ABB YuMi Review: Specs, Uses & Verdict

ABB YuMi: Quick Buyer Verdict

The ABB YuMi IRB 14000 should be evaluated as a specialised dual-arm collaborative assembly robot, not as a general-purpose cobot.

Its defining feature is the combination of two seven-axis arms on one compact body. Each arm can work independently or coordinate with the other, allowing YuMi to approximate the logic of human two-handed bench work: one arm can position a component while the other inserts it, two parts can be handled simultaneously, or both arms can work in parallel on separate operations.

That capability remains unusual.

The trade-off is that each arm has only 500 g of published payload and 559 mm of reach. Buyers whose process does not genuinely need two coordinated arms can often obtain more payload, greater reach, easier mounting and newer safety architecture from a modern single-arm cobot.

Pros

• Two seven-axis arms in one integrated robot.
• Purpose-built for small-parts assembly and compact workstations.
• 0.02 mm published pose repeatability.
• 559 mm reach closely matches human-scale bench operations.
• Can coordinate both arms through ABB MultiMove.
• Optional servo-gripper and camera configurations.
• Compact body and integrated controller reduce the need for two separate robot installations.
• Mature ABB ecosystem including RobotStudio and RAPID.
• Extensive history of real manufacturing deployments.
• Cleanroom option is available for appropriate controlled environments.

Cons

• Only 500 g published payload per arm.
• 559 mm reach is short by current cobot standards.
• Table mounting rather than the mounting flexibility offered by many newer cobots.
• IP30 protection limits harsh-environment use.
• Two-arm coordination can increase programming and integration complexity.
• Dual-arm IRB 14000 remains on the embedded IRC5 architecture while newer ABB cobots use OmniCore.
• ABB does not publish a public list price.
• Modern single-arm cobots can provide many times YuMi’s payload.
• The robot alone does not make the completed workstation automatically safe.

Our recommendation: shortlist YuMi only after proving that the process benefits from two coordinated arms. If a single arm can perform the application, compare YuMi against newer collaborative robots before accepting the extra complexity of a dual-arm cell. If two-arm handling materially reduces fixtures, robot count, floor space or manual intervention, YuMi remains a highly relevant specialist platform.

See the ABB IRB 14000 YuMi product page for the current Anton Robots listing.

How Much Does the ABB YuMi Cost in 2026?

ABB does not publish a current list price for either the dual-arm YuMi IRB 14000 or single-arm YuMi IRB 14050. ABB’s own collaborative-robot FAQ directs buyers to their local ABB Robotics sales office for a quotation.

That makes online price comparisons difficult.

Used robots, older distributor listings and historical quotations should not be treated as the current price of a new integrated YuMi system. The final project cost can vary substantially depending on the grippers, vision, fixtures, feeders, safety design, engineering and service package.

The robot price is not the automation price

For YuMi in particular, the lowest robot quotation is often the wrong number to optimise.

A successful small-parts assembly cell depends heavily on how the parts are presented, located, grasped, aligned and verified. A poorly designed feeder or fixture can cost more in engineering time and lost production than a better robot quotation saves.

A useful budget should therefore separate:

1. Robot and controller cost.
2. End-effector and vision cost.
3. Mechanical cell cost.
4. Safety and compliance cost.
5. Integration and programming cost.
6. Training and support cost.
7. Expected maintenance and downtime.

For broader budgeting context, see the cobot price guide and robotic arm price guide.

A better way to request a YuMi quote

Do not ask only:

How much is an ABB YuMi?

Ask the supplier to quote against one defined process.

Specify the parts, mass, dimensions, required cycle time, daily volume, number of variants, current manual sequence, available floor space, required inspection, upstream and downstream equipment, desired human access and target payback.

That makes it possible to compare the complete automated process rather than comparing robot hardware in isolation.

What Is the ABB YuMi?

ABB YuMi is a family of collaborative industrial robots originally developed for small-parts assembly. The name comes from “you and me,” reflecting ABB’s original focus on robots and people working in close proximity.

The model most people mean by “ABB YuMi” is the IRB 14000 dual-arm YuMi.

