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✨ The AI Revolution in Manufacturing
Universal Robots unveiled its Gen 7 robotic platform, designed for the deployment of physical AI on factory floors, and the PolyScope X software platform with built-in cybersecurity elements, at PACK Expo in Chicago last month.
⚙️ What Does the Gen 7 Platform Offer?
The Gen 7 platform brings together the company's CB7 Core controller, TP7 Core teach pendant, SP7 Smart Panel tool flange interface, and the PolyScope X software platform. It also facilitates machine vision and robotic integration by allowing Cognex 2D and 3D industrial vision systems to run directly on the Gen 7 platform.
🚀 Automation for Everyone
Silas Neale, regional sales manager for Teradyne Robotics, owner of Universal Robots, stated that this new technology appeals to manufacturers who have never used automation before, greatly reducing complexity and opening the doors to automation for everyone. Thanks to the new cabling architecture, the new teach pendant, which establishes a direct connection between the operator and the robot, supports programming and operation.
🌐 A Single Unified Interface
Neale emphasized that this system, which demonstrates how industrial vision systems, the teach pendant, Gen 7, and PolyScope platforms are used with collaborative robots (cobots), provides a single unified interface for everyone implementing robots. This solution can be used in a wide range of applications, from semiconductor manufacturing to many others.
📈 Industry Trends and Physical AI
Universal Robots considers industry trends such as accessibility, connectivity, and physical AI deployment when developing its technologies. The combination of industrial vision systems with their platforms helps accelerate the deployment of technologies by reducing complexity. Neale stated that the "handshake" between their equipment has become almost seamless, and they can communicate with more peripheral equipment.
🔒 Cybersecurity at the Forefront
These products also integrate cybersecurity into their design. The PolyScope X platform was developed in compliance with the Cyber Resilience Act, which will come into force in Europe in 2027. This act brings a significant change in how manufacturers in the EU manage cybersecurity for connected products and establishes a consistent framework to ensure products remain secure throughout their entire lifecycle.
The safety functions of the Universal Robots platform operate on a PLd Category 3 safety system and are TUV certified according to ISO 10218 and UL 1740. Teradyne Robotics is certified according to IEC 62443‑4‑1 maturity levels, which evaluate how well the product manufacturer implements secure development lifecycle practices. These features are of great importance at a time when manufacturers continue to combat ransomware and cyberattacks, and concerns about supply chain risks and business ecosystems are increasing.
