Universal Robots launches UR3 – the world''s most flexible, light-weight table-top robot to work alongside humans

Odense, Denmark, March 17, 2015: Industries worldwide have embraced the collaborative benefits of the user-friendly UR5 and UR10 robots that feature unrivaled performance vs. affordability and can work next to people with no safety guarding. With the new UR3 robot, Universal Robots brings this market leading concept to the table:

The new compact table-top robot weighs only 24.3 lbs, but has a payload of 6.6 lbs, 360-degree rotation on all wrist joints and infinite rotation on the end joint. These unique features make UR3 the most flexible, lightweight, table-top robot to work side-by-side with employees in the market today.

The U.S. launch of UR3 is at 10am at Universal Robots'' booth #960 at Automate 2015 in Chicago, March 23.

CTO and co-founder of Universal Robots, Esben Oestergaard, led the three-year development phase of the new addition to the UR robot family:

“With the UR3, table-top automation is easy, safe and flexible; a single worker can accomplish what traditionally would be a two-person task by having the UR3 robot as a third-hand helper. It''s an ideal choice for applications that require 6-axis capabilities where size, safety and costs are critical,” says Oestergaard.

“UR3 is an optimal assistant in assembly, polish, glue, and screw applications requiring uniform product quality. Our new robot can also be used in a separate work station mounted on the table, picking, assembling and placing parts in optimized production flows. Because of its compact form and easy programming, it''s easy to switch it between tasks to meet agile manufacturing needs making total cost of ownership low and payback period fast.”

UR3 applications span manufacturing industries from medical devices to circuit boards and electronic components.

“A big demand driver will be automating production in confined environments. With the UR3, we can now fit a 6-axis robot into more assembly and manufacturing lines where erecting large safety enclosures would not be feasible. The UR3 is ideal for relieving employees from working in environments with toxic or hazardous materials, and that scenario will also drive the adoption of UR3 robots.”

UR3 has 15 advanced, adjustable safety settings. One of these is the unique force sensing that enables the UR3 to limit the forces at contact if the robot collides with an employee. The new robot has a default force sensing of 150 Newton but can be set to stop if it encounters a force as low as 50 Newton in its route.

By combing UR''s industry leading easy programming technology with infinite rotation and improved force control, the UR3 will be an expert craftsman. The robot can pick up screws, mount and tighten them applying the correct torque. In gluing applications UR3 can dose exactly the same amount of glue with constant and steady pressure along a narrowly defined path.

The UR3 features the same 0.1 mm repeatability as the UR5 and UR10 robots and can follow the outline of a surface – such as the aluminum edge around a smartphone – by “feel” rather than through the programming of precise movements and coordinates, which otherwise would require more than 100 data points programmed into the application.

“With the UR5 and UR10 robots, we see end users integrating our robot arms in applications and industries that we didn''t initially expect. I''m sure we will be equally surprised to witness the adaptation of the UR3 into new scenarios where robots haven''t ventured before,” says Oestergaard.

Dan Kara, Practice Director, Robotics, Automation and Intelligent Systems for ABI Research, notes:

“Universal Robots has a well-deserved reputation for producing reliable industrial robotic arms that can be easily programmed to work safely and cooperatively with humans. With the introduction of the UR3, Universal is expanding the range of applications for their unique technology, as well as the number and types of business that can immediately benefit from robotic assembly and manufacturing automation. By doing so, the company has also greatly increased the scope of their own addressable markets. Everyone benefits.”

More info on UR3 can be found on Universal Robots'' new website: (goes live March 16)

UR3 Key Features:

• 6 axis, collaborative table-top robot

• Weight: 24.3lbs

• Payload: 6.6lbs

• Reach: 19.7in

• 360 degree rotation on all wrist joints,

infinite rotation on end joint

• Repeatability: ±0.1 mm (±0,004 in)

• 15 adjustable, advanced safety settings;

force limit: Default 150 N , can be

adjusted down to 50 N

• Modular design: exchanging a joint

takes less than 30 minutes with

one day delivery

• Improved force control

• New motherboard with faster boot-up

Applications:

• Soldering

• Gluing

• Screwing

• Painting

• Pick and place

• Operating hand tools

• Laboratory work

• Fume hood tasks