GE Accelerates Industrial Automation with UnderAutomation SDKs for Universal Robots and FANUC

A Global Industrial Leader Driven by Technology

General Electric (GE) is one of the world’s most influential industrial groups. For more than a century, GE has combined engineering excellence with large-scale industrialization across critical sectors such as aerospace, healthcare, and energy. At the core of this success lies a constant focus on innovation, automation, and the intelligent use of data.

As industrial systems grow more complex, automation is no longer just about robots executing motions. It is about software, connectivity, real-time data, and seamless integration between machines and enterprise systems. This strategic vision led GE to acquire the UnderAutomation communication SDKs and toolkits for Universal Robots and FANUC, strengthening its ability to build scalable, software-driven automation architectures.

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GE Aerospace and GE HealthCare: High-Demand Industrial Environments

GE Aerospace

GE Aerospace designs and manufactures aircraft engines, propulsion systems, and advanced aerospace technologies. Its factories and research centers rely on highly automated production lines and robotic cells to meet extreme requirements in terms of precision, reliability, and traceability.

Robotics plays a central role in:

• advanced manufacturing and handling of complex parts
• automated surface treatment and finishing processes
• inspection, testing, and qualification
• research programs focused on robotics, autonomy, and intelligent manufacturing

In such environments, software control and real-time communication with industrial robots are critical to ensure consistency, quality, and continuous improvement.

Caption: Fanuc robots used in aerospace industry.

Sources

GE HealthCare

GE HealthCare is a global leader in medical technologies, particularly in diagnostic imaging systems such as MRI and advanced scanners. Its manufacturing sites operate under strict regulatory and quality constraints, while producing highly sophisticated equipment for hospitals worldwide.

Automation supports:

• precision assembly of complex sub-systems
• material handling and testing operations
• quality control and traceability
• increasingly flexible and collaborative production workflows

These requirements make robust, transparent, and software-centric robot integration essential.

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Why UnderAutomation Matters to GE

UnderAutomation develops industrial communication SDKs and software toolkits that allow engineering teams to interact directly with robots at the software level. Rather than relying solely on proprietary robot interfaces, developers can build custom applications that communicate seamlessly with robots.

By integrating UnderAutomation SDKs for:

• Universal Robots
• FANUC

GE reinforces a software-first approach to industrial automation, aligned with its digital and industrial strategy.

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Key Benefits of UnderAutomation SDKs in GE’s Industries

Even without disclosing specific internal projects, the value of UnderAutomation SDKs in aerospace and healthcare manufacturing is clear.

Simplified IT-OT Integration

UnderAutomation SDKs enable direct communication between robots and:

• MES, SCADA, and ERP systems
• custom supervision and monitoring applications
• data analytics and predictive maintenance platforms

This supports the convergence of shop-floor automation with enterprise-level digital systems.

Software-Based Robot Control and Monitoring

Engineering teams can:

• read and write robot variables in real time
• monitor robot status, cycles, and alarms
• trigger robot actions from external applications
• develop custom HMIs and dashboards

This level of control is essential in high-value, high-risk manufacturing environments such as aerospace and medical technology.

Flexibility Across Multiple Robot Brands

Large industrial groups like GE often operate mixed robot fleets. UnderAutomation provides:

• a consistent software interface across robot brands
• reduced development and maintenance effort
• easier deployment of standardized automation solutions across sites

Enabling Innovation and R&D

For research teams and advanced manufacturing engineers, the SDKs support:

• rapid prototyping of automation concepts
• experimentation with AI, vision systems, and autonomous behaviors
• faster transition from research to industrial deployment

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A Shared Vision of Modern Automation

GE’s acquisition of UnderAutomation SDKs reflects a broader transformation of industrial automation: robots are becoming software-defined assets within connected industrial ecosystems.

By combining:

• GE’s industrial scale and engineering expertise
• the robustness of FANUC industrial robots
• the flexibility of Universal Robots collaborative platforms
• and UnderAutomation’s powerful software communication layer

GE is laying the foundation for more connected, flexible, and intelligent factories, across both aerospace and healthcare.

This customer story illustrates how modern industrial leaders are moving beyond traditional automation, embracing software as a strategic enabler of performance, innovation, and long-term competitiveness.

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Useful links

-https://www.geaerospace.com/company/research -https://skiesmag.com/features/smart-factory-ge-aviation