Source: ABB

The award highlights and honors the achievements of inventors with value creating ideas and entrepreneurs who propel those ideas into world-class products. It is jointly sponsored by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) and the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society.

ABB is one of three finalists and will present YuMi, the world’s first truly collaborative dual arm robot.

YuMi stands for “You and Me, working together” and has enjoyed significant commercial success since its market introduction in April 2015 at Hannover Messe.

YuMi remains the only inherently safe, collaborative, industrial robot able to safely work side-by-side with people on shared tasks, without the need for protective cages or barriers. With seven degrees of freedom in each arm, YuMi is able to manipulate and assemble small parts with great accuracy and adapts easily to human-centric work areas. This versatility, combined with its ease of programming, makes YuMi particularly suitable for supporting the smaller batches and higher product variations characteristic of electronics manufacturing.

This year the IEEE/IFR Joint Forum on Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Robotics and Automation will be held in conjunction with the International Symposium on Robotics ISR at Automatica in Munich, Germany. The Forum will be held on June 21st, and the award will be presented at the ISR Gala Dinner in the evening at the Augustiner Keller. ABB will showcase YuMi and other innovations which support the factory of the future in stand 320, hall B5 at Automatica, June 21-24 in Munich, Germany.

Further information on the IERA Awards
In 2005 the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (IEEE/RAS) and the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) agreed to jointly sponsor the Invention and Entrepreneurship Award. The purpose of this award is to highlight and honor the achievements of the inventors with value creating ideas and entrepreneurs who propel those ideas into world-class products. At the same time the joint disposition of the award underlines the determination of both organizations to promote stronger collaboration between robotics science and robotics industry. The annual presented award consists of a plaque and a $2,000 honorarium. Three Finalists have been nominated by the IERA Award Committee to present their story of the genesis of a successful innovative product in robotics and automation at a special ISR/ROBOTIK 2016 Session. The Plenary Lectures are part of the program of ISR/ROBOTIK 2016 and will be held on 21 June 2016 from 09:00 AM to 06:30 PM in the New Munich Trade Fair Centre, East Entrance. IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (IEEE/RAS) and the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) agreed to jointly sponsor the Invention and Entrepreneurship Award.

Further information for editors
ABB Robotics is a leading supplier of industrial robots – also providing robot software, peripheral equipment, modular manufacturing cells and service for tasks such as welding, handling, assembly, painting and finishing, picking, packing, palletizing and machine tending. Key markets include automotive, plastics, metal fabrication, foundry, electronics, machine tools, pharmaceutical and food and beverage industries. A strong solutions focus helps manufacturers improve productivity, product quality and worker safety. ABB has installed more than 250,000 robots worldwide. All ABB Robotics’ products are fully supported by the ABB Robotics’ global sales and service organization in 53 countries and over 100 locations.