Universal Robots Unveils Gen 7 for Industrial Automation and Physical AI
Universal Robots (UR), a Teradyne Robotics company, introduced Gen 7, its seventh-generation collaborative robot platform, at IMTS 2026 in Chicago. Gen 7 has a redesigned control box, teach pendant and tool flange and runs on the company's PolyScope X operating system. It is designed to support AI-based applications such as vision guidance and force-sensitive assembly on the production floor.
"Built on what we have learned from over 20 years of cobot innovation and more than 100,000 industrial deployments worldwide, Gen 7 is an end-to-end redesign of our platform that reduces integration friction and dramatically expands application capabilities," said Jean-Pierre Hathout, president of the Teradyne Robotics Group.
The platform adds three g-Series robot arms: the UR10g-1750, UR17g-1300 and UR18g-950. Each model name gives the arm's payload in kilograms and its reach in millimeters. The arms join UR's e-Series and UR Series lines. The g-Series tool flange carries data, power and safety signals, so cameras and high-bandwidth sensors connect without extra cabling. Built-in force-torque sensing, impedance control and Real-Time Data Exchange (RTDE) support tasks such as dexterous manipulation and force-sensitive assembly.
UR says the CB7 Core controller has 40 percent more computing power and a 30 percent smaller footprint than previous generations. It communicates across multiple networks, connecting to PLCs, HMIs, MES platforms, industrial PCs and vision systems, which reduces the need for external switches. It comes as a standalone control box or as a compact unit for mounting in an automation cabinet. CB7 also works with e-Series and UR Series arms.
PolyScope X provides the programming tools, ISO 10218-1 safety functions and cybersecurity compliance for Gen 7. Its open APIs and ROS 2 communication let programmers build edge-AI applications that use industrial PCs and external AI processing. Optional software packages add PROFIsafe, OPC UA and logic programming, along with third-party applications such as Rocketfarm Pally and Inbolt 3D Vision Guidance.
The TP7 Core teach pendant is more than 20 percent lighter than earlier pendants. It has multiple grip positions, configurable smart buttons, a full HD display and a virtual joystick. The new SP7 Smart Panel mounts at the tool flange so operators can teach and program at the point of the task. It provides safety-compliant freedrive, LED indicators and three configurable input buttons that can run PolyScope X Smart Skills. UR is aiming the panel at high-mix, low-volume production, where operators frequently teach the robot by hand.
Gen 7's safety functions use a PLd, Category 3 architecture certified to ISO 13849-1. All g-Series robots are TÜV certified to ISO 10218-1 and UL 1740. For cybersecurity, Teradyne Robotics is certified to IEC 62443-4-1 ML3, which covers secure software development practices.
At IMTS, more than 20 partners showed products with Gen 7, including Cognex, Schunk, Magswitch, Smooth Robotics, Psyonic, Robotiq and Inbolt. "With Gen 7 and PolyScope X, Inbolt's vision now runs natively on the UR controller itself, available directly through UR. No external vision PC, no extra cabling," said Rudy Cohen, CEO of Inbolt. Partner products sold through UR's UR+ program are tested and validated by both the partner and UR.
