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Universal Robots has been the market leader in Cobots for many years, but they realised manufacturers needed something different from the g-Series, the seventh generation of its cobot range. The short version: power, data and safety connectivity now run all the way to the tool flange, so a lot of that external cabling simply isn't needed anymore.
Everything You Need, Right at the Tool
Previous UR generations gave you a fairly limited I/O set at the wrist. Anything power-hungry, like a higher-power gripper, or anything with real bandwidth needs, like a camera, had to be cabled back to the controller separately.
The g-Series builds it in at the flange instead:
- 24V and 48V power supply, 5A peak, 3A continuous
- 1 Gb Ethernet, ready for cameras and vision sensors
- M8 connector carrying digital I/O, analogue input and RS-485
That means your vision system or electric gripper connects right where it's needed, not routed down the arm and back to the controller. Fewer cables means fewer snag points, less to go wrong, and shorter build times. UR say it also brings installation down to a two-person job with less supporting infrastructure required.
If you're specifying end-of-arm tooling, the 48V rail is an impressive addition. It opens the door to electric grippers and screwdriving spindles that would previously have needed their own separate power supply and cable run.
Built to Survive the Shop Floor
The joints of the g-7 are based on the same architecture that's made UR's existing robots so reliable, but with fewer components and a fully enclosed design, the arm has an improved IP65 rating, protecting against dust and low-pressure water jets.
That makes the g-Series more suitable for some food handling environments without needing a protective sleeve. Sleeves do the job, but they're another maintenance item, another cost, and in some applications they can interfere with the robot's force sensing. If an IP65 protection rating is OK for your application, this is another genuine simplification.
Serious Reach, Serious Payload
Three models are available at launch, all sharing the same 204mm footprint so mounting plates and pedestals carry across the family:
- UR10g-1750 has an 8kg payload (10kg extended) and a 1750mm reach
- UR17g-1300 has an 15kg payload (17.5kg extended) and a 1300mm reach
- UR18g-950 has an 18kg payload with a 950mm reach
The UR10g's 1750 mm reach gives you a really large work envelope, useful for tending several machines from one position or palletising to full height without adding a lift axis. The UR18g takes the opposite approach: 18 kg payload in a compact 950 mm reach, ideal where you need serious handling capacity but don't have much floor space to give up.
Teach From the Tool, Not the Pendant
The SP7 Smart Panel teach pendant is now detachable. That may seem like a small change, but it makes a real difference around welding or machining cells, where a fixed panel tends to collect spatter and swarf.
It includes a three-position enabling (2PE) Freedrive button that's compliant with the updated ISO 10218-1:2025 safety standard, plus three configurable buttons mapped to PolyScope X Smart Skills, so common actions can be triggered right at the tool.
Know Your Cell Status at a Glance
A configurable LED light ring around the base shows cell status from across the shop floor. Again, that sounds minor, but if you're running several cells, it saves an operator a walk over to check a screen every time something needs attention.
Where Does g-Series Fit?
It isn't meant to replace every UR cobot. The e-Series is still the lightweight, portable choice for everyday tasks, and the UR Series remains the option for higher payloads and extended reach in heavy industrial work. The g-Series earns its place where integration complexity is the real bottleneck, where you have multiple sensors, vision systems, powered tooling, or where the environment requires IP65 protection.
Looking for More Information? We Can Help With That...
Specifying a new cobot cell involves more than picking a payload figure off a datasheet; reach at full extension, cycle time, environment, and of course, safety, are all important. The team at LC Automation can help you work through whether the g-Series is the right fit for your application. Give us a call on 01254 685900 and we'll be happy to discuss your options.
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What Do You Get with the UR G-7 Series?
Faster Integration
Reduces complexity and drops into existing infrastructure
- Direct integration of sensors, vision systems and higher-power EOATs
- No external cabling between tool flange & controller
- Simplified installation, reduced infrastructure
Rugged Reliability
Fewer components, enclosed joint design
- Builds on the proven UR joint architecture
- Enclosed joint design improves long-term reliability
- Improved IP65 protection rating
Industrial Performance
Industry-leading payload-curve performance
- Up to 5m/s tool center point speed
- Up to 1750mm reach for larger work envelopes
- 10 to 18kg payloads across the family
Integrated Tool Flange I/Os
Built-in power, data, & safety I/Os at the tool
- 24/48V (5 A peak, 3 A continuous) power at the flange
- 1 Gb Ethernet for cameras and sensors
- M8 I/O: digital I/O, analog in, RS-485
Teach and Program From the Tool
SP7 Smart Panel – detachable and configurable
- ISO 10218-1:2025 compliant 2PE Freedrive button
- 3 configurable buttons with PolyScope X Smart Skills
- Detachable design protects the panel during welding/machining
At-a-glance Cell Status
LED light ring at the base
- Instantly see cell status across the shop floor
- Configurable to reflect system state
- Complements intuitive PolyScope X control
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