Hirebotics expands cobot mobility with line tracking and linear rail

Hirebotics LLC added line tracking and linear rail capabilities to its collaborative robots on September 19, 2026, enabling continuous manufacturing for large workpieces.

Hirebotics LLC introduced line tracking and linear rail capabilities for its collaborative robots on September 19, 2026. The line tracking feature allows cobots to maintain programmed painting paths while conveyor systems continue running without halting production. Linear rails extend cobot reach beyond 68.9 inches (175 cm) for large workpieces, available in 5-foot increments or custom lengths. Current rail positioning requires manual operator input, but full automation of rail movement is planned for end of 2026.

This mobility upgrade targets industries where workpieces exceed standard cobot envelopes, including shipyards, marine fabrication, structural heavy fabrication, and agricultural equipment manufacturing. The system operates within Hirebotics’ no-code, cloud-based Beacon platform, though full rail automation requires integration with that workflow.

For manufacturing efficiency, these capabilities potentially lower production costs by enabling continuous operation with larger workpieces. This directly supports the availability of complex manufactured goods in high-demand sectors like heavy machinery and marine construction. The next milestone—automated rail movement by year-end—will determine whether this mobility flexibility scales to reduce production bottlenecks.

Caveats: Manual operator input remains required for rail positioning now. Full automation depends on Beacon platform integration. The 68.9-inch reach applies only to force- and power-limited cobots.

Source: The Robot Report