Yaskawa’s Motoman Launches HC10 Cobot; Rethink Robotics Enhances Sawyer with Intera 5.2

Yaskawa America’s Motoman Robotics division has announced its first commercially available human‑collaborative robot, the six‑axis HC10. Designed with integrated power‑ and force‑limiting, the HC10 stops instantly upon detecting contact, protecting operators without compromising performance. Dual torque sensors in every joint monitor force in real time, a feature typically reserved for high‑end systems, allowing rapid response to unexpected contact.

The robot’s design eliminates pinch points and hides cables within the arm, reducing the risk of snagging or interference with other equipment. Users can program the HC10 via the standard teach pendant or by hand‑guiding the arm to record new paths. It operates at both full speed and a reduced “collaborative” speed to suit different task requirements.

Key specifications include a 10 kg (22 lb) payload capacity and a horizontal reach of 1,200 mm.

Rethink Robotics Introduces Intera 5.2 for Sawyer

Cambridge‑based Rethink Robotics has released Intera 5.2, the latest software suite for its Sawyer cobot. This update is the first for a cobot to provide comprehensive real‑time diagnostics—cycle time, part count, speed, force, and more—through a customizable dashboard known as Intera Insights. The feature gives operators immediate visibility into the robot’s performance, enabling quicker troubleshooting and optimization.

Intera 5.2 also expands Sawyer’s vision capabilities. In addition to the built‑in cameras, users can now integrate external vision systems in minutes, enhancing the cobot’s perception and allowing the use of existing in‑house cameras.

The update is available for download on all current Sawyer units and will ship as standard on future models.