A breakthrough in robotics has now set foot in the Indo-Pacific region, right in time to cater to the needs of a growing electronics manufacturing base.

Meet YuMi, a collaborative robot, or a “cobotic”, officially launched by leading robot maker, the Zurich-headquartered ABB, in Indonesia at the recent Electric, Power & Renewable Energy Indonesia exhibition in Jakarta.

The dual-armed robot is designed for safe and efficient human-robot interaction. The robot was designed along an intricate assembly line, the kind of assembly line traditionally dominated by human beings.

Its name, YuMi, is a portmanteau of “you and me”, and the name gives a clear description of what the robot looks like.

The torso-sized robot is designed in human dimensions, but it is without a head. The robot can be installed at human work stations with no need for cages, barriers or protective gear to guarantee the safety of the human beings working alongside it. This is the most significant change from the robot’s previous incarnations. Although tremendous advancements have being made in YuMi’s capabilities, it should be noted that YuMi does not possess artificial intelligence.

Made of magnesium and floating plastic and soft rubbery padding, the use of which on industrial robots was patented by ABB, YuMi is packed with sensors on each joint of the arm and on the upper side of the chest.

A slight collision with humans or a firm grab of the padding on the arm can stop the robot almost immediately. It could be back to work in a matter of milliseconds with a remote control.

“The robot is designed without pinch points so that the joints would not lock and cause injury to humans,” said Lilik Suharmawan, ABB’s local business manager for the robotic, discrete automation and motion division.

YuMi has been granted Red Dot’s Best Design Award this year.

For a demonstration, YuMi was given the task of lifting a white rose from a vase and then handing it to the person in front of it. The arms would only make the next move after the rose had been removed.

JP/Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak

A breakthrough in robotics has now set foot in the Indo-Pacific region, right in time to cater to the needs of a growing electronics manufacturing base.

Meet YuMi, a collaborative robot, or a '€œcobotic'€, officially launched by leading robot maker, the Zurich-headquartered ABB, in Indonesia at the recent Electric, Power & Renewable Energy Indonesia exhibition in Jakarta.

The dual-armed robot is designed for safe and efficient human-robot interaction. The robot was designed along an intricate assembly line, the kind of assembly line traditionally dominated by human beings.

Its name, YuMi, is a portmanteau of '€œyou and me'€, and the name gives a clear description of what the robot looks like.

The torso-sized robot is designed in human dimensions, but it is without a head. The robot can be installed at human work stations with no need for cages, barriers or protective gear to guarantee the safety of the human beings working alongside it. This is the most significant change from the robot'€™s previous incarnations. Although tremendous advancements have being made in YuMi'€™s capabilities, it should be noted that YuMi does not possess artificial intelligence.

Made of magnesium and floating plastic and soft rubbery padding, the use of which on industrial robots was patented by ABB, YuMi is packed with sensors on each joint of the arm and on the upper side of the chest.

A slight collision with humans or a firm grab of the padding on the arm can stop the robot almost immediately. It could be back to work in a matter of milliseconds with a remote control.

'€œThe robot is designed without pinch points so that the joints would not lock and cause injury to humans,'€ said Lilik Suharmawan, ABB'€™s local business manager for the robotic, discrete automation and motion division.

YuMi has been granted Red Dot'€™s Best Design Award this year.

For a demonstration, YuMi was given the task of lifting a white rose from a vase and then handing it to the person in front of it. The arms would only make the next move after the rose had been removed.