ActiNav Turns UR Cobots into Autonomous Bin Pickers, Boosting Machine‑Tending Efficiency

Universal Robots (UR) has introduced the ActiNav kit, a solution that converts its collaborative robots (cobots) into fully autonomous bin pickers for machine‑tending tasks. Traditionally, bin‑picking automation demands extensive integration and custom programming, often limiting solutions to simple vision‑based picking. When the workflow extends beyond mere pick‑and‑place—such as precise fixture insertion—hundreds of extra lines of code are typically required.

Universal Robots ActiNav kit turns collaborative robots into autonomous bin pickers.

Unlike conventional solutions, ActiNav eliminates the need for specialized vision or robotics programming. The system relies on a teach‑by‑demonstration workflow, guiding users through a six‑step wizard directly from the cobot’s teach pendant. The kit fuses real‑time autonomous motion control with vision and sensor technology. Compatible with UR’s UR5e and UR10e e‑Series, ActiNav integrates seamlessly with UR+ components, custom end effectors, and application‑specific fixtures. The package includes the Autonomous Motion Module (AMM), the ActiNav URCap interface, and a selection of 3‑D sensors.

Conventional machine‑tending automation relies on trays, bowl feeders or conveyors to feed parts to the workpiece—a step that ActiNav eliminates. Because many parts are already stored in bins, the cobot can retrieve and deposit them directly into the machine, cutting floor‑space requirements and eliminating the need for specialized part‑specific tooling.

ActiNav employs a structured‑light scanner to capture a high‑resolution image of the bin, producing a detailed point cloud. A CAD‑matching algorithm then aligns the robot, part, and end‑effector models, generating a ‘clearance shape’ that guides collision‑free navigation into and out of the bin.

During a virtual press launch, ActiNav product manager Eric Andersen highlighted the solution’s focus on machine‑tending and secondary operations—drilling, tapping, polishing, grinding, deburring, and CNC machining. With millions of machines in need of tending and a growing labor shortage, ActiNav targets tasks classified as the ‘three Ds’: dirty, dull, or dangerous—roles that are notoriously hard to staff.

In operations with cycle times between 10 and 90 seconds, operators often sit idle at the machine for the majority of the cycle. At an estimated cost of $100,000, ActiNav enables these workers to focus on higher‑value tasks, achieving a return on investment in as little as 18 months for a two‑shift setup. The system excels with parts up to two ‘fist’ sizes; for ultra‑small components, bowl feeders may be preferable, while larger parts with longer cycles benefit from conveyors or trays.