FANUC to Launch Safety Software PLC for R-50iA in January 2027

automation-news.jp reported on Nov. 4, 2026, that FANUC will launch a “safety software PLC” for its R-50iA robot controller in January 2027. The product is based on CODESYS and is said to eliminate the need for an external safety PLC. It is reported to control signals from safety devices, including emergency stops, safety doors and safety laser scanners.

According to automation-news.jp, the product controls signals from safety devices on the R-50iA and is designed to eliminate the need for an external safety PLC. For robot equipment designers, it offers a basis for deciding whether a conventional configuration with an external device or one using a software PLC is better suited to their application requirements.

The product’s focus is on moving robot safety control from an external PLC to software on the R-50iA controller. automation-news.jp reported that it will control signals from emergency stops, safety doors and safety laser scanners. The key consideration, then, is not simply the addition of a software product, but how far the connection between safety devices and the robot controller can be integrated. However, the reported information does not establish which safety devices are supported or what configuration, certification or compatibility requirements apply to existing equipment. Our coverage of ITmedia’s report on physical AI safety design involving FANUC CNCs concerned CNCs, a different equipment category from the software PLC for the R-50iA. Both raise the question of how safety is built into control functions, but their designs and conditions of use cannot be assumed to be the same. If the new product provides safety functions as software on a robot controller, it could give users another option for dividing responsibilities among safety devices on the machine, the controller and an external PLC. A key implementation question is which configurations and applications are covered by the reported claim that it eliminates the need for an external device. Industrial robot installations require the design and connection of equipment that includes safety devices. If the product eliminates external PLCs in a broad range of applications, it could affect system components and design procedures, but the report alone does not establish that it will reduce costs or installation time. Evaluating its benefits will require comparisons with conventional configurations and confirmation of supported safety devices and conditions of use. CODESYS-based alone does not indicate how programs are created or maintained, or whether the product is compatible with third-party equipment. Points to confirm include the R-50iA configurations covered, the scope of applicable functions, compliance with safety standards and requirements for installation in existing equipment. Only after those details are available will it be possible to assess whether the product replaces external PLCs or is an option limited to specific equipment configurations.