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Before delivery, get written answers on what the cobot connects to, where its controller sits on the network, whether anyone needs remote access, who manages accounts and updates, what hardware is required, and who will assess and validate the workcell’s safety. The details depend on the exact robot, controller, application, and shop network: a “cobot” label does not establish that a particular setup is safe or that it needs a particular network configuration.
1. What do I need to connect before the cobot arrives?
Ask the manufacturer, distributor, or integrator for a connection plan for the exact robot and controller model. Record each device the controller must communicate with and why: this might include a CNC machine, PLC, vision system, file share, manufacturing execution system (MES), or enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
Get the model-specific details needed to configure and approve those connections:
- Available network interfaces and the required cable and connector.
- Protocols and ports the application needs, including whether connections are inbound, outbound, or both.
- IP addressing expectations and any required network services.
- Any required computer, software, switch, or other equipment.
- Which devices are permitted to communicate with the controller and which are not.
Do not open ports or enable protocols simply because they are available. Universal Robots advises connecting only trusted devices, restricting inbound and outbound connections, and allowing only the smallest relevant set of ports, protocols, and addresses. Schneider Electric’s Lexium Cobot guidance similarly says to enable only protocols needed for the application and notes that some industrial protocols do not support user authentication. These are product-specific recommendations, not universal settings for every cobot. Ask the selected manufacturer for its instructions. Universal Robots network guidance; Schneider Electric Lexium Cobot network security guidance.
What hardware must be ready?
Confirm the cable type, connector, power, switch requirements, addressing, and any required computer software against the installation instructions for your exact system. For example, Haas’s HC15 installation instructions describe an Ethernet connection between the control box and a computer, with the computer adapter configured for the connection. That example does not establish the cable or setup requirements for other cobots. Haas HC15 installation instructions.
2. Can the robot go on our existing network?
There is no one correct topology for every shop. Work with the integrator and whoever manages your network to decide whether the controller belongs on an isolated cell network or a controlled production segment, and document any approved route to business systems. The important question is which devices can communicate, over which paths, and for what purpose.
Schneider Electric recommends placing its Lexium Cobot behind a firewall and isolating it from the business network. The FTC advises small businesses to keep guest Wi-Fi separate from the business network. Treat these as prompts for planning boundaries, not instructions to copy a topology without considering your controller and production systems. Schneider Electric Lexium Cobot network security guidance; FTC small-business cybersecurity guidance.
The Tool Desk
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- Synria Alicia-M is a lightweight 6-axis robotic arm designed for embodied AI research, robotics laboratories, teleoperation, imitation learning, and light industrial automation. It supports advanced manipulation workflows for VLA, ACT, and Diffusion Policy applications.
- With a 750mm working space and 1.5kg continuous effective payload, Alicia-M provides a larger operating range for object handling, testing, teaching, and automation tasks while maintaining a compact desktop-friendly structure.
- Built with precision motion control, Alicia-M offers ±0.1mm repeatability to support reliable task execution, experimental consistency, and long-term robotic operation in research, education, and engineering environments.
- Supports ROS2 teleoperation, gravity compensation, velocity mode, and MIT force control mode, enabling smoother manual guidance, responsive control, and safer interaction during data collection, task demonstration, and robotic learning.
- The full machine weighs approximately 5.1kg and uses DC24V power with CAN communication, making it easier to deploy in labs, classrooms, R&D workstations, and light industrial scenarios. Compatible with open-source robotics workflows and simulation-first control development.
Compare the options by their actual controls
| What to compare | Isolated cell network | Controlled production segment |
|---|---|---|
| Device communication | Document which cell devices can reach the controller and which cannot. | Document which production devices can reach the controller and which cannot. |
| Inbound and outbound paths | Specify the permitted paths and restrict others. | Specify the permitted paths and restrict others. |
| Vendor support | Define whether support access is needed, how it is granted, and how it is removed. | Define whether support access is needed, how it is granted, and how it is removed. |
| Ongoing ownership | Assign someone to document and maintain the boundary. | Assign someone to document and maintain the boundary. |
This comparison is a planning aid, not a verdict that one approach is always safer or easier. The controller, cell integration, and shop systems determine what is workable. FTC small-business cybersecurity guidance; Schneider Electric Lexium Cobot network security guidance; Universal Robots network guidance.
3. Does the integrator need remote access?
Ask whether the manufacturer, distributor, or integrator expects remote access for commissioning, troubleshooting, or updates. If so, agree in writing how access works before installation begins:
- Who is allowed to request and approve a session?
- How is the person’s identity verified?
- What devices and systems can the session reach?
- How is the session monitored and recorded, if applicable?
- Who ends access and confirms it is no longer available when the work is done?
Schneider Electric recommends VPNs when remote access is required. The FTC recommends secure remote connections and including security provisions in vendor contracts. Agree on the process with the people responsible for the robot and network rather than leaving access open by default. Schneider Electric Lexium Cobot network security guidance; FTC small-business cybersecurity guidance.
