YuMi proves star of the show

A engineer 'programs' the robot YuMi through movements at the stand of the company ABB at Hannover trade fair in Hannover, Germany, April 12, 2015. [Photo/IC]

It is cute, white and looks like a character from a Star Wars movie. But YuMi, pronounced "you and me" in Chinese, is one of the new breed of industrial robots.

Built by ABB Ltd, the multinational corporation based in Zurich, Switzerland, YuMi was the star of the show at ABB Automation World in Chongqing early this month.

At just 399 millimeters tall, the robot made its Chinese debut after being unveiled to the world at the Hannover Messe trade show on April 13, following nine years of research and development.

Designed with flexible hands and arms, YuMi will be used for small parts assembly and costs about $40,000.

"The new era of robotic co-workers is here. It will be an integral part of our Next Level strategy," Ulrich Spiesshofer, the CEO of ABB, said in Hannover. "YuMi makes collaboration between humans and robots a reality."

"It ... will change the way humans and robots interact. YuMi is an element of our Internet of Things, Services and People strategy creating an automated future," he added. Under YuMi's bonnet is cutting-edge technology. It is the world's first integrated dual-arm industrial robot with a feeding system and camera-based location senses.

YuMi is also designed to work alongside other robots. One key element is the "inherently safe" software that allows it to work closely with people, according to ABB.

Naturally, the Swiss company is hoping YuMi will be a big hit in the Chinese market.

"As a global leader in power and automation, ABB has the comprehensive smart technologies to support the transition of China's manufacturing industry from big to strong," Spiesshofer said in Chongqing.

Apart from YuMi, a wealth of new products were rolled out at ABB Automation World, which was held in Chongqing for the first time.

As the only municipality in western China, the city is one of the country's leading economic centers and transportation hubs as well as a new bridgehead in Eurasia.

At the expo, ABB also displayed the PMCS integrated energy management system, M2SE series three-phase asynchronous motors and the Terra 53Z electric vehicle charger.