexaRob provided comprehensive project support, from application development and hardware integration to final testing and operator training, enabling the company to benefit from advanced and reliable ABB robotics.
Learn how to maintain high performance and compliance with occupational safety standards when operating ABB robots in Jody, even as production requirements grow
Code Optimization and Safety Procedures in ABB Jody
After building an application in Jody, continuous code improvement and compliance with safety standards are essential. NexaRob recommends several practices that help ABB robots operate efficiently and reliably:
Cycle Time and Motion Analysis
- Collecting statistics: The robot can record the number of cycles, errors, or deviations in movement. Analyzing these data makes it easier to identify areas for optimization.
- Trajectory Refactoring: Often, minor speed adjustments or removal of unnecessary motion points can shorten the cycle without negatively affecting quality.
Code Structure and Modularity
- Removing repeated fragments: Creating shared procedures and functions reduces the risk of errors and shortens software-update time.
- Clear Naming: Clear and consistent variable names (e.g. pAssemblyPos, nMaxForce) facilitate teamwork and debugging.
Safety Procedures
- Emergency stop conditions: Jody allows responses to be defined when safety zones are exceeded or a collision is detected. We recommend regular testing to ensure the system responds correctly.
- Current regulations: If industry standards change, for example in automotive or pharmaceuticals, Jody code should be updated to keep pace with new occupational health and safety and quality requirements.
Updates and development
- New firmware versions: ABB occasionally releases software improvements. Assessing their value can help improve performance or extend robot functionality.
- Project Scalability: Jody code can be expanded if a company plans to add more robots or devices, making it easy to adapt the line to production growth.
Thanks to regular code optimization and attention to procedures safety in V+, robots Adept/Omron maintain high efficiency with minimal risk of failure. NexaRob supports these activities through code audits, consultations, and modernization advice, allowing your team to focus on developing its core business and responding quickly to market changes.
Clear Up Your Questions About Developing and Maintaining ABB Jody Applications and Learn About Our Support Model
Frequently Asked Questions
Below we present answers to the most frequently asked questions about ABB robots programmed in Jody. If you do not find the explanation you are looking for, contact NexaRob. We will be happy to discuss your project and present specific proposals tailored to the needs of your line.
Jody is sometimes regarded as more flexible and allowing deeper code modification than RAPID. It may require a somewhat different approach, but it often proves more user-friendly for projects requiring non-standard trajectories and broader integrations. NexaRob offers training that enables your team to get up to speed quickly.
ABB robots programmed in Jody can be found in industries such as electronics for precision assembly, automotive for welding and quality control, food for packaging, and pharmaceuticals for handling delicate products. Jody is particularly useful where non-standard motion solutions are required.
Yes. RobotStudio, extended with appropriate plugins and libraries, enables code to be created and initially verified without stopping production. This reduces downtime and helps avoid potential errors during line commissioning.
Jody supports communication protocols that enable cooperation with 2D/3D cameras and force and torque sensors. The code can then dynamically adjust movement based on readings from external devices, supporting intelligent pick & place, assembly and welding.
These are generally industrial ABB robots requiring guarding and safety systems such as scanners and light curtains. However, some ABB collaborative models, such as GoFa and SWIFTI, can be programmed in a Jody-like style, although a more standard environment is often used. Matching the equipment and code to occupational health and safety requirements is essential.
It depends on the variability of your processes. If new product variants appear or new devices must be integrated, the code will be modified more frequently. On a stable line, changes may be less frequent. Jody's modular structure makes corrections easier and accelerates adaptation.
Yes. We work with a global network of suppliers, including ABB. We advise on selecting optimal robot models and accessories, write code in Jody, and provide service support and assistance with modernization.
Yes, but it requires understanding differences in syntax and approaches to motion. NexaRob assists with migration by analyzing the existing logic and parameters so they can be transferred to the new language while preserving key functions. Adaptation is often easier than writing the code completely from scratch.
We encourage you to contact us by email or phone. NexaRob will be happy to analyze your needs, propose Jody-code solutions and provide training. This can help your production line operate more efficiently, safely and flexibly in response to dynamic market requirements.
Do you have more questions?
Contact NexaRob. We offer comprehensive support in designing, implementing, and maintaining Jody applications. Together, we will ensure that your ABB robots operate at maximum efficiency, with minimal risk of errors and in full compliance with applicable industry standards.
Automate Your Business with NexaRob - Contact Us!
Interesting Facts from Around the World
Vision-based navigation for quadruped robots: mapless, precise, and with deep control.
Researchers at Amazon Science have developed a new approach to navigation for four-legged robots that allows them to move safely.
New multimodal dataset for analyzing engagement in human-robot interaction.
Researchers from Seoul University have developed a new protocol for collecting data to build a dynamic, multimodal dataset.
New ARTiS gripper for precise tool manipulation in disassembly processes.
The new robot gripper called ARTiS has been accepted for publication in the TASE journal and can
FANUC presents Physical AI and digital twins at IMTS 2026
At IMTS 2026, FANUC America presented new solutions based on Physical AI that are designed to change
GAM: a new base model for robotic manipulation in industry
Amazon has introduced the Generalized Action Model (GAM) - an advanced foundational model for robotic manipulation that can