It combines:

• Two robotic arms.
• Seven controlled axes per arm.
• Fourteen axes in total.
• 500 g payload per arm.
• 559 mm reach per arm.
• An integrated control system.
• Collaborative safety features.
• Optional gripper and vision configurations.

ABB introduced the dual-arm YuMi commercially in 2015. More than a decade later, ABB still lists the IRB 14000 in its current collaborative-robot portfolio.

What YuMi is

• A highly dexterous dual-arm industrial robot.
• A collaborative robot designed around lightweight small-parts work.
• A precision automation platform for human-scale bench operations.
• A machine capable of coordinating two arms within one compact workspace.
• A mature ABB automation platform using RobotStudio and RAPID.
• A useful alternative to two separate robot arms when both hands are needed in a small space.

What YuMi is not

• It is not a high-payload cobot.
• It is not designed for palletising or heavy material handling.
• It is not a long-reach robot.
• It is not weatherproof or washdown-rated.
• It is not automatically safe in every application simply because it is collaborative.
• It is not the newest ABB cobot architecture.
• It is not necessarily simpler than a single-arm robot.
• It is not the right answer when one arm can perform the same process more economically.

YuMi belongs within the broader categories of cobots, robotic arms and industrial robots.

Dual-Arm YuMi IRB 14000 vs Single-Arm YuMi IRB 14050

ABB also offers the IRB 14050 single-arm YuMi.

Although the two robots share the YuMi name, they are not simply the same purchase with one arm removed. Their installation flexibility, controller architecture and safety specification differ.

Choose dual-arm YuMi when:

• The existing human process fundamentally uses two hands.
• One arm must hold a component while the second performs an operation.
• Two parts need to be manipulated simultaneously.
• Two small tasks can run in parallel within the same workstation.
• Space does not allow two independent conventional robot arms.
• MultiMove coordination provides a real process advantage.

Choose single-arm YuMi when:

• The process needs only one end effector.
• Wall or ceiling mounting is useful.
• The robot must be repositioned more flexibly.
• Wizard graphical programming is attractive.
• The application benefits from the newer OmniCore architecture.

Do not automatically choose either YuMi

If the process needs more than 500 g of payload, substantially more reach or stronger environmental protection, compare other robots before redesigning the process around YuMi.

ABB’s own newer GoFa 5, for example, provides many times the payload and significantly more reach.

ABB YuMi IRB 14000 Specifications

The following values reflect ABB’s current public YuMi and collaborative-robot information available at the time of this review.

500 g payload needs context

The headline payload is 500 g per arm, not 1 kg available at one tool.

It should also not be interpreted as a guarantee that every 500 g component can be handled in every orientation. Tool mass, centre of gravity, wrist position, acceleration and the robot’s load data all matter.

Before purchasing, define:

• Component mass.
• Tool mass.
• Part centre of gravity.
• Required wrist orientation.
• Acceleration.
• Whether both arms will carry loads simultaneously.

This is one of the most important screening tests for YuMi. If the payload margin is already narrow on paper, choose a higher-capacity robot rather than designing a production cell at the limit.

559 mm reach is intentional—but restrictive

YuMi’s reach closely fits compact human bench work. That helps it work around small fixtures, trays and assembly stations without consuming the space associated with larger industrial arms.

The same dimension becomes a disadvantage when the robot needs to reach:

• Deep inside machinery.
• Across a conveyor.
• Multiple distant fixtures.
• Large workpieces.
• Floor-level or overhead processes.

Do not judge reach from a top-down radius alone. Simulate the actual joint configuration, workpiece, fixture and tool in RobotStudio.

Dual-Arm Dexterity: The Main Reason to Buy YuMi

The strongest reason to choose the IRB 14000 is not that it has fourteen axes. It is what those axes allow the process to do.

Each seven-axis arm has more articulation than a conventional six-axis industrial arm. That redundancy gives YuMi greater freedom to reach around its own body, work in confined positions and reproduce movements closer to a human arm.

With two arms, several automation strategies become possible.

