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UR20 has a 20 kg payload, 1750 mm attain, and 30% extra pace and torque when in comparison with different UR cobots. | Common Robots
Common Robots (UR) this morning at Automatica lastly unveiled what it’s been teasing the final couple of months. It launched the UR20, the Danish firm’s quickest and strongest collaborative robotic arm ever. The UR20 is anticipated to be obtainable for pre-order in late This autumn 2022 and can start delivery in Q2 2023 for an undisclosed worth.
The UR20, which has been redesigned from the bottom up, is the primary mannequin in a brand new collection of next-generation cobots that can complement the e-Collection. The UR20 contains a 20 kg payload, 1750 mm attain, ± 0.05 mm repeatability and as much as 30% extra pace and torque when in comparison with different UR cobots. Based on the corporate, the UR20 is nicely suited to functions reminiscent of machine loading, machine tending, supplies dealing with, palletizing and welding. Right here is the datasheet for the UR20 cobot (PDF). You possibly can learn the FAQs for the UR20 right here (PDF).
UR advised The Robotic Report extra new cobots might be launched in late 2023 or early 2024. The final time UR launched a brand new cobot was 2019 when it added the UR16e. It affords a 16 kg payload and is designed for heavy-duty functions. UR’s cobot portfolio additionally consists of the UR3e (3 kg payload), UR5e (5 kg) and UR10e (12.5 kg).
At Automatica in Munich, Germany, the UR20’s palletizing capabilities are being demonstrated with UR+ associate Robotiq. The brand new prolonged attain is demonstrated stacking to the peak of 1800mm, protecting two commonplace European (40in x 48in / 1200mm x 800mm)) pallets. The demo exhibits how the kinematics can cowl each the pallets and an infeed on the identical time.
New joint design drives UR20’s efficiency
UR president Kim Povlsen mentioned a brand new joint design is the important thing to the elevated pace and torque. “We wanted a brand new mechanical joint design to have extra torque. We’ve been engaged on this for some time, and it’s laborious to do. Nevertheless it received’t take lengthy for folks to take aside the joint and see that it’s utterly completely different inside.”
On the UR20, the bottom and shoulder have a most pace of 120˚/s, whereas the elbow can transfer as much as 150˚/s. The three wrist joints can transfer as much as ± 210˚/s. On the UR16e cobot, for comparability, the bottom and shoulder provide a most pace of ± 120°/s, whereas the elbow and three wrist joints every have a high pace of ± 180°/s.
An in depth-up of the brand new joint on the UR20 cobot. | Credit score: Common Robots
“Innovation needed to occur throughout the board,” Povlsen mentioned. “Joints and gears aren’t our core competency. We collaborated with distributors on completely different elements within the joints to iterate our manner right here. We wanted extra attain, extra payload, and extra pace. We’ve good engineers who cracked the code to nonetheless make certain it’s a secure cobot to be round.”
All of UR’s cobots are energy and drive restricted (PFL) robots. Identical to the e-Collection, the UR20 might be licensed to each EN ISO 13849-1, Cat. 3 PLd and ISO 10218-1 by TÜV Nord. UR additionally mentioned that just like the e-Collection, the UR20 has 17 customizable security features to date, together with having stopping time limiting and stopping distance limiting.
The UR20’s base affords the normal flange design that will get bolted down. However in a change of look for UR, not one of the joints have exterior screws. So it could possibly be simpler for UR to do a scrubbable model of this cobot than with the present e-Collection.
Povlsen advised The Robotic Report your complete management software program has been rethought on the UR20; though it’s suitable with the newest model of PolyScope. Among the main enhancements, Povlsen mentioned, embrace find out how to develop UR caps and have a number of UR caps working collectively on the identical time.
“Something we are able to do to simplify the trail for patrons to be extra progressive, that’s one thing we’re investing in.”
Why the UR20?
UR definitely shouldn’t be the primary firm to supply a 20 kg cobot. There are at the least a number of others, together with Fanuc and Yaskawa; Fanuc additionally has the CRX-25iA with a 25 kg payload. Povlsen mentioned UR realized from its clients that there was a niche in its product portfolio.
“There have been plenty of functions that our portfolio didn’t cowl [before the UR20],” mentioned Povlsen. “However particularly packaging and palletizing. Shifting 40-lb containers onto a pallet again and again, day after day, is a process that you simply shouldn’t be doing. We had a number of conversations with clients about how we can assist them cope with these challenges.”
UR was acquired by Teradyne for $285 million in 2015. Teradyne president Greg Smith, who runs the corporate’s industrial automation group, mentioned UR’s cobot gross sales have been trending in the direction of heavier payloads. “Over the past three years, the UR10e and above have accounted for about half of our unit quantity,” he mentioned. “So it made sense to enhance the product line on the excessive finish.”
Smith mentioned the first function of cobots is to assist producers remedy labor shortages. “They’ve bother hiring folks. In the event you have a look at what folks can virtually carry, it’s 15-20 kilograms,” he mentioned. “So we had a niche above 16 kg in duties that folks wish to do, particularly machine tending and palletizing.”
What’s subsequent after the UR20?
UR is going through rising competitors with every passing yr. However the firm can be performing higher than ever. After rising gross sales 41% in 2021 to $311 million, UR generated $85 million in Q1 2022, kicking off the yr by setting a quarterly report. Smith hinted at what could possibly be subsequent, and it appears like upgrading the e-Collection fashions with the brand new joint design.
“Now that we now have the next-generation joint, one can think about we’d put it to work to ship a greater product for our clients,” Smith mentioned. “By way of larger payloads, I wouldn’t put it out of the realm of risk, however we’re nearly exterior of what an individual can carry. When you construct one thing considerably extra highly effective than an individual, you’re not fixing the labor shortage drawback, now you’re competing with conventional industrial robots.”
UR’s “idea cobot” at Automate 2022 in Detroit. | Credit score: Steve Crowe, The Robotic Report
UR additionally showcased a “idea cobot” at Automate 2022 in Detroit. Immediately I seen the white casing, not the silver. It’s a special materials and end. The cobot can be utterly enclosed, so it may be utilized in sure meals functions (and others) that UR hasn’t performed in. This “idea cobot” wasn’t a product, however it could possibly be at some point – or maybe sure points of it could possibly be integrated into UR cobots.
Smith mentioned UR is evaluating releasing a cobot that can be utilized in meals and pharmaceutical functions. “Our intent is to maneuver fairly rapidly on this area,” he mentioned.
There has lengthy been discuss in regards to the blurring of the traces between cobots and conventional industrial robotic arms. That discuss has elevated a bit with the introduction of robots arms that may function in twin modes – industrial or collaborative. UR appears devoted to its strategy.
“We’re staying within the cobot lane,” Povlsen mentioned. “We dare to say what a cobot is – we invented it.”
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