Even faster to the affordable robotics system

Igus has added a new AI chatbot to the online platform RBTX.com. The interactive advisor is designed to enable companies with little previous experience and technological know-how to quickly and safely put together low-cost automation solutions in order to strengthen their competitiveness. The first users are enthusiastic about the intuitive AI solution.

Many companies already know that automation offers enormous potential to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing working world. But the crucial question remains: How do you implement it? RBTX provides the answer: The online marketplace has over 500 robot solutions, 95 percent of which cost less than 12,000 euros. Here, even companies with no previous knowledge of robotics can put together cost-effective low-cost automation solutions (LCA) based on the plug-and-program principle.

"With RBTX, we want to gradually remove all the barriers that stand in the way of companies getting started with automation," says Alexander Mühlens, authorized officer and head of the Low-Cost Automation division at igus. The decisive factor here, for example, is to ensure guaranteed interoperability of all components offered, which makes it almost impossible to make bad purchases. "A further step on this path is the introduction of a new AI consultant who interacts with interested parties in order to shorten the search for components in an ever-growing range." AI consultant works with experience data from hundreds of successful LCA projects The new AI chatbot supports users in finding suitable LCA components through written interaction. The artificial intelligence draws on the experience data from hundreds of projects that companies have already successfully automated using RBTX. The answers are accordingly targeted. An example: A small workshop is suffering from a shortage of workers and wants to automate the loading of its CNC machine with blanks. The company's technical manager calls on the new AI chatbot and asks it the question: "Which robot is suitable for loading my CNC machine?"

Within a few seconds, the AI ​​provides the answer: "The robolink robot arm from igus would be a suitable solution here. The arm moves over five axes, has a reach of 790 millimeters, a speed of seven picks per minute and can perceive the position of the components using a 3D camera. The price starts at 2,766 euros." After this answer, the user asks which gripper would be suitable. The AI ​​consultant answers: "A parallel gripper from Zimmer would be a suitable choice." In such a natural-looking dialogue, users gradually put together their individual LCA solution.

"First users are enthusiastic about the new AI consultant"

Companies that are experimenting with automation are enthusiastic about the new AI chatbot. "Many customers have already given us feedback that they have entered into a dialogue with the AI ​​robot consultant. It has given them a better feel for the possibilities of low-cost automation and significantly accelerated the search for the right components," says Mühlens happily. "We are therefore planning to add additional functions to the AI ​​consultant in the future." For example, it should be possible for the consultant to embed images and video material of references in his answers and to develop complete LCA solutions with a guide price.