Germany based CRETEC has unveiled a cobot based on the Iota IoT blockchain protocol. The QBIC station can cooperate directly with humans without the need for complex protective devices. The use of the Iota communication protocol is designed to provide it with a highly scalable and secure blockchain based means of interoperating with other devices and systems.

According to CRETEC, use of classic blockchain for industrial IoT are limited. The IOTA protocol is designed to allow automatic and secure communication in IoT with high performance between many machines. This platform is based on a new Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) called Tangle.

The station implements an interface from IOTA known as Pay-Per-View/Pay-Per-Production (PoP) solution, which enables permanent and unalterable archiving of the recorded data in the Tangle. 

In the PoP model, a manufacturer generally gives a machine to an operator without leasing or rental fees, nor is the machine sold. All payments are made directly through the use of the machine. 

The interface enables the transfer of values per achieved production step by means of the cryptocurrency IOTA, and allows storage of data in the Tangle.

The CRETEC cobot’s sensor technology uses safety standards in collision detection and control through the components sensor, evaluation electronics, communication and control. The QBIC station can be installed quickly and easily and offers a wide variety of new applications thanks to its three-dimensional mobility. 

According to CRETEC, the product also offers the following advantages: the modular QBIC systems are a new generation of mobile fully automatic work platforms, which are easy to operate, fast and can be used individually; the whole system occupies an area of 0.8m x 0.8m and 2m height; the electrics, controls, PC, cameras, vision modules, intelligent lighting, communication modules, monitor, robot and an additional mains-independent power supply are all integrated; the QBIC station can be disconnected from the mains plug and moved to a new location while still fully functional. 

The Tangle technology technology works decentrally in a network, is verifiable and the data can be used unchangeably by several parties simultaneously and in parallel. This makes it possible to make large amounts of data available securely to many users.