ABB YuMi
Collaborative dual-arm robot for small parts assembly
Contact for pricing
ABB YuMi is a collaborative dual-arm robot designed for small parts assembly in electronics, consumer goods, and other precision manufacturing industries. With inherent safety features including padded arms and force-limiting technology, YuMi can work alongside humans without safety cages. The robot excels at delicate assembly tasks requiring precision and dexterity with its dual 7-axis arms.
Released: 2015
Overview
ABB YuMi, which stands for 'you and me' working together, represents a groundbreaking advancement in collaborative robotics. Introduced in 2015, YuMi was specifically designed to work safely alongside humans without the need for safety cages or barriers. Its lightweight magnesium skeleton, padded arms, and advanced force-sensing technology enable it to stop immediately upon contact with a human, making it one of the safest collaborative robots on the market.
The dual-arm design of YuMi sets it apart from traditional industrial robots. Each of its seven-axis arms can work independently or in coordination, mimicking human-like dexterity for complex assembly tasks. This makes YuMi particularly suited for small parts assembly in industries like consumer electronics, watchmaking, and medical device manufacturing where precision and flexibility are paramount.
YuMi's compact footprint and intuitive programming interface, including lead-through programming where operators can physically guide the robot's movements, make it accessible to manufacturers of all sizes. The robot can be easily integrated into existing production lines and reprogrammed for different tasks, offering unprecedented flexibility in modern manufacturing environments.
Key Features
- Dual 7-axis arms: Independent or coordinated operation for complex assembly tasks with human-like dexterity
- Inherent safety design: Padded arms, force-limiting sensors, and lightweight construction enable safe human-robot collaboration
- High precision: Position repeatability of 0.02mm for delicate small parts assembly
- Lead-through programming: Intuitive setup where operators physically guide the robot to teach movements
- Compact footprint: Small desktop-mountable design suitable for space-constrained production environments
- Integrated vision and gripping: Camera-based part location and flexible gripper options for varied applications
- FlexPendant and tablet control: Multiple programming and control options including ABB's RobotStudio software
Applications
YuMi is deployed across industries requiring precision small parts assembly and handling. In consumer electronics manufacturing, YuMi assembles mobile phones, tablets, and other devices where delicate component handling is critical. The watchmaking industry utilizes YuMi for intricate assembly work that requires exceptional precision and repeatability. Medical device manufacturers leverage YuMi for assembling surgical instruments, diagnostic devices, and other sensitive medical equipment where quality and consistency are paramount.
Beyond assembly, YuMi performs quality inspection, material handling, packaging, and testing operations. Its collaborative nature makes it ideal for industries facing labor shortages or seeking to augment human workers rather than replace them. Small and medium-sized manufacturers particularly benefit from YuMi's ease of programming and deployment, allowing them to automate previously manual processes without extensive robotics expertise or infrastructure investment.
Technical Highlights
YuMi's technical innovation centers on its safety and precision capabilities. The robot incorporates advanced torque sensors in each joint, enabling real-time force monitoring and immediate stopping upon unexpected contact. Its lightweight magnesium alloy construction combined with soft padding creates a robot that is inherently safe while maintaining the rigidity needed for precision work. The 0.02mm position repeatability rivals many traditional industrial robots while operating in an open, collaborative environment.
The dual-arm architecture provides unique coordination capabilities, with each arm offering seven degrees of freedom for exceptional reach and flexibility. YuMi's control system can synchronize both arms for bimanual tasks like threading cables or holding and manipulating objects simultaneously. Integration with ABB's RobotStudio software and support for multiple programming methods—from graphical interfaces to lead-through teaching—makes YuMi accessible to operators without extensive programming backgrounds, accelerating deployment and task changeover in dynamic production environments.
Videos
Ready to deploy ABB YuMi?
Tell us about your use case and we'll help you evaluate this solution.