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Frequently asked questions about MachineCopilot
Here we answer the questions maintenance, production and IT ask us most often. Is your question missing? Give us a call: +49 7805 9589-0.
Technology
How is MachineCopilot connected to our controller?
Read-only, via standard interfaces such as OPC UA or umati, or via documented manufacturer interfaces. The assistant reads, for example, current alarms, message history, operating hours and the active program. It does not write to the PLC or CNC. How deep the connection goes differs from controller to controller; which data is read is agreed jointly in the pilot.
What hardware do we need, and what AI is behind it?
You do not need any hardware of your own. MachineCopilot runs on a compact edge unit that we bring and install at or next to the machine. We choose hardware and AI models for each application; we are happy to discuss the details in the pilot consultation. Operation is by voice or touch at a terminal next to the controller, and for maintenance staff also on a tablet.
In which languages can you talk to MachineCopilot?
Multilingual interaction is part of the feature set: your team asks by voice or touch. Which languages your team uses with the machine and whether voice input works reliably in your hall is tested in the pilot, right at your machine.
Data and IT
Does our data leave the plant? What does our IT need to approve?
Your data does not leave the plant. The edge unit works in the machine network; no internet connection is needed. This removes the need to approve a cloud connection. Your IT is still involved: it provides network access to the machine and can audit the system. Loaded documents and captured knowledge are stored on your hardware and belong to you. Evaluation across several sites is optional and never a prerequisite.
Which documents do you need, and how good do they have to be?
Everything that exists for the machine: operating manual, maintenance schedule, controller manual, wiring diagrams, spare parts lists, fault lists, setup sheets and, if available, fault and service reports. PDF is fine; no preparation is needed in advance. To be honest: the quality of the answers depends on the documentation. Because every answer cites its source, your team can check every answer, and gaps in the documentation become visible.
Pilot and effort
How does the pilot work, and what does it cost?
The pilot takes four to eight weeks: define the use case, set up MachineCopilot on one machine family, use it in shift operation and evaluate the success metrics agreed in advance. It has a fixed scope and a fixed price, which you will know after the workshop and before the project starts. Further machines and sites follow only once the metrics have been met. Pilot process in detail.
How much effort does our own team have to put in?
Manageable, but not zero. You need a contact person from maintenance or production, the machine’s documents, one workshop day to start, and two to four key users who collect questions and rate answers during the pilot. We capture your team’s hands-on knowledge together and in a structured way. We take care of installation and setup.
Use
How safe is it when the AI operates functions?
The safety system remains untouched. Emergency stop, safety circuits and real-time control stay in the certified safety system; the AI has no access to them. Voice commands are mapped only to a tested, approved command catalogue; the AI does not improvise. Critical actions run only after explicit confirmation, and there are no automatic parameter changes. Operation by voice command is a next-stage feature: you decide whether and how far to use it.
Does MachineCopilot also work on existing machines?
Yes. MachineCopilot is vendor-neutral and sits as a layer on top of the existing equipment. No new controller and no intervention in the safety system are needed. One assistant can cover machines from different manufacturers instead of one app per manufacturer. How much live data we can read depends on the controller; we clarify this in the workshop.
Can we, as a machine builder, integrate MachineCopilot into our own machines?
MachineCopilot can be integrated into new machines and retrofitted to existing ones. For machine builders, this means your customers get the knowledge about your machine right at the machine, locally and without a cloud connection at the operator’s site. We are happy to discuss what integration into your product and service could look like.
Contact
Your question was not included?
Call us or write to us. In the pilot consultation we also clarify the questions that can only be answered at your machine.
Or reach us directly: +49 7805 9589-0·info@techtory.de
We usually get back to you within one working day.