Glossary Updates12 new terms added to the glossaries · October 2, 2026, 22:44 CEST
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Glossary · Robotics

Teach pendant

Also known as: Teaching pendant, Robot pendant, Smart pad

German: Programmierhandgerät

In robotics, a teach pendant is a hand-held unit connected to the robot controller for programming, jogging and operating the robot. It typically includes an enabling device, an emergency stop control and a mode selection or display.

  • Robotics
  • Standards

In one sentence

A teach pendant is the hand-held unit for jogging, programming and operating a robot, typically with enabling device and emergency stop.

Example

Using the teach pendant in manual reduced speed, the technician jogs the gripper to the new pick position while holding the enabling switch in the middle position.

How it applies

  • Engineering: Pendant safety controls are part of the robot's safety design: the Enabling device allows motion only while held in the middle position, and the Emergency stop must be effective wherever the pendant is connected. Wireless pendants need special measures for pairing and stop functions.
  • Operation: Teaching is done in a manual mode at reduced speed; the person with the pendant should keep an escape route and a clear view of the robot.
  • Documentation: The documentation team should describe the pendant's controls, operating modes and safety functions, and where disconnectable pendants are stored so that nobody mistakes an inactive emergency stop for a working one.

Teach pendant vs. HMI panel

A teach pendant is a portable robot programming and jogging device with safety controls. A fixed HMI panel operates the cell in production and usually does not allow jogging.

By knowledge.aitechdoc.world · Published September 26, 2026 · Last reviewed

Source: ISO 10218-1:2025, Robotics — Safety requirements — Part 1: Industrial robots

Definitions follow the cited standards and specifications. Where a source is a copyrighted publication, such as an ISO, IEC or EN standard, the definition is a close paraphrase, not a verbatim quotation, so as not to infringe copyright. We recommend reading the original publication. The sections “How it applies” are editorial commentary by AI TechDoc Blog and are not part of any standard.

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