Release Notes 5.1

What's new in 5.1?

Visual Components (VC) 5.1 introduces a host of powerful features that gives users more tools and control over their simulations than ever before.

Important to note:

  • VC 5.1 does not require new product licenses. VC 5.0 product licenses can be used to activate the product.
  • The KUKA.Sim AddOn will not be available with the initial VC 5.1 release. It will be replaced by KUKA iiQWorks.Sim AddOn in a subsequent release.

Updates to Visual Components since the initial release (Updated 30/06/2026)

Bug fixes

47877

InvalidWrapperException on selection: property editor uses an invalidated rStatement wrapper

48015

Unhandled Exception After Clearing Layout with Output 81 Set to True in 5.1

48000

Random generator is not deterministic with the same seed

47813

Assembly slot properties are unavailable

47985

Deleting SetOutput statement causes exception

48015

Unhandled Exception After Clearing Layout with Output 81 Set to True

47534

Application throws a Wrapper invalidated error when running layout

47489

vcWorld is not readable in a cloned component

Features

47685

Implement delayed calling of Python 3 OnFinalize() methods

47514

Python 3 - Modify default python script behavior snippet to no longer include getWorld() by default

New features

Updated physics engine

In VC 5.1, we have updated the underlying physics engine delivering major improvements to the physics simulation.

Improvements include:

  • Greater platform stability
  • Improved simulation predictability
  • Wider platform compatibility.

New navigation behavior

New navigation behavior in VC 5.1 enables users to build components and layouts that require accurate and complex path finding.

  • Environment-aware navigation that automatically respects factory geometry and obstacles.
  • Auto-generated navigation meshes leading to less manual path scripting.
  • Human agent, AGV and AMR behavior with reliable pathfinding and built-in avoidance.
  • Scalable multi-agent support for warehouse and plant-level mobile robot flows.

 

Italian, Portuguese and Vietnamese localization

The application user interface is now available also in Italian, Portuguese and Vietnamese.

Raycast sensor behavior improvements

Raycast Sensor now includes support for a Container Filter, allowing users to specify which components are detected instead of scanning the entire layout. This results in significantly improved simulation performance, especially in large layouts.

New connectors

Allen-Bradley PLC Connector

Connect to a Allen-Bradley controller during simulation and exchange data. Drive joint movements, read sensor values, and set outputs using a real or virtual controller.

Nachi Connector

Connect to a Nachi controller during simulation and exchange data. Drive joint movements, read sensor values, and set outputs using a real or virtual controller.

Epson Connector

Connect to a Epson controller during simulation and exchange data. Drive joint movements, read sensor values, and set outputs using a real or virtual controller.

 

Other improvements

Library Updates

46140

FFMPEG 8.1 update

43017

PhysX 5.5.0 update

Bug fixes

38502

Beckhoff ADS (TwinCAT) connection plugin depends on outdated ADS dll versions

38763

Custom properties values in RootFeature are not persisted

40553

Collision detectors are disabled if you save the layout while the Edit detectors panel is open

42047

Regression: Physics objects on wedge feature don't work properly

42693

SetBase statement breaks after saving and loading layout

43382

Regression: Python 2 vcApplication.addMenuButton() does not work in 5.0

43439

FBX record crashes the app

43538

Deleting a sub-layout leaves empty component group behind in Cell Graph

43694

Python3 vcCommand encoding issue when using non-ascii letters

43711

Python 3 API: List property assignments trigger OnChanged event per item causing recursion depth errors

46178

Py3: vcMessageService.Messages cannot be used

45404

Memory leak when using IDockAwareWindowManager to manage IDockableScreens

Visual Components OLP

Feature improvements

44955

Yaskawa: Fronius WireSense searches with macros

45515

OTC/Nachi: Added possibility upload and download linear speed as percent.

45957

Yaskawa: Improved circular search shift when there are opposing points on the search path

46036,
47042

Yaskawa: new laser searching and tracking functions with macro

 

Fixes

46071

If WPS template is not given, use previously used template.

46932

Importers fix for A-size is overwritten by template.

46965

Set 7th axis from the weld to auto search.

45416

Yaskawa: Fixed search C indexes when using macro parameter map and there are two reference points in macro job.

46246

Fixed undefined variable issues in TECHMAN writer.

47393

Yaskawa uploader: Fixed external axis values in situation where program uploaded to a robot with IO connected device(s).