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Universal Robots, The Friendliest Robots in Town
Robotics has been a crucial element of the commercial and industrial world for many years. The earliest ‘industrial robot’ which aligned with ISO standards was constructed in 1937 by "Bill" Griffith P. Taylor. Amazingly, this ground-breaking creation was built using (but not exclusively) Meccano pieces. Over the years, industrial robots evolved into giant machines capable of constructing automobiles and in the 1990s; industrial robots began working collaboratively alongside humans to reduce the repetitive strain, which many labourers suffered from.
In more recent years, companies like Universal Robots have been paving the way for a modern generation of collaborative robots, with sophistication and commercial availability in mind.
What does Universal Robots do?
Universal Robots (established in 2005) is a company which set out to create industrial robots for businesses and organisations of all sizes. After just three years of operation, Universal Robots sold their first lightweight collaborative robot arm, the UR5 (2008). Although UR was the second company to produce a modern collaborative robot arm, this revolution was a huge milestone in the robotics community due to the UR5’s elegant programming and intuitive user interface.
Over the following decade, Universal Robots continued to break boundaries by developing robots capable of more ‘heavy-duty’ tasks. They also sought to ‘lower the automation barrier’ by creating free online training programmes for people interested in robotic automation.
In 2020 Universal Robots achieved new heights when they introduced collaborative robots capable of picking randomly orientated objects from a bin, and then placing them into a machine for further processing.
Why are they so Popular?
Part of the appeal for these robots is in the design. These robots have beautiful silver and blue shades which not only make them instantly recognisable, their smooth cylindrical-shaped design actually makes them less intimidating than conventional industrial robots. This further supports Universal Robots goal of breaking automation barriers, both metaphorically and physically! 80% of these robots currently in use work unshielded, this is because they pose virtually no threat to individuals operating around them.
Beyond their friendly appearance and unique design, there are countless reasons why these robots are becoming so popular; one being that they’re constantly becoming easier to program. The simplest method for programming these robots is to manually guide the arm through its movement, the arm remembers the movement and is able to precisely repeat it again and again! This innovative type of interaction is the reason why UR’s collaborative robots are such a joy to use.
These versatile robots and their friendly design make them a hit with general consumers as well as industrial manufacturers. For instance, these robots have appeared in spaces open to the public to entertain, engage and provide information. This includes areas like train stations and airports or even museums. People even use these robots to create art, something that would previously have been unimaginable.
Of course, the level of versatility available with these robots also means that they can be used for a variety of tasks within businesses too. They can be set up in-house and are not as expensive as one might assume.
Paving the Way for the Future
Experts agree that we need interactive robots that extend beyond manufacturing. When it comes to integrating robots into society, we’re only just starting to scratch the surface. Since Universal Robots are so easy to engage with, people trust the experience on a personal level. They want to work with the robot in a collaborative setting and once this occurs, life before robotic companions may seem comparable to life without smartphones.
Ultimately, Universal Robots and collaborative robots alike could be a pleasant glimpse into what the future holds for human-robot interactions. Far from the scaremongering of gloomy science fiction worlds, these robots show that human-robot interactions can be positive, friendly, filled with fun and above all; productive.
Universal Robot
If you're thinking of integrating collaborative robots by Universal Robots into your business, contact our friendly team today. We'll discuss ways in which robotic automation can improve productivity for your business, ROI and compatibility.
Call 01746 866 711 or email info@robomotion.co.uk today. We look forward to hearing from you.