Secure Remote Access, Service, and Monitoring for Industrial Robots & Cobots

Manufacturers and system integrators worldwide deploy industrial robots to automate tasks, elevate worker safety, and boost production while trimming waste and operating costs. As robots become integral to modern factories, the demand for reliable remote access, maintenance, and monitoring grows—cutting downtime and enhancing uptime.

IXON delivers a cloud‑based platform that lets you remotely access and control any major robotics brand. In this article we outline the core capabilities of our Industrial IoT solution and showcase the IXrouter edge gateway, enabling flexible, secure remote operations. Learn how IXON’s web portal and mobile apps simplify troubleshooting, condition monitoring, data analysis, and teach‑pendant programming.

Tip: Experience the benefits and ease of use yourself with our 30‑day trial.

A Universal Remote Access & IoT Solution for Industrial Robots

IXON’s Industrial IoT platform transforms collaborative robots and cobots with secure remote service capabilities through a browser‑based interface.

Via IXON Cloud you gain instant, secure VPN access to your robots from any location worldwide. The dashboard also lets you configure secure connections to ancillary components that traditionally rely on VNC or HTTP.

Key Features for Engineers and Operators

• Secure VPN tunnels to robot controllers or PLCs.
• Full remote access to the Teach Pendant HMI via VNC over HTTPS—usable on desktop, tablet, or smartphone.
• Support for modern industrial protocols (Modbus TCP, Ethernet/IP, OPC UA) to pull real‑time data and parameters into your IXON account.
• Configurable alarm notifications for corrective, preventive, and predictive maintenance.
• Centralized robot management with role‑based user permissions.
• Extensible APIs and white‑labeling options.

Connecting your robots to IXON Cloud is streamlined through the IXrouter, an industrial VPN router and edge gateway optimized for security and effortless setup.

Discover more benefits of an IoT platform for industrial robotics here.

IoT Connectivity for Collaborative Robots

The IXrouter is IXON’s edge gateway, engineered to interface with a wide range of industrial robots. It links your robot or cobot to the IXON Cloud via a secure connection, providing lifetime free VPN/VNC access and dedicated technical support.

Connecting Your Robot to IXON Cloud

To get started, create a free company account and connect your industrial robots using an IXrouter. Watch our brief video for a three‑step walkthrough.

Each IXrouter offers four Ethernet ports for robot or PLC connections and a single WAN port for internet access. Available connectivity options include:

• Ethernet only
• Ethernet + 4G Global
• Ethernet + Wi‑Fi
• Ethernet, 4G Global & Wi‑Fi

Select your preferred internet mode, link your robot(s), and you’re ready to go.

Tip: Request your Starter Kit and experience the easiest secure remote access solution for industrial robots.

Establish Secure VPN Access to Robots and Cobots

Once the IXrouter is activated, log into your IXON Cloud account to initiate a secure VPN tunnel to your robot. Simply select the target device and click the VPN button. The tunnel provides full network access, enabling remote PLC diagnostics, parameter adjustments, and deployment of new programs.

Remote Control of the Teach Pendant Display (HMI) via VNC

With VNC configured in your IXON account, you can take full control of the robot’s Teach Pendant screen from anywhere. The platform supports browser access as well as dedicated mobile apps, allowing you to view, configure, and program the robot arm in under five minutes.

Robust Data Logging for Robots

IXON Cloud’s Data Logging service captures robot parameters and stores them securely, providing advanced dashboards for analysis and decision‑making.

Setting Up Data Collection

Activate Data Logging in your IXON Cloud account. IXON supports Ethernet/IP, OPC UA, Modbus/TCP, and more. Configure which parameters to log and the trigger conditions—whether at set intervals, on change, or via custom events. After publishing the settings to the IXrouter, data collection commences automatically.

Data is buffered locally by the IXrouter. When network connectivity is restored, any buffered data is immediately uploaded to the cloud. The collected data can be visualized in custom dashboards, used to trigger alarms, or shared through the API.

Create Dashboards for Analysis and Remote Monitoring

Using our drag‑and‑drop editor, build multiple dashboards that display gauges, timelines, tables, or graphs. These dashboards present historical or real‑time data, enabling remote condition monitoring. Share dashboards with service partners, engineers, or customers to foster collaboration.

Configure Alarms for Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Enable Cloud Notify to generate alarms based on robot parameters—for example, when the program state is “PAUSED” or operating hours exceed a threshold. In the Cloud Notify section, set the variable, priority, condition, and operator instructions. Define recipients for push notifications or emails.

Supported Robot Brands

IXON’s solution is compatible with a broad spectrum of robotic and PLC brands. The following is a partial list of supported robots for VPN access:

ABB Robotics, Aubo Robotics, Automata (Eva), Comau, Doosan, Epson Robotics, FANUC, Hanwha, Kawasaki, KUKA, Mitsubishi Electric, Nachi, Omron, OTC Daihen, Panasonic Robotics, Sawyer, Stäubli, Universal Robots (UR+), Yaskawa, KEBA.

Our support team is ready to assist if your brand isn’t listed. Contact us with any questions.

Try IXON Cloud for Remote Service of Collaborative Robots

Get started with remote VPN access, teach‑pendant control, and condition monitoring in minutes. Provide your details and we’ll ship a Starter Kit featuring the latest IXrouter—Wi‑Fi, Ethernet, and 4G/LTE—along with all necessary accessories. Set up a complete remote‑access scenario and test our IoT capabilities on your own robot.

[[Request Starter kit]]

or explore the IXON Cloud platform in our Free Product Tour.