Universal Robots releases the UR15, its fastest cobot yet

At the Automate show this week, 3D Infotech will demonstrate a turnkey quality inspection process with the UR15 and UR AI Accelerator, demonstrating the potential of physical AI in the UR15. | Source: Universal Robots

Universal Robots unveiled its fastest collaborative robot (cobot) yet today. The UR15 has a maximum TCP speed of 5 m/s to reduce cycle times, increase productivity, and reduce costs across applications and industries.

For pick-and-place applications, the company said the UR15 delivers up to 30% cycle time improvements compared to other UR models. At the same time, it maintains the characteristics UR cobots are known for, such as a lightweight design and small footprint.

When combined with OptiMove, UR’s new motion control technology, the company said those gains go even further. OptiMove can enhance trajectory smoothness and ensure consistently accurate movements, even in high-speed and high-payload applications, UR claims.

“For 20 years, we’ve pushed the boundaries of collaborative automation, making it easier, safer and more powerful for businesses around the world,” said Tero Tolonen, Chief Product Officer, Universal Robots. “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.”

New cobot, leadership changes to help tackle falling sales

UR is a member of Teradyne’s robotics group, along with autonomous mobile robot developer Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR). UR declined 3% year over year, and MiR grew 1% year over year. Teradyne Robotics Group laid off 10% of its global staff in January 2024.

So far, in 2025, Teradyne’s robotics group hasn’t fared better. According to the company, its robotics revenue was $69 million in Q1 2025, which is down from $98 million in Q4 2024. This also marked a 21% drop in sales in Q1 year over year.

Just last week, Teradyne announced leadership changes to both of its robotics divisions. Jean-Pierre Hathout transitions from leading MiR to replacing Kim Povlsen as the president of UR. Kevin Dumas succeeds Hathout as the new president of MIR. Povlsen is pursuing an external career opportunity. These changes, along with the new robot, could help UR bounce back from it recent road bumps.

“We are living in a time of extraordinary pressure, no understatement there. Across every link of the industrial value chain, we have labor shortages, shifting demand cycles, increased volatility, and a growing requirement for resilience in how we move and make things in that context. Automation isn’t just a competitive lever anymore, it’s a foundational requirement for the industry,” Ujjwal Kumar, group president of Teradyne Robotics, said during a press conference.

UR has been a long-time leader of the cobot industry. Earlier this year, it surpassed 100,000 cobots sold over the lifetime of the company.

This year, for the first time, the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) included cobot statistics in its quarterly North American robot numbers. A3 found that, overall, robot sales remained mostly flat from last year, with units ordered increasing 0.4% to 9,064 units. Cobots made up 11.6% of all robots ordered.

UR targets automotive, machining, and electronics with UR15

The UR15 at Automate 2025. | Credit: The Robot Report

The UR15 has a payload of 15 kg (33 lbs). This increases to 17.5 kg (38.58 lbs) for applications with wrist-down orientation, such as palletizing. UR designed it to be a versatile cobot with multiple applications and industries. Some industries it’s targeting in particular include:

• Automotive, where space is tight, and flexibility is key. Here, the company said UR15’s small footprint and full work envelope deliver performance without compromising space or speed. Historically, cobots haven’t been used for common automotive applications due to their production. This includes tasks like automated bin picking, machine tending, and inspection. Now, UR said these can be significantly sped up while retaining the highest level of precision.
• Metal and machining, where environments can be harsh. The UR15 offers improved ingress protection, IP65, and high payload capability, combined with easy deployment.
• Electronics and tech require precision and compact design. With cleanroom class excellence, compact form, and exceptional motion control, UR15 is ready for high-speed pick and place and smooth integration with AMRs and AGVs, the company claimed.

“I spent the last 25 years of my career in manufacturing, and I’ve seen a real shift in the way companies approach automation. From rigid, capital-intensive systems to flexible, intelligent human-scale tools which are designed for agility,” Kumar said.

UR15 is AI-ready to adapt to many needs

UR15 runs with both PolyScope 5 and PolyScope X, UR’s software platform, and users can enhance it with AI to enable higher usability. The company said end-users can use the UR15 with the UR AI Accelerator, UR’s toolkit for developing AI-powered applications.

The UR AI Accelerator is developed in collaboration with NVIDIA using NVIDIA Isaac’s CUDA-accelerated libraries and models and running on the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin system-on-module.

“Today, the real advantage lies in adaptability. It’s no longer just about how much you can produce, it’s about how fast you can change. In that sense, we’re seeing something remarkable. Large enterprises are learning from smaller, more nimble manufacturers who already embraced cobots to succeed in high mix, low volume production,” Kumar said.

UR15 joins the UR20 and UR30 for those who need higher payloads, advanced capabilities, and certifications for demanding environments. In addition to UR7e and UR12e, the e-Series also consists of UR3e and UR16e.

UR15 is available for pre-orders now, with shipping to begin in June. UR7e and UR12e are ready for immediate delivery. The UR15, along with many other cobots from the company’s product range, will be on display this week at Automate in Booth 5574.

“We don’t build cobots to replace human beings,” Kumar said. “We build cobots to support people, to extend what’s possible, to make work safer, more productive, and more meaningful.”

Now accepting session submissions!

Keep track of your essentials with the Apple AirTag 4 Pack, the ultimate tracking solution for your belongings. With over 5,972 ratings and a stellar 4.7-star average, this product has quickly become a customer favorite. Over 10,000 units were purchased in the past month, solidifying its status as a highly rated Amazon Choice product.

For just $79.98, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your items are always within reach. Order now for only $79.98 at Amazon!

Help Power Techcratic’s Future – Scan To Support

If Techcratic’s content and insights have helped you, consider giving back by supporting the platform with crypto. Every contribution makes a difference, whether it’s for high-quality content, server maintenance, or future updates. Techcratic is constantly evolving, and your support helps drive that progress.

As a solo operator who wears all the hats, creating content, managing the tech, and running the site, your support allows me to stay focused on delivering valuable resources. Your support keeps everything running smoothly and enables me to continue creating the content you love. I’m deeply grateful for your support, it truly means the world to me! Thank you!