Universal Robots Unveils Gen 7 for Physical AI Deployment

Will Healy, Director of Product & Industry Marketing at Universal Robots, credited for the image

Will Healy, Director of Product & Industry Marketing at Universal Robots, emphasizes that following the Gen 7 release, AI-driven robots must prioritize advancement over complexity.

At the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), Universal Robots, a subsidiary of Teradyne Robotics, unveiled Gen 7, its seventh-generation robotics platform designed for the AI era.

According to Universal Robots, Gen 7 introduces a unified system upgrade that enhances the user experience, catering to the daily needs of operators, engineers, and integrators.

Will Healy, Director of Product and Industry Marketing at Universal Robots, told AI Magazine: “In the era of AI, robots must be advanced, not complicated.”

“Our new Gen 7 platform routes ethernet, power, and safety directly to the tool flange, providing companies with modern software tools and next-level connectivity to confidently transition AI from the lab to industrial operations.”

Will Healy, Director of Product and Industry Marketing at Universal Robots. Credit: Universal Robots

In the era of AI, robots must be advanced, not complicated

Will Healy, Director of Product and Industry Marketing at Universal Robots

Key innovations for Gen 7

Gen 7 introduces a robust collection of hardware and features that distinguish it from previous iterations.

Integrating AI into robotics production lines no longer requires a labyrinth of external wiring. The latest generation of robot arms features a newly engineered connection point at the wrist, designed specifically to support advanced cameras and smart sensors.

By delivering data, power, and safety protocols directly to the end of the arm, this streamlined setup eliminates the risk of cable snagging and drastically reduces installation time.

For manufacturers looking to deploy physical AI and modern vision systems, built-in connectivity removes traditional hardware bottlenecks, allowing engineering teams to focus on optimizing automation rather than managing complex cable routing.

Gen 7 specifications:

• UR10g-1750 (10kg/1750mm), UR17g-1300 (17kg/1300mm), and UR18g-950 (18kg/950mm) robot arms
• AI-ready tool flange providing direct data, power, and safety connections for high-bandwidth cameras and sensors to eliminate external cabling
• Built-in force-torque sensing, impedance control, and Real-Time Data Exchange (RTDE) for force-sensitive manipulation
• CB7 Core controller offering 40% more compute power in a 30% smaller footprint, with multi-network communication to eliminate external switches
• PolyScope X software featuring open APIs and ROS2 communication for edge-AI deployment and third-party app integration
• TP7 Core teach pendant that is over 20% lighter with an ergonomic design, full HD display, smart buttons, and a virtual joystick
• SP7 Smart Panel allowing direct-at-tool programming with safety-compliant freedrive, LEDs, and configurable input buttons
• PLd, Category 3 (ISO 13849-1) safety architecture with TÜV certification to ISO 10218-1 and UL1740
• IEC 62443-4-1 ML3 cybersecurity certification for secure software development.

A showcase of the physical AI ecosystem

Universal Robots unveiled Gen 7 at IMTS alongside developments from more than 20 ecosystem partners, including demonstrations of Gen 7 functionality with Inbolt, Schunk, and Cognex.

These demonstrations highlight how the platform’s open architecture allows best-in-class physical AI, machine vision, and gripping providers to build applications directly on Universal Robots hardware and software.

Rudy Cohen, CEO of Inbolt, stated: “Universal Robots and Inbolt share the same conviction that automation should be simple to deploy and simple to live with.

“With Gen 7 and PolyScope X, Inbolt’s vision now runs natively on the UR controller itself, available directly through UR. There is no external vision PC and no extra cabling.

“Manufacturers get parts localized without jigs or fixtures, reaching production in hours, not weeks.”

The booth demonstrations also reflected a mature ecosystem: Gen 7 is backed by UR+, Universal Robots’s curated portfolio of automation products.

Each demonstration is validated by both the partner and UR before reaching the market, ensuring risk-free integration and allowing customers to deploy their robots faster and with greater confidence.

Rudy Cohen, CEO of Inbolt, an ecosystem partner of UR. Credit: LinkedIn

Key UR partners at IMTS:

• Inbolt: A leader in 3D vision guidance for industrial robotics, Inbolt provides software that enables real-time adaptation of robot paths based on high-frequency 3D data. At IMTS, Inbolt demonstrated how its vision systems run natively on the UR controller through PolyScope X.
• Cognex: Cognex is a provider of advanced machine vision systems and industrial barcode reading technologies. Partnering with Universal Robots, its integration with the new Gen 7 platform ensures high-bandwidth data transmission without external cabling, streamlining complex physical AI and automated quality control setups.
• Schunk: Specializing in gripping systems and clamping technology, Schunk delivers robust end-of-arm tooling essential for advanced manufacturing. At IMTS, Schunk showcased its universal parallel electric grippers, which seamlessly integrate with UR’s cobots.

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