1. Hold with one arm, work with the other

A common manual assembly sequence involves stabilising a component with one hand and inserting, pressing, inspecting or fastening with the other.

A conventional robot may need a dedicated fixture to replace the worker’s first hand.

YuMi can sometimes use its second arm instead.

That can reduce:

• Fixture complexity.
• Part transfers.
• Additional actuators.
• Workstation footprint.

2. Work on two components simultaneously

The arms can perform separate actions in parallel when the process allows it.

That can improve throughput without installing two complete robot systems.

The important word is can. The cycle-time benefit depends on whether the two operations are truly independent or whether one arm repeatedly waits for the other.

3. Pass parts between arms

For certain assembly sequences, one arm can reorient or transfer an object to the second arm.

This can provide orientations that would otherwise require a rotary fixture or additional part handling.

4. Coordinate two-handed motion

ABB’s MultiMove architecture allows coordinated movements where the relative motion between both arms matters.

This is useful when:

• Both arms manipulate the same assembly.
• A component must be held while another is inserted.
• Relative alignment between two parts is critical.

Dual arms also create complexity

Two arms create more possible robot configurations, but also more ways for a program to fail.

The integrator must manage:

• Arm-to-arm interference.
• Tool-to-tool collisions.
• Tool-to-part collisions.
• Joint limits.
• Singularities.
• Shared workspace conflicts.
• Synchronization.
• Recovery after one side faults.

A two-arm robot is not automatically twice as productive as a one-arm robot.

The correct question is whether the second arm removes something else from the process.

If it replaces a fixture, a second robot, a reorientation station or repeated human intervention, YuMi’s architecture can be extremely valuable.

SmartGripper, Vision, Vacuum and Tooling

ABB offers YuMi gripper configurations that can combine gripping with functions such as vision and vacuum.

The current dual-arm product page highlights servo grippers with optional built-in cameras. ABB’s single-arm YuMi documentation also continues to describe integrated gripper options with vision and vacuum.

This matters because lightweight small-parts automation is often constrained more by the end effector and part presentation than by the robot arm itself.

Servo gripping

A servo gripper can provide controlled finger movement for components that need mechanical grasping.

Custom fingers should be designed around the actual component rather than treating generic demonstration fingers as production tooling.

Useful design questions include:

• Can the component be positively located?
• What happens if the part is slightly misaligned?
• Can two parts accidentally be picked?
• How will grip confirmation be detected?
• Does the finger geometry create sharp or hazardous contact points?

Vacuum

Vacuum can simplify handling of light components with suitable flat surfaces.

It becomes less reliable when parts are porous, irregular, contaminated, flexible or inconsistently presented.

Always test the real production component rather than relying only on CAD geometry.

Integrated vision

Vision can allow YuMi to locate, inspect or verify parts rather than relying entirely on hard fixtures.

Typical uses include:

• Part location.
• Presence checking.
• Orientation detection.
• Inspection.
• Assembly verification.

Vision does not automatically remove the need for good part presentation.

Randomly presented reflective, transparent, deformable or visually similar parts can create a much harder application than components placed consistently in a tray.

The 500 g limit changes tooling strategy

YuMi rewards lightweight tooling.

A large pneumatic gripper, heavy camera, adapter plate and cable package can rapidly consume the mechanical margin available to a small 500 g application.

Before freezing the robot selection, create a complete tool mass and centre-of-gravity model.

Buyer rule: select the tool and part first, then confirm the robot. Do not choose YuMi and later try to force an overweight end effector into the application.

IRC5, RobotStudio, RAPID and MultiMove

The dual-arm IRB 14000 belongs to ABB’s established IRC5-generation ecosystem.

ABB’s current portfolio documentation continues to identify the dual-arm YuMi controller as embedded IRC5, while newer ABB collaborative robots such as GoFa—and the single-arm YuMi—use OmniCore.

That distinction matters in a 2026 purchasing decision.

RobotStudio

ABB RobotStudio is the company’s offline robot-programming and simulation environment.

For YuMi, it is particularly valuable because a dual-arm cell contains many more potential collisions and synchronization constraints than a basic six-axis pick-and-place application.

