UR’s fastest-ever cobot will cut cycle times by up to 30%
12 May 2025 
Universal Robots has announced is fastest-ever cobot (collaborative robot), with a maximum TCP (tool centre point) speed of 5m/s, and the ability to deliver improvements of up to 30% in cycle times in pick-and-place applications, compared to other UR models. The UR15 cobot has a payload of 15kg, which can be increased to 17.5kg for applications with wrist-down orientation, such as palletising.
“For 20 years, we’ve pushed the boundaries of collaborative automation, making it easier, safer and more powerful for businesses around the world,” says UR’s chief product officer, Tero Tolonen. “Today, we take another leap forward with the UR15, which is designed specifically to operate at higher speeds with the smoothest performance in robotics today. This makes it a seamless fit for diverse production environments and provides our vast ecosystem of partners with an opportunity to boost existing applications and to develop new, transformative solutions that will take collaborative automation to the next level”
Combined with UR’s new OptiMove motion control technology, those gains go further, enhancing trajectory smoothness and ensuring consistently accurate movements, even in high-speed and high-payload applications.
UR15 runs with UR’s PolyScope 5 and PolyScope X software platforms, and can be used with the company’s AI Accelerator toolkit for developing AI-powered applications. The Accelerator has been developed in collaboration with Nvidia using its Isaac’s Cuda-accelerated libraries and models and running on the Nvidia’s Jetson AGX Orin system-on-module.
Three sectors where UR believes the UR15 will find applications are:
- Automotive, where space is tight, and flexibility is key. Here UR15’s small footprint and full work envelope can deliver performance without compromising space or speed. UR says that automotive applications historically limited by the production speed of cobots – such as automated bin-picking, machine-tending and inspection – can now be sped up “significantly”, while retaining the highest levels of precision.
- Metal and machining, where environments can be harsh. The UR15 offers IP65 protection and a high payload capacity, combined with easy deployment.
- Electronics and high-tech, requiring precision and compact design. With cleanroom capabilities, a compact size and precision motion control, UR15 is ready for high-speed pick-and-place applications, and easy integration with AMRs and AGVs.
“When designing our products we start with the needs of our widely diverse customer base,” says Tolonen. “Each industry has a unique set of requirements which shape our approach to both our cobots and our ecosystem solutions. The UR15 will help customers to meet the challenges of today and seize the opportunities of tomorrow.”
At the Automate show in Detroit this week, 3D Infotech is demonstrating a quality inspection process using the UR15 and UR AI Accelerator, demonstrating the potential of using physical AI with the UR15.
The new cobot is available to order now, with shipping due to start in June.
As well as launching the UR15, UR has also upgraded its e-Series, with the UR5e getting a 2.5kg payload upgrade and being renamed the UR7e, while the UR10e, which already carries 12.5kg, now becomes the UR12e.
