# Robot time - variable

**URL:** <https://forum.universal-robots.com/t/robot-time-variable/14610>\
**Category:** Technical Questions\
**Created:** [May 30, 2021, 5:56pm UTC](https://forum.universal-robots.com/t/robot-time-variable/14610 "2021-05-30T17:56:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![anon49621332](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/46a35a/32.png) [@anon49621332](https://forum.universal-robots.com/u/anon49621332)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2021, 5:56pm UTC](https://forum.universal-robots.com/t/robot-time-variable/14610/1 "2021-05-30T17:56:05Z")

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Hello, I have a very simple question. Are we somehow able to read as the robot’s age changes? I need to use the “Beacon” application to read the robot’s activation time, it is not about the program operation time itself, but about the time when it is turned on and off.

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**Author:** ![mmi](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.universal-robots.com/mmi/32/691_2.png) [@mmi](https://forum.universal-robots.com/u/mmi)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 6:47am UTC](https://forum.universal-robots.com/t/robot-time-variable/14610/2 "2021-05-31T06:47:49Z")

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Not sure if that is what you need, but there is “timestamp” field in [RTDE](https://www.universal-robots.com/articles/ur/interface-communication/real-time-data-exchange-rtde-guide/) data that is counting time since controller start.