Together with low costs, low maintenance and simple operation, the ReBeL makes completely new innovative ideas in service robotics feasible even for smaller companies and start-ups - from mounted use on agricultural drones to mobile support as household help.

In care, in dispensing machines, in the field or in factories, collaborative lightweight robots can help to automate monotonous and simple tasks. Igus has developed the new generation of ReBeL so that such interacting service robotics concepts can be implemented quickly and cost-effectively.

The heart of the lightweight plastic robot is a fully integrated tribo-shaft gearbox with motor, absolute encoder, force control and controller. Electronic components in the fully integrated shaft gearbox make human-robot collaboration (HRC) possible. Thanks to the absolute encoder technology, forces and torques can be determined and safely limited via the motor current in combination with the angle measurement. Igus relies on a double encoder for this, which measures in front of and behind the joint in order to detect and react to forces and torques.

Plastics as a game changer in automation

The use of plastic in the ReBeL results in an extremely compact, lightweight design. With a dead weight of less than ten kilograms, the robot is the lightest cobot on the market. Its payload is two kilograms and it has a reach of 700 millimeters. Thanks to the low entry-level price of well under 4,000 euros, including the control system even for small quantities, and the low maintenance requirements of the lubrication-free components, the ReBeL can even be used in areas where the use of robotics was previously not worthwhile.

Many new innovative ideas are now becoming feasible: from use on a driverless transport system to use as a bartender. "Many young companies are currently showing what is possible with low-cost automation," says Alexander Mühlens, Head of Automation Technology at Igus. "In the textile industry, for example, as at ADOTC. Here, an Igus articulated arm robot takes over the automatic feeding and removal of textile pieces to the sewing machine. As energy prices for robots are comparable worldwide, this automated production made in Germany is worthwhile."

Entry barriers for robotics continue to fall

In addition to the price, Igus is also lowering other barriers to entry such as complexity and effort. The new ReBeL, like the other articulated arm, delta and linear robots from the motion plastics specialist, is very easy to test and operate. Igus offers free control software for this purpose. Even non-experts can quickly define and simulate the robot's movements. This saves companies costs during commissioning and makes them less dependent on integrators. Anyone who requires further support can also make use of the new RBTXpert service, which helps with the selection of the right low-cost automation solution.

After a free online consultation with the RBTXpert, the planned simple automation can be tested. Based on the tests, the RBTXpert can then make a binding offer with a fixed price. This is made possible by the low-cost automation marketplace RBTX.com, where components, hardware and software from different manufacturers can be found. They are tested in combination and work 100 percent with each other. These include a wide variety of robot kinematics, cameras, GUIs, grippers, power electronics, motors, sensors and controllers. In line with the "build or buy" approach, customers can configure individual components for their robot or ready-made robotics solutions and order them directly.