The Japan Robot Association (JARA) and the Fraunhofer Society of Germany jointly developed the basic IoT technology to be used in the factory, which is compatible with the “ORiN” structure system — a middleware developed to connect robot users and software developers. Expectedly, a new standard should be that robots invented by a variety of makers can be operated well together, bringing about better cooperation in technology between 2018 to 2020.

ORiN is a middleware standard from Japan that makes it possible to link factory automation (FA) devices developed by different makers with application software used in the control system. It can be compatible with the data transmission and reception standard "OPC-UA" created in Europe and the United States, making it easy for the IoT technology to be used with various types of machines. The Fraunhofer Society has also focused on this advantage and has begun developing similar standards since March 2016.

JARA will co-sign an official business contract with Fraunhofer Society in February 2018 now that ORiN has been shown to effectively connect machines and software of different systems. 

Currently, the ORiN Forum which was initiated by JARA are still developing “ORiN 3,” a mutual collaboration between JARA and Fraunhofer Society. 

That JARA and Fraunhofer Society can mutually and collaboratively succeed in linking all types of standards not only gives convenience to the end users, but the software developers can also work more easily. The better quality of software, the more popular ORiN will be, expectedly.