RobotStudio can be used to:

• Build the workstation in 3D.
• Import CAD.
• Check reachability.
• Evaluate robot poses.
• Develop and test paths offline.
• Estimate cycle behaviour.
• Check interaction between both arms and other equipment.

ABB’s published SUS deployment is a good example: CAD data for assembly machines and feeders was imported into RobotStudio to create a virtual model and optimise the final system before deployment.

RAPID

YuMi uses ABB’s RAPID robot-programming language for conventional robot logic and motion programming.

That gives experienced ABB users a mature industrial programming environment, but it is different from the increasingly simplified block-based experience offered by newer cobots aimed at first-time users.

MultiMove

MultiMove is central to the dual-arm architecture.

The two YuMi arms can be programmed as separate motion tasks while being coordinated where required. This allows:

• Independent parallel movements.
• Synchronized actions.
• Coordinated manipulation.
• Structured interaction between both arms.

For buyers already using ABB automation, this can be a significant advantage.

For a company without internal robot-programming expertise, it should be included in the integration budget rather than assuming dual-arm programming will be trivial.

Is YuMi easy to program?

That depends on the task.

Teaching one arm to move between a few positions is relatively straightforward.

Building a reliable production process involving:

• Two arms.
• Feeders.
• Integrated vision.
• PLC communication.
• Inspection.
• Variant handling.
• Fault recovery.

is still an industrial automation project.

The robot may be collaborative. The engineering challenge does not disappear.

Speed, Precision and Production Performance

ABB publishes a maximum TCP velocity of 1.5 m/s and pose repeatability of 0.02 mm for YuMi.

Those numbers make sense for the robot’s intended market: precise, lightweight assembly rather than high-payload material handling.

0.02 mm repeatability is a real strength

For small-parts automation, repeatability can matter more than payload.

YuMi’s published 0.02 mm figure makes it relevant to:

• Small component insertion.
• Electronics assembly.
• Inspection.
• Precision handling.
• Processes where consistent position matters.

Repeatability should not be confused with absolute accuracy.

The final process also depends on:

• Calibration.
• Tool definition.
• Fixture repeatability.
• Part tolerances.
• Vision calibration.
• Temperature.
• Mechanical compliance.

Maximum speed is not production speed

A 1.5 m/s maximum TCP speed does not mean the robot will—or should—move at 1.5 m/s throughout the application.

Real cycle time depends on:

• Path geometry.
• Acceleration.
• Tool and component.
• Human proximity.
• Safety limits.
• Vision acquisition.
• Feeder availability.
• PLC handshakes.
• Gripper actuation.
• Inspection time.

Measure complete process throughput

Do not buy YuMi based on robot speed alone.

Ask the integrator to simulate or demonstrate the complete sequence:

1. Part available.
2. Part detected.
3. Robot picks.
4. Robot reorients.
5. Assembly operation occurs.
6. Quality is checked.
7. Part is placed.
8. Robot recovers for the next cycle.

For a dual-arm robot, also measure how often each arm is waiting.

A beautifully synchronized demonstration can still hide low utilisation if both arms spend much of the cycle blocked by the same feeder or assembly machine.

ABB YuMi Safety and Collaborative Operation

YuMi was built around close human-robot interaction.

ABB’s dual-arm product page highlights its lightweight construction, protective padding, collision behaviour and ability to work side-by-side with people.

But one distinction is essential:

A collaborative robot is not the same thing as a safe collaborative application.

The robot is only one component of the finished machine.

The dual-arm YuMi has a different safety architecture from newer cobots

ABB’s current product-range documentation lists:

• Dual-arm IRB 14000: Category B, PL b functional safety.
• Single-arm IRB 14050: Category 3, PL d.
• ABB GoFa: Category 3, PL d.

This difference should not automatically disqualify YuMi. ABB designed and assessed the IRB 14000 as a collaborative robot around its own lightweight, padded architecture.

It does mean that buyers should not assume the safety specification of a newer ABB cobot also applies to the older dual-arm YuMi.

