Universal Robots
What is Universal Robots?
Universal Robots is a Danish manufacturer of collaborative robots, also known as cobots, specializing in lightweight and flexible industrial robotic arms. The robots developed by the company are designed to operate alongside people in the same workspace without traditional safety cages, making robotics more accessible even in small and medium-sized production environments. Universal Robots' solutions are widely used in areas such as machine tending, assembly, and other repetitive tasks in the machinery industry.
The history of Universal Robots
Universal Robots was founded in 2005 in Odense, Denmark. The company was established around the idea of developing industrial robots that would be easier to deploy and safer to work with than traditional industrial robots. The founders drew on research that examined collaboration between robots and humans in production settings.
The first commercial robotic arm, UR5, was launched in 2008. Since then, the product range has expanded to include both larger and smaller models, enabling cobots to be used in an even greater variety of applications. In 2015, Universal Robots was acquired by the American company Teradyne, which supported the company’s international growth and product development.
Universal Robots and Collaborative Robotics
Universal Robots’ growth is closely tied to the widespread adoption of collaborative robotics in industry. Collaborative robots are designed to detect contact and limit force, allowing them to operate safely near humans. This has made robots an attractive alternative for machine shops where production runs are small and tasks frequently change.
Cobots are often programmed using a graphical user interface and manual guidance, which lowers the barrier for implementing robotics without requiring extensive robot programming skills. This has increased the use of automation, especially for supporting manual and ergonomically demanding tasks.
Universal Robots’ Product Line
Universal Robots’ robotic arms feature six axes and are designed for general-purpose use in a variety of production tasks. The product lineup includes several sizes, differing in payload capacity and reach. These products are used in, for example, CNC machine tending, assembly, packaging, and light finishing applications.
Newer robot models utilize even more precise force sensors, improved repeatability, and digital interfaces that support integration into automated production cells and robotic workstations.
Universal Robots’ Ecosystem and Integrations
Universal Robots has developed a broad ecosystem around its robots, which includes software, training solutions, and accessories. The UR Academy offers training materials for using and programming the robots, and the UR+ ecosystem enables the use of various grippers, sensors, and other add-ons as part of robot applications.
Open interfaces support integrations with, for example, machine vision systems, safety devices, and production management systems, making it easier for cobots to be incorporated into existing production processes in machine shops.
Universal Robots in the Machinery Industry
In the machinery industry, Universal Robots' cobots are typically used to support machining processes, such as automating CNC machine tending. A cobot can handle tasks like loading blanks, removing finished parts, or transferring parts for measurement, allowing a machinist to focus on process monitoring and quality assurance.
The flexibility of collaborative robots is particularly well suited to environments where production runs change frequently, and automation needs to quickly adapt to new requirements.
Summary
Universal Robots is a key player in collaborative robotics, with cobots that have transformed the way robotics are used in production environments. The company’s robotic arms offer a flexible and safe way to automate repetitive tasks and help machine shops develop their production without the need for heavy automation solutions.
