Prácticas con Lua: Programación sencilla de Fairino
Introduction to Lua cobot programming
Collaborative robots, or cobots, are changing modern automation by working next to people, safely and efficiently. As these robots get more capable, the need for a flexible, easy programming language grows. Lua cobot programming fills that gap nicely. It is lightweight, intuitive, and built for real time embedded control.
In this article you will see how Lua simplifies cobot coding on Fairino cobots. Whether you are a seasoned developer or a first time integrator, Lua's simple syntax and dynamic scripting make robot automation faster, smarter and easier to adapt.
What is Lua, and why does it suit cobots?
Lua is a fast, lightweight, embeddable scripting language, originally designed for configuration and real time control. Its simplicity and small memory footprint make it a good fit for robot scripting, especially where timing, responsiveness and customisation matter.
Fairino builds Lua into its cobot platform, so you can write custom automation scripts without touching C++ or a proprietary coding interface. With Lua you spend your time on logic instead of low level implementation.
Understanding Fairino cobots
Fairino cobots are built for precision, safety and adaptability, in industry and in research. The hardware is modular and the programming interface is straightforward, so you can implement custom behaviour in Lua, from basic motion control to sensor driven tasks.
These cobots support several programming layers, which lets Lua act as a bridge between high level task planning and low level hardware commands.
Why choose Lua for cobot coding
Simple and fast to write
Lua's minimal design lets you write a working robot script in minutes. There is no heavy setup and no compilation, so you can test and change an automation workflow quickly.
Flexible for developers and integrators
The Fairino Lua environment supports modular code, so teams reuse and adapt scripts across different cobot models. That cuts development time and keeps things scalable.
Real time execution
Lua's lightweight runtime gives you real time performance, which matters when you synchronise motion, sensors and feedback from the environment. That makes it a good choice for applications that need fast decisions.
Setting up Lua on a Fairino cobot
Install the SDK and firmware
Download and install the official Fairino SDK, or use the controller that already ships with Lua support, documentation and example scripts. Check that your firmware version supports the Lua runtime.
Connect the controller
Link your PC or workstation to the Fairino controller over Ethernet or USB. The browser based interface handles configuration and Lua script deployment.
Configure the Lua runtime
Once connected, open the Lua runtime console in the Fairino interface. From there you run Lua commands straight on the cobot, watch variables, and test scripts live.
What people build with it
Assembly, pick and place
The most common use of cobot coding is on assembly lines. Lua scripts coordinate pick and place moves, manage part orientation, and tune movement paths, all without a complex programming interface.
Quality control and vision
Paired with machine vision, a Fairino cobot inspects products for defects or misalignment. Lua works with the vision SDKs, so you can build feedback loops where the cobot adjusts itself based on what the camera sees.
Working next to people
Lua makes it easy to program safe interactive behaviour. A cobot can pause when someone approaches, or slow down based on proximity data, which makes the floor safer and more efficient.
Primeros pasos
The full Lua manual for Fairino cobots sits in the official Fairino documentation, and all SDKs are in our support and downloads hub. Want to try Lua on a real cobot? The FR3 (from €4,600 excl. VAT) is a popular entry point. Or book a demo in our experience centre.