Request the current declaration, safety documentation and application assessment for the exact supplied system.

Why a risk assessment is still required

The robot arm may be designed for collaborative contact while the application introduces new hazards.

Examples include:

• A sharp screwdriver.
• A hot component.
• A needle.
• A cutting tool.
• A component with sharp edges.
• A fixture that creates a trapping point.
• Two moving arms closing around a person.
• A connected machine that is not collaborative.

The safety assessment must cover the complete application.

Current international industrial-robot safety standards include ISO 10218-1:2025 for industrial robots and ISO 10218-2:2025 for industrial robot applications and cells. The latter specifically addresses integration, commissioning, operation and maintenance of the completed robot system.

Fenceless does not mean unrestricted

ABB markets YuMi around barrier-free collaboration, but a completed installation may still need:

• Physical guarding.
• Safety scanners.
• Restricted zones.
• Reduced-speed areas.
• Safe stops.
• Special tool design.

depending on the actual process.

Buyer rule: never accept “it’s a cobot, so it doesn’t need guarding” as the safety justification. Ask for the documented risk assessment of the complete workstation.

Installation, Environment and Operating Limitations

YuMi’s compact physical footprint is one of its benefits, but the IRB 14000 is not universally deployable.

Table mounting

The dual-arm YuMi is specified for table mounting.

That is less flexible than the single-arm YuMi and many newer cobots that can be installed on walls or ceilings.

The workstation therefore needs:

• A sufficiently rigid support.
• Correct mounting geometry.
• Access for maintenance.
• Enough clearance for both arms.
• Space for feeders and finished components.

IP30 protection

ABB lists IP30 protection for YuMi.

That makes it most appropriate for controlled indoor production and laboratory environments.

Do not assume suitability for:

• Water spray.
• Washdown.
• Heavy airborne dust.
• Metal swarf.
• Outdoor operation.
• Dirty machining environments.

without a suitable engineered solution and written confirmation.

Cleanroom applications

ABB also lists cleanroom versions for YuMi, which helps explain its use in electronics, laboratory and healthcare-related automation.

The required cleanroom class should still be confirmed against the exact robot, gripper, lubrication, tooling and installation.

A cleanroom-compatible robot does not make every attached component cleanroom-compatible.

Think about service access

A compact cell can become too compact.

Leave enough space for technicians to:

• Inspect both arms.
• Replace tooling.
• Service feeders.
• Recover dropped components.
• Access electrical hardware.
• Diagnose faults safely.

Optimising every millimetre of floor area while making maintenance difficult can increase downtime over the life of the machine.

What Real ABB YuMi Deployments Show

YuMi has something many newer cobots lack: more than a decade of documented real-world use.

That history does not guarantee success in a new application, but it gives buyers useful evidence about where the platform has delivered value.

What these deployments show

The pattern is remarkably consistent.

YuMi creates the most value when:

• Components are small and lightweight.
• Precision matters.
• Floor space is constrained.
• A human currently performs repetitive bench work.
• Two hands are useful.
• Product variants require flexible automation.

What the case studies do not prove

They do not prove that:

• Your application will achieve the same productivity improvement.
• Your payback will also be two years.
• Every task can run without guarding.
• Your part can be handled within the 500 g payload.
• A standard YuMi installation includes the same feeders, vision or tooling.

The published results describe complete engineered systems, not a robot taken out of the box and placed beside an operator.

Best Uses for the ABB YuMi

1. Electronics assembly

Best overall fit.

YuMi was originally developed around the needs of small-parts assembly, particularly consumer electronics.

Its combination of dexterity, compact reach, precision and optional vision is well aligned with components such as:

• Connectors.
• Electronic modules.
• Small housings.
• Switches.
• PCB-related components.

2. Two-handed assembly

This is the use case that most strongly differentiates YuMi from normal cobots.

If one component must be held while another is inserted, aligned or inspected, two arms can reduce the need for additional fixtures.

3. Small-part machine loading

YuMi can load and unload lightweight components from test equipment, small assembly machinery or other automated stations.

The machine opening and travel distance must fit its short reach.

