Robotic teach pendants are handheld devices used by operators to program and control industrial robots. They provide a user-friendly interface for teaching robots how to perform specific tasks, such as movement, positioning, and interaction with objects or tools. These devices are essential for guiding robots through precise motions in applications like assembly, welding, painting, and material handling.

The key features of robotic teach pendants typically include:

1. Manual Control: Operators can manually move the robot arm and fine-tune its positions to "teach" the robot the required motions.
2. Programming Interface: The pendant allows users to input code or commands that define the robot's behavior and tasks.
3. Visual Display: Most teach pendants feature a screen that shows the robot's current position, status, and other relevant data.
4. Safety Features: Some pendants are equipped with emergency stop buttons and other safety features to protect both the operator and the robot.
5. Connectivity: They often connect to the robot controller to send and receive instructions.

 These pendants are an essential part of the robot programming process, especially in environments where robots need to be reprogrammed for different tasks or applications.

Several leading brands manufacture robotic teach pendants, each offering different models tailored for various types of industrial robots. Here are some of the main brands and their models:

1. Universal Robots

• UR Teach Pendant: Universal Robots provides an intuitive, user-friendly teach pendant that is designed for programming their collaborative robots (cobots). It features a touchscreen interface and allows easy control for both programming and operation.

2. KUKA

• KUKA SmartPAD: KUKA's teach pendant is equipped with a touchscreen and offers ergonomic control for their industrial robots. It allows users to directly control robot movements and input commands with ease. The SmartPAD supports various KUKA robots, including the KUKA KR and LBR series.

• KUKA FlexPendant: A more advanced model that allows for flexible programming with enhanced functionality, suitable for complex robotic applications.

3. Fanuc

• FANUC Teach Pendant: Known for their reliability and ease of use, Fanuc's teach pendants are designed for their range of robots, including the M-20iA and LR Mate series. Their pendant features a color display, physical buttons, and a joystick for easier operation and programming.

• FANUC R-30iB Teach Pendant: Offers enhanced programming capabilities with additional support for advanced applications.

4. ABB

• ABB Smart HMI (Human-Machine Interface): ABB’s teach pendant system is known for its intuitive interface with a touchscreen. It offers simple, yet advanced programming features for ABB robots like the IRB 6700 and the IRB 6600 series.

• FlexPendant: A more traditional teach pendant from ABB, which uses a physical interface and touch control.

5. Yaskawa

• Yaskawa Smart Pendant: This teach pendant features a color display and touch functionality. It is commonly used with the Yaskawa Motoman robots like the GP and MH series, offering easy programming and control.

6. Stäubli

• Stäubli CS9 Teach Pendant: This pendant is used with Stäubli's TX series and offers a user-friendly, touchscreen interface. It allows intuitive programming and operation of their robots, especially for applications in industries like automotive and electronics.

7. Mitsubishi Electric

• MELFA RV-Teach Pendant: Designed for Mitsubishi’s MELFA robotic arms, this teach pendant offers touch control and is used for programming and operating robots like the RV series.

8. Omron

• Omron TM Teach Pendant: Omron’s pendant for their TM collaborative robots features a 7-inch touchscreen and provides an intuitive interface for programming and controlling robots in manufacturing environments.

9. Dürr

• Dürr Robot Control Pendant: Used for their robotic arms, especially in spray painting and other precision applications, this pendant has a built-in touchscreen for easy programming.

These teach pendants vary in terms of their user interfaces (touchscreen vs. joystick or button interfaces), compatibility with different robot models, and specific features for industrial or collaborative applications. Each brand and model is designed to suit the unique needs of various robotic systems, from simple operations to complex automated processes.