As such, motion control is often associated with PC-based control that relies heavily on software functions. Soft motion is an emerging subset of PC-based control similar to the development of soft logic where motion control functions execute in software, entirely on the CPU of the industrial personal computer.
Soft motion is characterized by the absence of proprietary hardware or motion control boards.
With motion control as a PC-based function, integrating all parts of a control system can become a reality. These other functions include logic control, operator interface, supervisory control, data acquisition, communication, and system diagnostics. Application software aspects of soft motion, such as motion path generation, remain the same as in a standard motion control implementation. Real-time control, interface requirements Reliability and processing power of the operating system has been a restraint on the growth of soft motion. Availability of real-time extensions to the operating system, particularly to Microsoft Windows NT, is propelling the use of soft motion.