A Manufacturing Language
IBM's robot programming language for factory automation.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
IBM developed A Manufacturing Language (AML) in the 1970s and 80s to program its RS 1 robot and other machines in the Robot Manufacturing System line. Factory automation customers like Plessey and Northern Telecom used these systems. IBM no longer lists AML as available, though used robots and parts sometimes appear on auction sites and are restored by hobbyists. Variants include AML/2, AML/E, AML/V, and AML/X. Programs can call subroutines written in AML, C, or FORTRAN. Code is written off-line and tested with a simulator, then uploaded to the robot’s control unit RAM for execution.
- field
- Robot programming language
- creator
- IBM
- era
- 1970s and 80s
- platform
- RS 1 robot and Robot Manufacturing System
- known_for
- Factory automation, off-line programming and simulation
- versions
- AML/2, AML/E, AML/V, AML/X
Lore & Background
A Manufacturing Language (AML) was developed by IBM in the 1970s and 80s to program its RS 1 robot and other robots within the Robot Manufacturing System product line. The language allowed programs to call subroutines written in AML, C, or FORTRAN, and programs were coded off-line, then tested with an off-line simulator before being uploaded to RAM in the robot's control unit for execution. Customers such as Plessey and Northern Telecom used AML systems in factory automation.
Reader's Guide
A Manufacturing Language (AML) represents an early effort by IBM to standardize robot programming for industrial automation. Its significance lies in its integration of off-line programming and simulation, which allowed code to be developed and tested without tying up production robots. The language's ability to call subroutines in C and FORTRAN reflected a pragmatic approach to leveraging existing software ecosystems. AML's legacy is limited, as IBM no longer lists it as available, but its influence persists in the hobbyist community, where used robots and parts are refurbished. The language's structure, as seen in the peg-in-hole example, demonstrates a modular, subroutine-based approach typical of early industrial robot languages. AML's versions—AML/2, AML/E, AML/V, and AML/X—show iterative development, though the language ultimately faded from commercial availability.
Did You Know?
- AML programs can call subroutines written in AML, C, or FORTRAN.
- Programs are coded off-line and can be tested with an off-line simulator.
- Prior to execution, programs are uploaded to RAM in the robot's control unit.
- Robots and parts can occasionally be found in used condition on auction sites and are refurbished by hobbyists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created A Manufacturing Language?
IBM developed AML during the 1970s and 1980s as a purpose-built programming language for its robotic manufacturing hardware.
What was AML actually used for in the real world?
It served as the control language for IBM's RS 1 robot and the wider Robot Manufacturing System, powering factory automation lines at customers such as Plessey and Northern Telecom.
How did a developer actually write and run an AML program?
Code was authored off-line, validated in a simulator, and then uploaded into the robot's control-unit RAM for execution; AML programs could also call subroutines written in C or FORTRAN.
What versions of AML were released?
The language went through several iterations, with known variants including AML/2, AML/E, AML/V, and AML/X.
Is AML still available or supported today?
IBM has removed AML from its current product catalog, though retired robots and spare parts occasionally pop up on auction sites where hobbyist restorers still work on them.
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