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UR20 has a 20 kg payload, 1750 mm attain, and 30% extra velocity 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 transport in Q2 2023 for an undisclosed value.
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 incorporates a 20 kg payload, 1750 mm attain, ± 0.05 mm repeatability and as much as 30% extra velocity and torque when in comparison with different UR cobots. In keeping with the corporate, the UR20 is properly fitted to purposes corresponding to machine loading, machine tending, supplies dealing with, palletizing and welding. Right here is the datasheet for the UR20 cobot (PDF). You may learn the FAQs for the UR20 right here (PDF).
UR informed The Robotic Report extra new cobots can 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 provides a 16 kg payload and is designed for heavy-duty purposes. UR’s cobot portfolio additionally contains 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+ companion Robotiq. The brand new prolonged attain is demonstrated stacking to the peak of 1800mm, masking 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 stated a brand new joint design is the important thing to the elevated velocity and torque. “We would have liked a brand new mechanical joint design to have extra torque. We’ve been engaged on this for some time, and it’s arduous to do. However it received’t take lengthy for individuals to take aside the joint and see that it’s fully completely different inside.”
On the UR20, the bottom and shoulder have a most velocity 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 velocity of ± 120°/s, whereas the elbow and three wrist joints every have a high velocity of ± 180°/s.
A detailed-up of the brand new joint on the UR20 cobot. | Credit score: Common Robots
“Innovation needed to occur throughout the board,” Povlsen stated. “Joints and gears aren’t our core competency. We collaborated with distributors on completely different elements within the joints to iterate our approach right here. We would have liked extra attain, extra payload, and extra velocity. We now have good engineers who cracked the code to nonetheless be certain that it’s a secure cobot to be round.”
All of UR’s cobots are energy and pressure restricted (PFL) robots. Identical to the e-Collection, the UR20 can be licensed to each EN ISO 13849-1, Cat. 3 PLd and ISO 10218-1 by TÜV Nord. UR additionally stated that just like the e-Collection, the UR20 has 17 customizable security features thus far, together with having stopping time limiting and stopping distance limiting.
The UR20’s base provides the standard 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 might be simpler for UR to do a scrubbable model of this cobot than with the present e-Collection.
Povlsen informed The Robotic Report the whole management software program has been rethought on the UR20; though it’s suitable with the newest model of PolyScope. A number of the main enhancements, Povlsen stated, embrace find out how to develop UR caps and have a number of UR caps working collectively on the identical time.
“Something we will do to simplify the trail for patrons to be extra progressive, that’s one thing we’re investing in.”
Why the UR20?
UR actually isn’t the primary firm to supply a 20 kg cobot. There are no less than a number of others, together with Fanuc and Yaskawa; Fanuc additionally has the CRX-25iA with a 25 kg payload. Povlsen stated UR discovered from its prospects that there was a niche in its product portfolio.
“There have been quite a few purposes that our portfolio didn’t cowl [before the UR20],” stated Povlsen. “However particularly packaging and palletizing. Transferring 40-lb packing containers onto a pallet again and again, day after day, is a job that you just shouldn’t be doing. We had a number of conversations with prospects about how we might help 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, stated UR’s cobot gross sales have been trending in direction of heavier payloads. “During the last three years, the UR10e and above have accounted for about half of our unit quantity,” he stated. “So it made sense to enhance the product line on the excessive finish.”
Smith stated the first goal of cobots is to assist producers clear up labor shortages. “They’ve bother hiring individuals. In the event you have a look at what individuals can virtually raise, it’s 15-20 kilograms,” he stated. “So we had a niche above 16 kg in duties that individuals need to do, specifically machine tending and palletizing.”
What’s subsequent after the UR20?
UR is dealing with rising competitors with every passing 12 months. However the firm can also 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 12 months by setting a quarterly file. Smith hinted at what might 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 prospects,” Smith stated. “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 raise. When you construct one thing considerably extra highly effective than an individual, you’re not fixing the labor shortage downside, 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. Straight away I observed the white casing, not the silver. It’s a distinct materials and end. The cobot can also be fully enclosed, so it may be utilized in sure meals purposes (and others) that UR hasn’t performed in. This “idea cobot” wasn’t a product, however it might be sooner or later – or maybe sure elements of it might be included into UR cobots.
Smith stated UR is evaluating releasing a cobot that can be utilized in meals and pharmaceutical purposes. “Our intent is to maneuver fairly shortly on this area,” he stated.
There has lengthy been discuss in regards to the blurring of the strains 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 method.
“We’re staying within the cobot lane,” Povlsen stated. “We dare to say what a cobot is – we invented it.”
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