Beacon requires your robot to have an internet connection so that you can enjoy all of the benefits of the Beacon platform. Losing your internet connection can be frustrating, so we've put together a series of troubleshooting steps to help you resolve the issue quickly to bring your robot back online.
Verify Your Connection to the Beacon Platform
On the teach pendant, navigate to Installation > URCaps > Beacon.
If you see the green network icon labeled "Online" as shown below, then your robot is connected to the Beacon platform. Congrats, no further action is necessary from this article.
If you see the red network icon labeled "Offline" as shown below, then your robot is unable to connect to the Beacon platform. Continue reading this article for things to check.
Check the Robot's Network Cable
Verify that the Ethernet cable plugged into the robot control cabinet is connected, working, and not damaged. To test network connectivity further, plug the robot's Ethernet cable directly into a laptop (with Wi-Fi turned off). Confirm that the required domains (e.g., iot.hirebotics.io) can be accessed as per the technical guidelines. This helps in identifying if the issue is with the cable or the network. Check all Ethernet cables, including those within the robot's cabinet. Loose or worn cables can result in intermittent network connectivity or dropouts. Replace any damaged cables and ensure all connections are secure.
Check the Robot's Time
Verify that the robot's time is accurate. See our How to Set Your Robot's Time article. To verify, navigate to Settings > Preferences > Time on the teach pendant. Inaccurate time settings can prevent the robot from communicating with servers effectively.
Check the Robot's Network Settings
Verify that the robot's network settings are valid. See our Networking Setup article.
Note that a valid network setup does not mean your robot can reach the internet, just that the robot has valid network settings and is connected to some network. If your robot's networking settings are properly configured and your robot is still not connected to the Beacon platform, contact your IT administrator for further troubleshooting.
Common network issues include IP address conflicts and distinguishing between local network and internet access problems:
IP Address Conflicts: If your robot uses a static IP address that's already assigned to another device on the network, connectivity will be disrupted. Consider using DHCP with reserved MAC addresses to prevent conflicts.
Local Network vs. Internet Access: Your robot may appear connected to the local network but fail to access the internet due to firewall restrictions or service outages.
General Recommendations for Network Diagnostics
For a systematic approach to diagnosing network issues with Beacon cobots:
Check IP Configuration: Verify if the robot uses a static IP and ensure there are no conflicts.
Inspect Physical Hardware: Examine all Ethernet cables and connections.
Evaluate Network Settings: Ensure both local network and internet connectivity are functional.
Identify Service Interruptions: Check with your internet service provider about potential outages.
Maintain accurate time settings to avoid server communication issues.
When in doubt, a controlled restart often resolves operational hiccups.