ZEISS Research & Quality Solutions (ZEISS RQS) has introduced ZEISS TALOS, a metrology robot intended for automated, high-volume inspection. The company says the system combines metrology-grade accuracy with robotic kinematics, delivering 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 design allows it to measure medium-sized and large components, including areas that conventional line-of-sight measurement systems have difficulty reaching. The robot is paired with a newly developed optical sensor that can capture full-field geometry and measure precise features within one automated workflow.
Integrated hardware and sensor design
The system comprises the TALOS MR metrology robot and the compact blue-light TALOS AX 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 the Business Unit 3D Optical Systems at ZEISS, described TALOS as a fundamental shift in automated metrology, saying metrological capabilities are integrated directly into the system while the speed, range and flexibility of robotic kinematics are retained.
The TALOS AX sensor uses two 24-megapixel cameras and captures images at 100 Hz, or up to 200 Hz in fast-scan mode. Its measurement volume is 500 mm wide, and four multidirectional feature flashes support measurement of both large surfaces and precise features such as holes, edges, bolts and threads. ZEISS says this addresses a longstanding challenge in optical metrology: combining fast surface measurement with precise feature measurement. Surface data can support geometry analysis and digital twins, while feature measurements target specific production details.
Designed for production environments
The robot and system concept are designed to withstand temperature variation, vibration and dust, according to the company. Measurement tasks can be prepared offline from a CAD model, and ZEISS INSPECT automatically calculates the required measurement positions and robot paths. ZEISS says this reduces planning time and effort for new 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 results into existing processes.
Target applications
ZEISS TALOS is designed for automotive, aerospace and commercial-vehicle manufacturing, both near production lines and in dedicated measurement rooms. Applications include car bodies, hang-on parts, giga-casting parts, aerostructures, jet engines, truck cabins and weld seams. High-resolution measurement data is intended to help evaluate component quality and deviations. Virtual tools can be used to assess functional dimensions, gap sizes and flushness, such as in automotive assembly.