4. Inspection and testing

Integrated or external vision can support:

• Presence checks.
• Orientation checks.
• Visual inspection.
• Test-machine loading.
• Sorting after inspection.

One arm can potentially manipulate the part while the other performs or assists another operation.

5. Laboratory automation

YuMi has also been used in laboratory and healthcare research environments for repetitive sample and instrument handling.

Its cleanroom availability, light payload and human-scale form can suit controlled laboratory tasks.

The exact biological, chemical and hygiene requirements must be assessed separately.

6. Kitting

YuMi can collect several lightweight components and place them into trays or kits.

Dual arms can be useful where two source locations or simultaneous actions reduce cycle time.

7. High-mix, low-volume production

RobotStudio, programmable tooling and vision can make YuMi suitable for processes where product variants change more frequently than traditional hard automation would comfortably support.

Changeover design becomes crucial.

8. Education and robotics research

Fourteen axes, industrial controls and two-arm coordination make YuMi a capable platform for:

• Industrial robotics education.
• Motion planning.
• Human-robot collaboration research.
• Bimanual manipulation.
• Robot perception.

However, it should be compared with newer research-oriented platforms when open software access or modern AI integration is the primary objective.

When the ABB YuMi Is Not the Right Robot

YuMi should be rejected early when the physics of the task point elsewhere.

• Payload above 500 g per arm: choose a higher-payload cobot rather than designing around an inadequate margin.
• Long reach: 559 mm is unsuitable for large machines, pallets and broad work areas.
• Palletising: the payload and reach are fundamentally wrong for conventional pallet loads.
• Heavy machine tending: chucks, doors and components can exceed YuMi’s capability.
• Dirty environments: IP30 is not appropriate for many harsh manufacturing processes.
• Washdown: choose a robot with the required environmental protection.
• Large welding tooling: the payload and process hazards generally point toward another robot class.
• One simple pick-and-place task: a single-arm robot is usually simpler and potentially cheaper.
• Maximum ease of programming: newer cobots may provide a more modern low-code experience.
• Need for future payload growth: 500 g leaves little room for applications that may become heavier.

The simplest robot usually wins

Dual-arm robots are fascinating, but complexity should earn its place.

If a six-axis single-arm cobot can complete the same cycle using one fixture and one gripper, it normally offers:

• Fewer joints.
• Fewer collision possibilities.
• Simpler programming.
• Simpler spare-parts planning.
• Easier operator understanding.

Use YuMi when two arms simplify the overall process, not when they merely make the robot itself more sophisticated.

ABB YuMi Alternatives in 2026

The best alternative depends on whether the requirement is dual-arm manipulation, compactness, payload, reach or ease of programming.

YuMi vs ABB GoFa 5

Choose YuMi when two hands are the requirement.

Choose GoFa 5 when one arm can complete the task and you need substantially more payload and reach.

This is one of the most important comparisons for an ABB buyer.

GoFa 5 moves the specification balance strongly toward general-purpose collaborative automation, while dual-arm YuMi remains the specialist choice for bimanual work.

YuMi vs Universal Robots UR3e

The UR3e has a similar compact-workstation philosophy but approaches the problem very differently.

UR publishes:

• 3 kg payload.
• 500 mm reach.
• Six axes.
• ±0.03 mm pose repeatability.
• Compact 11.2 kg robot weight.

The UR3e is much stronger when the process needs one compact arm and more payload.

YuMi is stronger when two coordinated arms materially change the process.

YuMi vs DENSO COBOTTA

The DENSO COBOTTA also targets very lightweight applications.

DENSO publishes a 0.5 kg payload, 342.5 mm reach and ±0.05 mm repeatability.

It is more compact, but it does not provide YuMi’s integrated two-arm architecture.

Which should you choose?

• Choose dual-arm YuMi for precision two-handed assembly in a compact workstation.
• Choose single-arm YuMi when you want YuMi’s seven-axis agility but do not need two arms.
• Choose GoFa when payload, reach and a newer ABB cobot platform matter more than bimanual operation.
• Choose UR3e for compact single-arm automation with more payload and a large collaborative ecosystem.
• Choose COBOTTA when extreme compactness and portability matter.

