Hannover Messe, the world’s leading trade fair for industrial technology,
witnessed the formal launch of YuMi, the world’s first truly collaborative
dual-arm industrial robot by ABB.
Representing another step in ABB’s Next Level strategy aimed at
accelerating sustainable value creation, YuMi marks a new era of robotic co-workers.
ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer explains that YuMi makes collaboration between
humans and robots a reality, adding that the robot is the result of years of
research and development, and will change the way humans and robots interact.
Mr Spiesshofer also commented that YuMi was an element of ABB’s Internet
of Things, Services and People strategy creating an automated future together.
Beginning in 1974 when ABB introduced the world’s first microprocessor
controlled, all-electric industrial robot and kick-started the modern robotics
revolution, the company today, has an installed base of more than 250,000 robots
worldwide. With YuMi’s development, ABB is once again pushing the boundaries of
robotic automation by fundamentally expanding the types of industrial processes
that can be automated with robots.
Small parts assembly is one production arena that is changing rapidly,
especially in the electronics industry, which has seen demand for products
skyrocket past the supply of skilled labour. As conventional assembly methods
diminish in value, manufacturers are finding it strategically and economically imperative
to invest in new solutions.
While YuMi is specifically designed to meet the flexible and agile
production needs of the consumer electronics industry, it has equal application
in any small parts assembly environment thanks to its dual arms, flexible
hands, universal parts feeding system, camera-based part location, lead-through
programming, and state-of-the-art precise motion control.
Key features and benefits of YuMi industrial robots include inherently
safe design allowing operation in close proximity to humans; lightweight yet
rigid magnesium skeleton covered with a floating plastic casing wrapped in soft
padding to absorb impacts; compact design with human dimensions and human
movements increasing comfort factor for human co-workers; ability to sense an
unexpected impact such as a collision with a co-worker, pausing its motion within
milliseconds; and absence of pinch points to prevent harm during opening and
closing of axes.
YuMi has won the prestigious Red Dot ‘best of the best’ design award.