Universal Robots, a Teradyne Robotics firm, has unveiled Gen 7, its seventh-generation industrial robotic platform, designed for industrial automation and bodily AI functions.
Launched on the IMTS commerce present, Gen 7 brings collectively a brand new era of robotic arms, controller, educate pendant and power flange, with the platform constructed round Common Robots’ PolyScope X robotic working system.
Common Robots says the redesign is meant to offer the computing energy, connectivity, sensing and software program instruments required to maneuver AI-based robotic functions from improvement into industrial operations.
Jean-Pierre Hathout, president of the Teradyne Robotics Group, says: “The robots of the AI period should be superior, not sophisticated.
“Constructed on what we have now discovered from over 20 years of cobot innovation and greater than 100,000 industrial deployments worldwide, Gen 7 is an end-to-end redesign of our platform that reduces integration friction and dramatically expands software capabilities. It can allow our prospects and companions throughout industries to confidently deploy superior AI-powered functions in real-world operations.”
New g-Collection robotic arms
The Gen 7 platform introduces three new g-Collection robotic arms: the UR10g-1750, UR17g-1300 and UR18g-950, named in response to their payload in kilograms and attain in millimeters.
The brand new fashions be part of Common Robots’ current e-Collection and UR Collection lineups.
A brand new g-Collection instrument flange offers information, energy and security connections instantly on the instrument flange, supporting cameras and high-bandwidth sensors with out requiring further exterior cabling.
Common Robots says this permits the imaginative and prescient and sensing techniques required for AI fashions to function in actual time with the robotic and is meant to simplify extra superior automation and bodily AI deployments.
Constructed-in force-torque sensing, impedance management and Actual-Time Information Alternate, or RTDE, additionally present power suggestions for bodily AI functions together with dexterous manipulation and force-sensitive meeting.
New CB7 Core controller
Gen 7 additionally introduces the CB7 Core controller, which Common Robots says offers 40 % extra computing energy whereas occupying a 30 % smaller footprint than earlier generations.
The controller helps multi-network communication for automation and bodily AI architectures, permitting connections to PLCs, HMIs, MES platforms, industrial PCs and imaginative and prescient techniques whereas decreasing the necessity for exterior community switches.
At launch, CB7 is obtainable as a standalone management field and as a compact model designed for integration into an automation cupboard. The controller can be appropriate with e-Collection and UR Collection robotic arms.
PolyScope X software program platform
PolyScope X offers the software program basis for Gen 7, including programming instruments, ISO 10218-1 security performance and cybersecurity compliance.
Open APIs and ROS 2 communication allow builders to construct and deploy edge AI functions utilizing industrial PCs and exterior AI processing.
Further software program packages present entry to capabilities together with ProfiSafe, OPC-UA and logic applications, whereas software software program from third-party builders will also be built-in by the platform. Examples embrace Rocketfarm Pally and Inbolt 3D Imaginative and prescient Steering.
New educate pendant and Sensible Panel
Common Robots has additionally redesigned its educate pendant for Gen 7. The brand new TP7 Core is greater than 20 % lighter than earlier generations and consists of a number of grip positions, configurable good buttons, a full HD show and a brand new digital joystick.
The corporate says the adjustments are meant to make the pendant extra snug throughout prolonged use whereas simplifying robotic programming for operators.
The brand new SP7 Sensible Panel offers one other solution to educate and program the robotic instantly on the instrument flange.
It consists of safety-compliant freedrive performance, LED lights and three configurable enter buttons able to operating PolyScope X Sensible Abilities.
Common Robots says permitting operators to work instantly on the level of the duty can cut back setup and programming time for functions the place touch-to-teach or frequent operator interplay is required, together with high-mix, low-volume manufacturing.
Security and cybersecurity
Gen 7’s superior and collaborative security capabilities use a PLd, Class 3 structure licensed to ISO 13849-1.
All g-Collection robots are TĂśV licensed to ISO 10218-1 and UL 1740, whereas Teradyne Robotics is licensed to IEC 62443-4-1 ML3 for cybersecurity.
The corporate says the certification confirms that safe improvement practices are included all through the software program improvement lifecycle.
Bodily AI ecosystem
Common Robots is demonstrating Gen 7 at IMTS alongside developments from greater than 20 ecosystem companions.
Demonstrations involving Cognex, Schunk, Magswitch, Easy Robotics, Psyonic, Robotiq and Inbolt present how bodily AI, machine imaginative and prescient and gripping applied sciences might be built-in with Common Robots {hardware} and software program.
Rudy Cohen, CEO of Inbolt, says: “Common Robots and Inbolt share the identical conviction, that automation needs to be easy to deploy and easy to dwell with.
“With Gen 7 and PolyScope X, Inbolt’s imaginative and prescient now runs natively on the UR controller itself, out there instantly by UR. No exterior imaginative and prescient PC, no further cabling. Producers get elements localised with out jigs or fixtures, and attain manufacturing in hours, not weeks.”
Gen 7 can be supported by the UR+ ecosystem, Common Robots’ portfolio of third-party automation merchandise which can be validated by each the expertise supplier and Common Robots earlier than being made out there to prospects.
The corporate says the ecosystem is meant to cut back integration complexity and permit producers to deploy full robotic functions extra rapidly.
