The German company igus, known for its cheap plastic bearings, has decided to conquer the world of robotics with its new creation, the ReBeL FR20 collaborative palletizer robot. With a price of only 4,990 euros, this device is positioned as "the most affordable palletizing robot on the market." Although, to be honest, for such money it's hard to expect anything more than a plastic toy with a claim to seriousness.

The ReBeL FR20 weighs only 20 kg and can lift loads up to 2 kg — figures that make you wonder: what exactly will it be able to palletize? Jars of baby food? Boxes of expensive jewelry? Or maybe collector's stamps? The manufacturer is modestly silent about the fact that most real industrial goods weigh significantly more.

The "innovative" design of the robot is particularly admired — all the parts are printed on a 3D printer from igus' own materials. This, of course, explains the low cost, but also suggests the durability of the device. It is unlikely that plastic gears will withstand many years of industrial operation, except in a workshop for the production of feathers for pillows.

Interestingly, the robot uses an "autopilot" for palletizing, a system that supposedly allows it to independently determine the optimal way to stack boxes. Although, given the load capacity of 2 kg, it is likely that he will be engaged in laying matchboxes or other light objects.

German engineers are proud to demonstrate that their creation does not require lubrication and is protected from dust. This is undoubtedly important for palletizing industries... well, maybe microchips or pharmaceutical products. This robot is unlikely to be suitable for a regular warehouse where loads weigh tens of kilograms.

The economic feasibility of the purchase is also questionable. Yes, 5,000 euros is inexpensive for a robot. But given his limited capabilities, it might be easier to hire a part-time student who can handle the task faster and cheaper.

Critics have already noted that igus, known for its cheap components, is trying to bring the same philosophy to the world of robotics. But there is a caveat here: in industry, cheapness is not always an advantage. Especially when it comes to equipment that needs to work around the clock.

However, it cannot be denied that the FR20 has its own niche — perhaps small laboratories or production facilities where light, fragile objects need to be carefully moved. The main thing is not to try to assign him to palletize bags of cement.

One can only hope that someday igus will release a version of the robot capable of lifting at least 20 kg — then, perhaps, it will become interesting to real industrial enterprises. In the meantime, it looks like an expensive toy for geeks who want to brag about having their own robot.