Beacon: Cloud Software for UR Cobots

Unleash the Power of your Cobots

Beacon is a free software solution that provides a robust toolset to help you understand how your application is running and gain visibility into issues to proactively support production.

Your Custom Data in Charts

Chart custom data in beautiful charts in just minutes. With Beacon, you can collect custom events from your cobot application and create real-time charts for viewing on the web and in the mobile application.

Real Time Access

Easily access real-time program variables, IO, and log files on your Beacon connected cobots. It's never been easier to understand the state of your cobot application.

Beacon Events

Easily add Beacon Events to your existing Polyscope program. Beacon events can be used simply as alerts, which notify you when you subscribe from the Beacon application. Or, you can create charts of your Beacon Events and associate metrics for showing trends over time.

Web Support

Sometimes you want a bird's eye view your desktop. No problem. Beacon now has full browser support!

And More!

Passwordless Login with Magic Links

No longer do you have to remember passwords, receive confirmation codes. Avoid passwords completely, often a weak link in security.

No Hardware!

Beacon does not require any hardware. Period. Our software runs on the robot controller. This eliminates startup costs, messy networking, and points of failure. Plus, you can get started immediately with a simple download where ever you are, whenever you're ready. This also allows us to offer a generous free tier of Beacon to all Universal Robots customers.

Unlimited Users

Add users, remove users. You have full control over what your users have access to in Beacon. Need support? Add your distributor or integrator to Beacon and get help right where you need it. And then, when you're back up and running, remove the partner as easily as you added them.

Notified. Rectified.

Get notified of system events so you can resolve issues as soon as they happen. Beacon now includes system alerts. You can subscribe to important events on your cobot. Get a push notification when your cobot is powered on or off. Get a push notification on a protective stop or emergency stop. It's a breeze to configure alerts with Beacon!.

Backups Save the Day

Beacon continually creates new backup versions of critical files stored securely in the cloud. You no longer need to unnaturally name program files with a date in the file names or worry about undoing a complex change. When you have Beacon, you can rest assured that EVERY change to critical files is stored and can be restored when needed.

Serious Security

Beacon delivers true end-to-end security. From your cobot to your data in the cloud, we have carefully and meticulously architected a robust security model that is unlikely anything else.

All network traffic is to a single domain and over port 443. There are no special ports for synchronizing time and no special ports that need to be opened on a firewall. We put security first, and you should too.
True multi-tenancy. Your data can only be accessed by you and users within your tenant.
With teams, you have full control over what your users see within your tenant. Use teams to organize your robots and users by work area, building, or site. Allow certain users access to multiple teams while other users only a single team. You have full over what your users can see within Beacon.

Setup is a breeze

No complicated hardware to purchase or setup.
Follow the three steps below to get your cobot online!

View the full setup instructions

Install URCap

Once your cobot is plugged into a network, install the Beacon URCap. The URCap can be downloaded here.

Our URCap will automatically update itself to the latest version and securely check for an existing registration.

Enter Code

Once our URCap securely communicates with the cloud, it will present a time-sensitive registration code that can be entered in the Beacon app to register your cobot.

Setup Complete!

Once your cobot is registered with the Beacon mobile app, the URCap will automatically show that setup is complete.

Your program files, log files, and other support-related files will automatically be synchronized and backed up to the cloud.

Frequently Asked Questions

You've got questions. We have answers.

Why do I need this?

One of the biggest barriers to automation is the lack of success of prior automation projects. Success breeds success. The best way to justify the next automation project is to showcase success on the last. And there's no better way to do that then to eliminate issues and demonstrate the ability to handle more automation with your current team.

Beacon synchronizes every program/script file change to the cloud. No longer do you need to use a USB stick to back up your robot, and then keep track of that USB stick.

And every version is available through the Beacon mobile app. Our software works in the background to make sure your files are immediately available in the cloud.

This is really handy when you need to restore a file to a previous version, access your files remotely, troubleshoot an issue where the log files are needed, or share files with your distributor, integrator, or Universal Robots support team.

How much does this service cost?

It's FREE! All of these capabilities are available to you for no cost. In the future, we may release premium features that you can opt in to if you find them useful. But we'll always offer these capabilities for free.

Is any special hardware required?

No special hardware or cloud device is needed. Simply plug in your Universal Robot to your existing network, install our URCap on your cobot, and use the mobile app to securely register your cobot.

How do I know this will work with my cobot?

Beacon has been tested and certified by Universal Robots, which earns it the UR+ Certified designation.

Can I run in my simulator?

Absolutely! Beacon isn't just for your real cobot. You can install the URCap in your simulator and take advantage of the same capabilities in a simulation environment.

Are my files secure?

Always! Files are securely transferred to the cloud and are encrypted at rest.

Who can access my data?

Only you can access your files, and you control how you share your files by generating secure links that will auto-expire.

What information are you collecting?

We collect a minimal amount of information about you to get you setup in the mobile app and about your cobot to ensure future feature compatibility.

— First Name
— Last Name
— Email

We do not and will not sell access to your information. Ever.

Production issues are inevitable. Chaos is not.