OnRobot, a company known for its “one interface fits all” approach to end-of-arm tooling (EoAT), has taken a significant step toward solving this. Their adoption of —specifically Modbus RTU over RS-485 and Modbus TCP over Ethernet—is quietly turning their grippers, sensors, and vacuum tools from simple accessories into fully addressable, intelligent edge devices. Why Modbus, and Why Now? Modbus is not new. Developed by Modicon in 1979, it is the automation industry’s lingua franca —simple, open, and robust. Unlike Ethernet/IP or Profinet, which require costly licenses and complex configuration, Modbus offers a flat, predictable register map.
Modbus provides that direct line. OnRobot exposes a standard set of holding registers and coils across their product line. While each tool has specifics, the pattern is consistent. onrobot modbus
For years, the promise of collaborative robotics has been simplicity. Yet, anyone who has wired a complex gripper or a force-torque sensor into a third-party PLC knows the reality: different protocols, proprietary boxes, and a tangle of cables. OnRobot, a company known for its “one interface