KUKA smartPAD-2 wins iF DESIGN AWARD 2018

The KUKA smartPAD was developed in 2010 to be able to operate all KUKA robots with the KR C4 controller. In June 2018, the second generation of the KUKA smartPAD is being unveiled to the public for the first time at the Automatica trade fair in Munich. From 2019, the KUKA smartPAD-2 will be replacing the old generation. The 6D Mouse, appreciated by KUKA customers worldwide, is retained in the new design. This means that operator control of the robots remains intuitive.

The KUKA smartPAD-2 is robust and thus suitable for industrial environments. At the same time, it also offers ergonomic, comfortable handling. The options for holding it have been optimized for both left- and right-handers. Furthermore, the KUKA smartPAD-2 has additional holding options on the underside that also enable it to be put down and used as a desktop console. Additionally, it has an ergonomic shoulder strap so that it can be carried without tiring the operator.

The KUKA smartPAD-2 is equipped with a well-lit 8.4" capacitive touch display with hardened, scratch-resistant protective glass. The eight jog keys can be used to control the connected robot with up to eight axes. Moreover, the KUKA smartPAD-2 is hot-pluggable, meaning that the KUKA smartPAD-2 can be connected to or disconnected from a KR C4 controller at any time. This means that the KUKA smartPAD-2 is also suitable for use with multiple robots. The hardware is considerably faster, with the result that the new operator panel has much higher performance than its predecessor model.

The iF DESIGN AWARD has been presented annually since 1954 and honors the best achievements in the field of product design. The award is presented by iF International Forum Design GmbH, which is based in Hanover, Germany. From 23 to 25 January, an international panel of 63 design experts selected the winners from among almost 6500 entries. Entries were submitted from 54 countries.