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](https://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 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. Additionally, verify that the robot can access the required operational domains like [iot.hirebotics.io](https://iot.hirebotics.io). You can test this by directly connecting the Ethernet cable to a laptop and checking domain access.
Error Message Troubleshooting
If the robot repeatedly shows the same error message after clearing it:
Restart the Robot: Power down the robot and restart it. During the boot-up process, the error-causing file should be re-delivered to the robot by the Beacon system.
General Recommendations for Diagnostics
For a systematic approach to diagnosing issues with Hirebotics robots:
Ensure proper network configurations and test connectivity regularly.
Maintain accurate time settings to avoid server communication issues.
When in doubt, a controlled restart often resolves operational hiccups. By following these steps, you can resolve most common connectivity and operational errors with Hirebotics robots. For persistent issues or additional guidance, consult your technical support team.