What are the reasons behind Beckhoff's decision to enter the robotics market?

Thomas Rettig: Beckhoff is a provider of a comprehensive automation system. This already includes drive systems that enable complex coordinated motion functions with the help of software functions in the TwinCAT Runtime and programmable safety technology. This gave rise to the idea that modular robot kinematics consisting of motor and link modules can also be flexibly integrated into our customers' machines and applications.

Which target group are you addressing with ATRO?

ATRO is suitable for all types of robot tasks. Our target groups are initially our well-known mechanical engineering customers, who can now very easily integrate robot kinematics into their solution. The machine builder now determines the requirements and is no longer restricted to the characteristics of an 'off-the-shelf' robot, as was previously the case. The simple commissioning and programming of an ATRO system also opens up the flexibility of our modular approach to system integrators or machine park operators.

Thomas Rettig is Senior Product Manager ATRO at Beckhoff Automation.

© Beckhoff

Why a modular system and not a complete robot?

Modularity offers advantages for the user. This is because a 6-axis articulated arm robot is not always required for the tasks. A pick & place task, for example, often manages with four degrees of freedom and therefore only requires four axes - this saves two drive axes and therefore costs and weight, whereby the latter can in turn be used for a higher payload. Completely different kinematics can be put together with the same motor and link modules. This reduces the variance in the bearing and increases flexibility.

What advantages can Beckhoff offer that a robot manufacturer cannot?

In addition to the advantages of modularity, integration into the TwinCAT system offers decisive advantages over conventional robot controllers. One of the main tasks in robot integration to date has been to master the interfaces between the systems: Robot control, machine control, safety, vision, condition monitoring or the connection to an edge device or cloud system must be connected with each other. This requires a great deal of effort that does not add value. At Beckhoff, a PC-based controller takes over all these tasks and at the same time helps to ensure that all processes work synchronized with each other and that the data is available to all processes.

The new system was presented in June, but series delivery of the components will not take place for another two years. Why this time delay and what do you expect from the time until then?

It is important for Beckhoff to inform our customers about our developments at an early stage. As ATRO is a new, modular approach, machine concepts can also be adapted. However, this requires some time for (re)planning. And yes, we also need some time to complete the development of the ATRO system.