The new AI robot advisor for RBTX.com is online

By Staff Report March 7, 2025 7:02 pm IST

An interactive AI advisor uses application databases and shortens the time spent looking for components for cost-effective robot solutions.

igus has added a new AI chatbot to the online platform RBTX.com. The interactive consultant is designed to enable companies with little previous experience and technological expertise to quickly and reliably put together Low-Cost Automation (LCA) solutions to become more competitive. First, users are enthusiastic about the intuitive AI solution.

Companies already know that automation offers enormous potential for meeting the challenges of a rapidly changing working world. However, the crucial question remains: how do you implement them? RBTX provides the answer: over 500 robot solutions are available online, 95% of which cost less than €12,000. Companies without knowledge of robotics can put together cost-effective LCA solutions according to the plug-and-program principle. “With RBTX, we want to eliminate all the barriers that stand in the way of companies entering the world of automation – step by step,” says Alexander Mühlens, Vice President and Head of the Business Unit Low-Cost Automation at igus. The decisive factor here, for example, is to ensure guaranteed interoperability of all the components we offer, which makes it virtually impossible to make the wrong purchase. “A further step in this direction is the introduction of a new AI advisor that interacts with interested parties to reduce the time they spend searching for components in a range that keeps growing.”

AI advisor works with empirical data from hundreds of successful LCA projects.

The new AI chatbot at https://chat.rbtx.eu supports users in finding suitable LCA components through written interaction. The AI draws on empirical data from hundreds of projects that companies have already successfully automated with the help of RBTX. The answers are correspondingly targeted. For example, a small workshop is suffering from a labour shortage and would like to automate the loading of its CNC machine with blanks. The company’s technical manager calls up the new AI chatbot and asks, “Which robot is suitable for loading my CNC machine?” Within a few seconds, the AI answers it: “The robolink robot arm from igus would be a suitable solution here. The arm moves along five axes, has a reach of 790mm, a speed of seven picks per minute and can detect the position of the components using a 3D camera. The price starts at €2,766” (price may vary by country). After this answer, the user asks which gripper would work. The AI consultant replies, “A parallel gripper from Zimmer would be a suitable choice.” In this seemingly natural dialogue, users gradually put together their LCA solutions.

“First users are enthusiastic about the new AI advisor”

Companies experimenting with automation are enthusiastic about the new AI chatbot. “Customers have already given us feedback that they have entered into a dialogue with the AI robot advisor. It has given them a better feel for the possibilities of LCA and significantly accelerated the search for suitable components,” says Mühlens. “We are planning to expand the AI advisor with additional functions in future.” For example, it should be possible for the advisor to embed images and video material from references in its answers and develop complete LCA solutions with a target price.