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Can You Tame the UR5 Robot Arm?

By Steve Crowe | September 20, 2017

At RoboBusiness 2017, the UR5 robot arm from Universal Robots will pick “widgets” out of a feeder that moves around and is dynamically tracked by the vision-guided cobot. Using a wand, attendees will be able to “tame” the robot, prompting it to avoid the wand while attempting to reach the widget.

What if collaborative robots didn’t just stop at collision but avoided collisions altogether? And while doing that kept performing the task they set out to do?

That’s the premise for Universal Robots’ new demonstration at RoboBusiness 2017 in Santa Clara, Calif. On Sept. 27 and 28, a UR5 robot arm will pick “widgets” out of a feeder that moves around and is dynamically tracked by the vision-guided cobot. Using a wand, attendees will be able to “tame” the robot, prompting it to avoid the wand while attempting to reach the widget.

“The ability for the robot to ‘dodge’ the wand is an example of what we believe will be the next generation of collaborative robots,” said Craig Tomita, area sales manager at Universal Robots. “We believe that there is a large market for robots that can perform tasks in a semi-structured environment, where the requirement for precise positioning of fixtures and parts is relaxed, making setup and programming of the UR cobots even easier.”


RoboBusiness 2017 Lineup: Conference | Speakers | Keynotes | Exhibitors | Expo Programming


The Actin Simulation software from Energid used in the demo is part of the rapidly expanding Universal Robots+ platform featuring plug-and-play products for the UR robot arms.

How Cobots Are Increasing ROI in Industry 5.0

Universal will also be hosting a discussion about “How Cobots Are Increasing ROI in Industry 5.0” on September 28, 11:45am – 12:30pm.

This talk will detail how manufacturers of all sizes and capabilities can realize a fast return on investment on their collaborative robots. Through detailed break-downs, ROI calculators, and case studies, the talk will lay out the business case for cobots, preparing attendees for what to consider before, during and after deployment. The presentation will conclude with a live, interactive demo of a collaborative robot.

Universal Robots arm showcased during Pitchfire

In addition, RoboBusiness’ Pitchfire contest next Thursday will also feature a UR3 robot arm in a demo from Sewbo, the startup bringing automation to sewing factories with its unique fabric-stiffening technology.

Sewbo’s technology enables off-the-shelf industrial robots to easily handle limp fabrics, and it has led to the world’s first robotically sewn garment. The demonstration shows how the easy interface of the UR3 allows simple demonstrations like Sewbo’s to be programmed in a matter of minutes.

Universal Robots will be showcasing its collaborative technologies at Booth 311 in the Expo Hall at RoboBusiness. For appointments and more information, contact Mette McCall at [email protected].

About The Author

Steve Crowe

Steve Crowe is Executive Editor, Robotics, WTWH Media, and chair of the Robotics Summit & Expo and RoboBusiness. He is also co-host of The Robot Report Podcast, the top-rated podcast for the robotics industry. He joined WTWH Media in January 2018 after spending four-plus years as Managing Editor of Robotics Trends Media. He can be reached at [email protected]

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