4. Who changes the default password and owns the accounts?
Name the person responsible for initial setup and later account changes. Ask the manufacturer which account roles exist, who needs administrative privileges, how vendor accounts are handled, and which unused interfaces and services can be disabled.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsSchneider Electric’s Lexium Cobot guidance calls for changing default passwords and describes different user permission levels. Universal Robots recommends strong passwords and disabling unneeded interfaces and services. Apply the instructions for the chosen model; do not assume another manufacturer’s account names, settings, or security controls apply. Schneider Electric Lexium Cobot network security guidance; Universal Robots network guidance.
5. What happens when the robot needs an update?
Ask the manufacturer which software and firmware updates are supported, who approves and installs them, and how downtime will be scheduled. Also ask how to restore the controller’s configuration after a failure or replacement, and who is responsible for maintaining that recovery information.
Rank #4
- Synria Alicia-M is a lightweight 6-axis robotic arm designed for embodied AI research, robotics laboratories, teleoperation, imitation learning, and light industrial automation. It supports advanced manipulation workflows for VLA, ACT, and Diffusion Policy applications.
- With a 750mm working space and 1.5kg continuous effective payload, Alicia-M provides a larger operating range for object handling, testing, teaching, and automation tasks while maintaining a compact desktop-friendly structure.
- Built with precision motion control, Alicia-M offers ±0.1mm repeatability to support reliable task execution, experimental consistency, and long-term robotic operation in research, education, and engineering environments.
- Supports ROS2 teleoperation, gravity compensation, velocity mode, and MIT force control mode, enabling smoother manual guidance, responsive control, and safer interaction during data collection, task demonstration, and robotic learning.
- The full machine weighs approximately 5.1kg and uses DC24V power with CAN communication, making it easier to deploy in labs, classrooms, R&D workstations, and light industrial scenarios. Compatible with open-source robotics workflows and simulation-first control development.
The FTC advises small businesses to keep software up to date. The reviewed guidance does not establish a universal cobot update schedule or backup procedure, so obtain those requirements from the selected manufacturer and have the shop’s owner, integrator, and IT contact agree on responsibility. FTC small-business cybersecurity guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.6. Do we need a fence or light curtain?
That cannot be determined from the word “cobot.” The safety discussion must account for the actual workcell and task: robot, tool, workpiece, speeds, payload, operator activities, and nearby people. NIST explains that a robot is not inherently safe merely because it is used collaboratively; the chosen safety functions need to reduce residual risk, and an assessment may call for fencing or light curtains. NIST, Best Practices for the Integration of Collaborative Robots into Workcells Within Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturing Operations (2021).
Have a qualified integrator or other appropriate professional coordinate an application-specific risk assessment and validation before production. Schneider Electric also calls for suitable protective devices and testing them after installation, commissioning, or repair. Agree who performs and documents the assessment, checks protective measures, and authorizes the cell to run. Schneider Electric Lexium Cobot guidance; NIST collaborative-robot workcell guidance.
Best Value
- Cobots represent a distinct class of automated industrial mechanisms integrated with specialized spatial awareness architecture. The core mechanics of cobots utilize high-fidelity torque sensors and limiters at every single articulation joint.
- Cobots utilize specific physical collision mitigation algorithms to operate inside unsegregated workspaces. Unlike traditional machinery, the programming framework of cobots permits simultaneous operational proximity to human operators.
- Lightweight, Classic fit, Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem
7. Who owns the whole job after delivery?
Do not leave responsibilities implicit. The manufacturer, distributor, integrator, shop owner, IT contact, and operators may all have different roles. Record who is accountable for each task, including network configuration, support access, account changes, updates, incident records, cell maintenance, safety validation, and commissioning sign-off.
| Role | Responsibility to agree |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Model-specific technical requirements and support. |
| Distributor or vendor | Any support access, service commitments, and contract security provisions. |
| Integrator | Installation, system connections, and coordination of workcell assessment and validation. |
| Shop owner or manager | Named ownership, operating arrangements, and approval of responsibilities. |
| Shop IT contact | Network boundaries, accounts, access controls, updates, and incident handling as assigned. |
| Operators | Input on actual tasks and workspace, and the training and cybersecurity awareness relevant to their work. |
SafeWork NSW guidance highlights consultation with operators during installation, attention to workspace-specific risks, and staff education about cybersecurity. It is written in the context of New South Wales workplace requirements; check the laws and obligations that apply in your jurisdiction. SafeWork NSW, working with robots.
Quick Recap
Before delivery: a short handoff checklist
- Get the model-specific connection and hardware requirements.
- List the devices, protocols, ports, and network paths the application requires.
- Document the network boundary and the owner of its ongoing maintenance.
- Write down how vendor remote access is approved, monitored, and closed.
- Name the owner for accounts, updates, configuration recovery, and incidents.
- Agree who assesses and validates the safety of the completed workcell before production.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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