In context
As manufacturing increasingly adopts collaborative robots and autonomous mobile robots, the integration of AI is becoming a key differentiator. Automate 2025, held in Detroit from May 12-15, served as a platform for Teradyne Robotics' brands, Universal Robots (UR) and Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR), to demonstrate how AI can enhance flexibility and efficiency across automotive, electronics, and logistics applications.
What was reported
At joint booths, UR and MiR showcased a range of automation applications. In the automotive zone, AI Automation demonstrated painting with a new explosion-proof (ATEX certified) UR cobot, while 3D Infotech used a UR cobot with the new UR AI Accelerator toolkit for quality inspection. Mission Design presented dispensing, and Robotiq demonstrated palletizing.
In the electronics zone, Adaptive Robotics performed cobot-assisted soldering. UR introduced its new OptiMove motion control algorithm, which dynamically optimizes speed and acceleration within hardware limits, resulting in smoother movements, reduced vibrations, and improved cycle times. The AI Accelerator, developed with Nvidia, was integrated into Flexxbotics' machine tending solution and Acumino's cobot training demo.
In material handling, MiR's autonomous Pallet Jack (MiR1200) used AI-driven perception for robust pallet recognition, even with broken or imperfectly loaded pallets. It worked alongside the MC600, a new mobile cobot combining a UR20 on a MiR600 AMR, which won an RBR50 award and performed palletizing and de-palletizing tasks.
“For end users, getting access to these AI Accelerator-based solutions means easier programming, lower computation times, and the ability to automate previously challenging or impossible tasks.”
Why it mattered
The demonstrations highlighted a trend toward integrated, AI-enhanced automation that spans the entire workflow, from component handling to palletization. By combining UR's cobots with MiR's AMRs and leveraging AI toolkits, the companies aimed to reduce deployment times and enable automation of complex tasks, signaling a shift toward more holistic and accessible robotic solutions for manufacturers.
Source: Robotics & Automation News (roboticsandautomationnews.com) · Published 2025-04-27 · “Universal Robots and MiR to debut new AI-powered automation solutions at Automate 2025”