Beckhoff’s latest ATRO modular robot is a modular system that can be flexibly combined according to different application requirements and assembled into the most matching robot shape. The defined mechanical and electrical interfaces allow the robot to be assembled quickly, precisely and without tools. Beckhoff’s modular software provides good support for the modular robot mechanical structure, in addition to robot motion control, but also provides image processing, artificial intelligence and technology automation. This innovative product was nominated for the Hermes Prize at this year’s Hannover MESse.

The Beofovil ATRO team, composed of experts from Beofovil headquarters and Beofovil Austria, is delighted to receive the Hermes nomination this year, which is a great recognition for an innovative modular industrial robot system.

ATRO’s modular industrial robots beat out many other entries to be nominated for the 2023 Hermes Prize by a jury of experts from politics, business, research institutions and the social sector, along with two other innovative products. The Hermes Prize recognizes outstanding products and innovative solutions that are outstanding in the field of technological innovation and have made outstanding contributions to promoting industrial change, ecological environmental protection and social development. ATRO meets both criteria in every way.

ATRO modular robotic solutions can be precisely matched to the right number of axes according to existing task requirements and can be freely expanded, modified and expanded.

In a statement issued by Deutsche Messe Ag, Professor Dr. Reimund Neugebauer, president of the Fraunhofer Association and chair of the Hermes Prize jury, said: “The overall quality of the entries this year was very high. With sensor-based robot compensation modules, modular industrial robot systems and multi-user smart building platforms, the jury was impressed by the innovation demonstrated by the nominated entries, as well as their efficiency, sustainability and flexibility. All three of these solutions will be able to drive significant momentum in their respective fields and make a lasting difference in their respective application areas.” Hans Beckhoff, President of Beckhoff Automation, added: “Beckhoff Automation is the ‘face’ of innovation, and we seem to have succeeded in triggering another small robotics revolution with the ATRO system. We are very proud of that! I would like to thank our mechanical engineers, electronic hardware engineers, and software engineers for working together to create our ATRO modular robot!”

Technological advantage

Users can choose from ATRO modules according to their application requirements and assemble them into any robot shape they want: from simple single-axis rotary indexing tables and Delta robots, to multi-jointed robots. Beckhoff’s holistic approach to system design is decisive for simplifying commissioning and management, as a truly optimized device or plant complete solution can only be achieved if the robot is directly integrated into a PC-based control system. This reduces the number of control components required on each industrial PC, even for controlling multiple robots. All modules are connected to each other via ATRO interfaces, which ensure both rigid connections and transfer media.

As a result, data, power, and fluids (compressed air, vacuum, or water) are guided internally through ATRO robotic modules, while traditional robotic solutions, on the other hand, transport media through external devices and are therefore limited in terms of rotation and working space. Beckhoff’s solution completely breaks these limitations: each axis can be rotated without limit, resulting in higher spatial accessibility and shorter positioning paths.