ZEISS Research and Quality Solutions has introduced ZEISS TALOS, a metrology robot built for automated, high-volume inspection. The company says the system pairs metrology-grade accuracy with flexible robotic kinematics, delivering measurement uncertainty below 100 µm over a reach of 3.30 meters.
According to ZEISS, TALOS positions its sensor precisely and repeatably without external tracking systems or reference markers. That is intended to make medium-sized and large components reliably measurable, including areas that conventional line-of-sight measurement systems struggle to reach.
One optical sensor for surfaces and features
The metrology robot TALOS MR and the compact blue-light sensor TALOS AX form an integrated measurement unit, complemented by the metrology-grade TALOS RT rotation table and the TALOS Safeguard safety concept. ZEISS describes the newly developed sensor as covering both full-field geometry acquisition and precise feature measurement within a single automated workflow.
TALOS AX carries two 24-megapixel cameras that capture images at 100 Hz, rising to 200 Hz in fast scan mode. A 500 mm measurement volume and four multidirectional feature flashes are designed to let one sensor handle large surfaces for geometry analysis and digital twins as well as specific features such as holes, edges, bolts and threads.
The company frames this as an answer to a long-standing optical metrology problem: combining fast surface measurement with precise feature measurement. “ZEISS TALOS marks a fundamental shift in the automated metrology category: metrological capabilities are integrated directly into the system, while the speed, range and flexibility of robotic kinematics are retained,” said Dr. Jan Thesing, Head of Business Unit 3D Optical Systems at ZEISS.
Stated system specifications
- Measurement uncertainty below 100 µm over a reach of 3.30 m
- Sensor positioning without external tracking systems or reference markers
- TALOS AX: two 24-megapixel cameras, 100 Hz capture, up to 200 Hz with fast scan
- 500 mm measurement volume with four multidirectional feature flashes
Designed for production use
ZEISS says the robot and system concept are built to withstand typical environmental influences such as temperature variation, vibration and dust. Measurement tasks can be prepared offline from the CAD model, with ZEISS INSPECT calculating the required measurement positions and robot paths automatically — a step the company says significantly reduces the time and effort needed to plan new jobs.
One-click programming, efficient robot motion and a streamlined setup are presented as means of raising throughput and using measurement capacity more efficiently. The same software is used for complete analyses, report generation and passing measurement results into existing processes.
Target industries and applications
TALOS is aimed at automotive, aerospace and commercial vehicle manufacturing, both near the production line and in dedicated measurement rooms. Listed applications range from car bodies, hang-on parts and giga-casting parts to aerostructures, jet engines, truck cabins and weld seams.
ZEISS says the high-resolution measurement data allows precise evaluation of component quality and deviations, and that virtual tools can be used to assess functional dimensions, gap sizes and flushness, for example in automotive assembly. These are the manufacturer's stated capabilities; the announcement does not include independent measurement performance data.