ZEISS Research & Quality Solutions has added ZEISS TALOS to its metrology portfolio, positioning the system for automated, high-volume inspection. The company says the robot combines metrology-grade accuracy with the reach and flexibility of robotic kinematics, achieving measurement uncertainty below 100 µm across a reach of 3.30 meters.
According to ZEISS, TALOS positions its sensor precisely and repeatably without external tracking systems or reference markers. That capability is intended to support reliable measurement of medium-sized and large components, including areas that conventional line-of-sight systems struggle to access.
Integrated robot, sensor and safety package
The offering is built around the ZEISS TALOS MR metrology robot and the compact ZEISS TALOS AX blue-light sensor, which form an integrated measurement unit. ZEISS also supplies the TALOS RT rotation table and the TALOS Safeguard safety concept. Dr. Jan Thesing, head of ZEISS’s 3D Optical Systems business unit, described the launch as a fundamental shift in automated metrology: metrological capabilities are integrated directly into the system while the speed, range and flexibility of robotic kinematics are retained, he said.
One sensor for surfaces and features
ZEISS says TALOS AX addresses a longstanding challenge in optical metrology: combining fast surface measurement with precise feature measurement. The sensor uses two 24-megapixel cameras and captures images at 100 Hz, or up to 200 Hz in fast-scan mode. A 500 mm measurement volume and four multidirectional feature flashes allow it to measure large surfaces for geometry analysis and digital twins, as well as features such as holes, edges, bolts and threads, within one automated workflow.
The company also says a newly developed optical sensor enables full-field geometry acquisition and precise feature measurement in the same process. ZEISS presents the single-workflow combination as one of the system's main benefits; the announcement does not include independent test results.
Designed for production environments
ZEISS says the robot and system concept are designed to withstand typical production influences such as temperature variation, vibration and dust. Measurement tasks can be prepared offline from a CAD model, while ZEISS INSPECT software automatically calculates the required measurement positions and robot paths. According to ZEISS, this can significantly reduce the time and effort needed to plan new inspection tasks.
One-click programming, efficient robot motion and a streamlined setup are intended to raise throughput and make better use of measurement capacity. ZEISS INSPECT also supports complete analyses, report generation and integration of measurement results into existing processes, the company says.
Target applications
TALOS is aimed at automotive, aerospace and commercial-vehicle manufacturing, both near production lines and in dedicated measurement rooms. ZEISS lists applications including car bodies, hang-on parts, giga-casting parts, aerostructures, jet engines, truck cabins and weld seams. The company says high-resolution measurement data supports evaluation of component quality and deviations, while virtual tools can assess functional dimensions, gap sizes and flushness, for example in automotive assembly.
The launch extends ZEISS’s automation offer into a robotic format intended for large parts and high-volume inspection. Its production significance will depend on how the stated accuracy, throughput and environmental robustness perform in use, details that are not yet disclosed in the announcement.