Universal Robots, the world's No. 1 collaborative robot solution company, provided an opportunity to operate collaborative robots directly at Korea's only collaborative robot certification training center.

Universal Robots emphasizes the easy control and the fact that even non-experts can easily operate the robot with just a few hours of training as a special feature of collaborative robots. The reporter participated in the training to experience this.

In 2008, Universal Robots launched a collaborative robot that coexists with people. From robots that can load light objects, to the current UR20 that can lift a 20kg bag of rice, demand has increased.

On this day, the reporter had the opportunity to operate the robot directly using the Universal Robots Teach Pendant (robot programming device) with an intuitive 3D interface.

■ Moving a collaborative robot arm in just one hour
Self-proclaimed professional robot instructor, Universal Robots Manager Jaeho Shim, explained the installation, use, maintenance, and application cases of Universal Robots collaborative robots, and conducted a practical training session lasting about an hour. The reporter followed the operation methods several times.

First of all, collaborative robots are easy to install. They can be installed with just four M8 bolts. They are space-efficient as they can fit into narrow spaces.

No welding required, can be attached to the floor or ceiling. It took less than a few minutes for the expert to power on the robot, release the robot brakes, and check operation.
The Teach Pendant's interface was as easy to use as operating a smartphone app.

It also felt easier because I could use the freedrive function to move the robot by hand to the desired location and create way points.

Freedrive is a function that allows you to move the robot directly by hand by pressing the button on the top of the teach pendant.
After practicing some of the functions, the reporter configured a series of actions to pick up objects by inputting width values from 0 to 37 mm to the compatible gripper.

At first, I was confused about the order, but as the instructor said, I separated each movement into separate actions and sequentially listed the setup actions such as waypoints, grippers, and sensors to complete the set.
After setting, the robot moves by simply pressing the play button. The reporter completed the pick and place task of the collaborative robot.

You moved a collaborative robot in just one hour. As a reporter, gaining knowledge about robots and handling robots directly are two completely different categories. In fact, operating a robot may not be that difficult.

Universal Robots conducts this training once every two months at six authorized training centers nationwide, from e-learning to field training.

It is said that 3,700 people worldwide take offline training every year, so it can be said that it is contributing to the development of robot manpower. Yeongcheon Polytechnic University is a representative training center.

■ Rapid rise of collaborative robots that work together with humans
On this day, the reporter personally experienced the 'daily use of robots' by simply operating an actual collaborative robot.

The collaborative robot industry has been rapidly growing recently, and we can now encounter robots in our daily lives. When encountering robots, some people find them fascinating, while others fear that they might lose their jobs. Recently, new technologies such as AI and robots have been developed at a frightening pace, but collaborative robots are not aiming to take away human jobs, but rather to work together.

Unlike rigid and solid industrial robots, collaborative robots are made of plastic or aluminum, making them flexible to handle. Collaborative robots must have built-in functions, such as stopping the robot by power or force values, and if they satisfy this part, they can be called collaborative robots.

Collaborative robots are emerging as a key player in robot automation due to their strengths such as △versatility △flexibility △stability △user friendliness △ease of use △reasonable price.

Currently, collaborative robots are performing a variety of application functions such as welding, palletizing, sanding, screw driving, and machine tending in industries such as metal and machine processing, shipbuilding, and automobile manufacturing. They also perform repetitive and dangerous tasks. This can be a blessing for factories in 3D industries that are short on manpower.

“These robots are classified as incomplete machines and require a system to be certified. In other words, the entire robot system must be stable and easy to use to be a true collaborative robot,” said Shim.

■ Universal Robots, No. 1 in the Global Collaborative Robot Market
Universal Robots is headquartered in Denmark. Officially, as of last year, the company sold 75,000 collaborative robots globally, and has maintained an average annual growth rate of 36%. In Korea, it is steadily expanding its base as the global No. 1 collaborative robot company, occupying more than half of the robot market.

In addition to the features introduced above, Universal Robots’ collaborative robots have the advantage of being compatible with its own and third-party equipment. There are 440 UR Plus products. Just like installing an app on a smartphone, the more UR Plus products there are, the easier it is to use the robot in the field.

Additionally, safety is essential for collaborative robots because they work with people in places without fences, and Universal Robots has more safety features than other companies.

Manager Shim said, "Universal Robot's ultimate goal is for robot users to be able to purchase, install, maintain, and operate the robot online without the intervention of experts," and "Based on the know-how accumulated from nearly 20 years of manufacturing collaborative robots, we have an advantage in quality and high reliability compared to other companies."

For example, if a movement opposite to the robot's operating direction is detected, the robot stops operating. Or, if there is a person nearby, it slows down rapidly or creates a virtual wall between the robot and the worker to ensure safety.

In terms of maintenance, it is less durable than industrial robots, but it is very easy to maintain as there are no consumables to replace. Universal Robots' collaborative robots have a lifespan of 8-10 years, or as long as 15 years or more, depending on their size and task, and their consumables are said to last longer than the robot's lifespan.

“Ultimately, rather than saying that industrial robots are better or collaborative robots are better, we just need to assign them to more suitable tasks,” added Manager Shim.

On this day, Universal Robots CEO Lee Nae-hyung said, "Universal Robots always thinks about how to change the lives of customers from the customer's perspective. This event was planned to lower the entry barrier to robots and inform people about the potential of collaborative robots and their wide range of uses in daily life and business settings." He also expressed his aspiration, saying, "We will continue to do our best to inform more people about collaborative robots in line with the global trend of robot-based automation."