ABB launches industrial robot that can work alongside humans

Wednesday, Oct 07, 2015 17:47

YuMi, the world's first fully collaborative dual-armed robot, will be introduced at Metalex Vietnam exhibition in HCM City this week. — VNS Photo Xuan Huong.

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — ABB, one of the world's largest robotics companies, will showcase YuMi, its latest generation of industrial robot that is capable of working safely with human colleagues without a barrier, at Metalex Vietnam 2015 that opens in HCM City on October 8.

YuMi is designed to resemble humans, encouraging a friendly and non-threatening work environment along with a compact and dual-arm body that does not require more space than a human workstation.

The robot is constructed by encasing a lightweight but rigid magnesium skeleton in plastic and covering it with soft padding to absorb any impacts.

Equipped with a force control sensor and a vision system, if the robot detects an oncoming collision with a co-worker, it can stop moving in milliseconds and can then be restarted once the danger has passed.

Richard Yue, discrete automation and motion division manager at ABB Ltd., said YuMi is a truly collaborative robot since it is able to work side-by-side with human coworkers on the same tasks without requiring barriers or cages.

YuMi is the first industrial robot to be independently certified as safe, he said.

With its dual arms, flexible hands, universal parts feeding system, camera-based part location and cutting edge motion control, YuMi can be used for any small parts assembly application in sectors like electronics, he added.

Duangdej Yuaiwarmdee, deputy managing director and general manager of Reed Tradex Co., Ltd in Viet Nam – the Metalex Vietnam organiser -- said the participation of ABB Robotics with YuMi this year promises to prove interesting for Vietnamese industrialists.

Metalex Vietnam, an annual international machine tools and metalworking solutions exhibition to be held at HCM City's Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre, will go on until October 10. — VNS

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