Use of – IF Then Else conditions.
In programming one of the most used features is the IF or conditions based statement because that’s the hearth of automatic choice of conditions and this is very often then main purpose of computer program.
In the UR we have the IF statement to use.
Note: Comparison of Strings are not available in UR.
Insert an IF statement into the program.
Define the IF statement by clicking on the formula button.
This will bring up a screen where we can choose conditions for the IF statement to check on. In this case we choose an Input to check on.
In this case it means that if Input 0 is true the IF statement is true and the lines in the IF statement will be executed.
Below the IF expression definition field is a check box called ”Check expression continuously”.
If this is checked the robot will check IF ”digital_in[0]”= True is true also during the execution of the program lines in the IF statement. This means that if the ” digital_in[0]” becomes 0 during the IF execution then the rest of the program lines inside the IF will not be executed. This can lead to unintended function if not handled correct.
Below the IF statement program lines is to be inserted that will be executed if the IF statement is True. This can also be considered a program inside the IF statement and it can be as big as our main program, but often this is short and to set outputs that is dependant of the IF condition.
In this case we choose to set a output high – wait 2 seconds and set it low again e.g. starting a conveyor for 2 seconds.
Check expression continuously.
This is an explanation for what happens if the “Check expression continuously” is not handled carefully.
Instead of an Input we will check on a variable instead because then it is easy to see the meaning and difference.
Consider this small program.
Initially the variable “var_1” is set to 0 – which means the IF statement is false and will not be executed – until we reach after Waypoint_3 – then the “var_1” is set to 1 and therefore the IF statement is true and we be started to be executed.
But in this case we have set the “Check expression continuously” checked.
What happens now – is that the first few lines under the IF statement will be executed e.g. the Digital output 2 will go on, but when we reach “var_1 = 0” in the IF statement, then we actually change the condition of the IF expression check – which now becomes false – and therefore the program jumps out of this IF routine already – and the digital output 7 will never go on.
Sometimes we will use Subroutines, but the effect will be the same.
This program will do exactly like the previous program, but we have used SubProgram method and same thing – the Digital Output 7 will never go on although it says clearly so in the SubProgram, but the IF expression is already False.
Here we have used a variable to show the effect, but it could as well have been a Digital Input we have used for the IF expression check – and the same will happen if the Digital Input state change while the program are executing the IF program lines – if the IF expression becomes False during this time – the rest of the program lines will not be executed. If such state changes right at the moment the IF was true – (but now false) none of the line in the IF statement are executed.
Combinations of expressions:
In a conditional expression you can have combinations e.g.
IF input_1 = High AND input_2 = Low
Then do something
But make sure you are using normal mathematically rules – so use of parentheses are a good thing like this
IF (input_1 = High) AND (input_2 = Low)
Then do somethin
However instead of long mathematically statements – then better have more IF statements.
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Author:
By Zacobria Lars Skovsgaard
Accredited 2015-2018 Universal Robots support Centre and Forum.