Use the Anton Robots comparison tool to compare robots by payload, reach, application and other specifications.

Is the ABB YuMi Worth It in 2026?

Yes—when the application genuinely benefits from two coordinated arms.

That qualification is the entire review.

YuMi is no longer compelling because it dominates the cobot specification table. It does not.

Modern cobots can offer:

• Far more payload.
• Longer reach.
• Stronger environmental protection.
• More flexible mounting.
• Newer controllers.
• Simpler graphical programming.

YuMi remains compelling because very few robots package two highly articulated collaborative arms into one mature industrial platform so neatly.

Where YuMi creates value

• Replacing repetitive two-handed manual assembly.
• Reducing the need for dedicated fixtures.
• Replacing two small robots with one integrated system.
• Automating within an existing human-scale workstation.
• Combining handling and inspection.
• Coordinating multiple small tasks in parallel.

Where YuMi can become poor value

• When only one arm is actually required.
• When payload is close to 500 g before tooling is finalised.
• When reach forces expensive repositioning or fixtures.
• When the cell needs environmental protection beyond IP30.
• When the organisation has no ABB programming or integration capability.
• When a modern single-arm cobot can achieve the same production result more simply.

A practical value test

Before requesting the final quotation, complete this sentence:

We need dual-arm YuMi because the second arm allows us to ________, which would otherwise require ________.

Good answers include:

• Hold the component while the other arm assembles it.
• Eliminate a custom fixture.
• Run two operations in parallel.
• Replace two separate robots.
• Fit a two-handed automated process into one human workstation.

“We want a cobot” is not enough.

ABB YuMi Buying Checklist

1. Document the manual process. Record every hand movement, part transfer, wait and inspection.
2. Prove that two arms are useful. Identify exactly what the second arm replaces or improves.
3. Measure every component. Record weight, dimensions, centre of gravity and surface condition.
4. Define the end effectors. Include gripper, fingers, vacuum, camera, adapters and cables.
5. Check the complete arm load. Validate the configuration against ABB’s load data.
6. Check reach in 3D. Do not use only a 559 mm radius drawn on a floor plan.
7. Define the part-presentation method. Tray, feeder, conveyor, fixture or vision-guided random picking.
8. Define the target cycle time. Include feeder, vision, gripping, inspection and machine delays.
9. Simulate both arms. Check interference, singularities and shared workspaces in RobotStudio.
10. Define quality criteria. Specify what the cell must inspect or verify.
11. Complete an application risk assessment. Include tools, parts, fixtures and connected machines.
12. Confirm environmental conditions. IP requirement, cleanliness, temperature and contamination.
13. Confirm controller and RobotWare requirements. Ensure internal capability matches the supplied system.
14. Plan recovery logic. Define what happens after a dropped part, bad vision result, collision or feeder fault.
15. Confirm support. Identify local ABB or integrator service, spare parts and response time.
16. Request an acceptance test. Use representative production parts—not demonstration pieces.
17. Calculate complete ROI. Include integration, maintenance, downtime, fixtures, tooling and labour.

Pro tip: ask the supplier to demonstrate the hardest 10% of the process, not the easiest 90%. Difficult picks, tight insertions, component variation and fault recovery reveal much more about project risk than a perfect repeated pick-and-place cycle.

How to Buy the ABB YuMi

ABB continues to list the dual-arm YuMi IRB 14000 in its current robotics portfolio and provides direct enquiry and product-configuration routes.

ABB does not publish a standard public list price, so buyers should expect a quotation process.

A useful request should include:

• Company and country.
• Industry.
• Application.
• Component dimensions and weight.
• Required cycle time.
• Production volume.
• Number of product variants.
• Current manual process.
• Available workstation dimensions.
• Required grippers.
• Vision requirements.
• Upstream and downstream equipment.
• Human interaction with the cell.
• Target installation date.

Before placing the order, request:

• Exact robot model and revision.
• Controller and RobotWare specification.
• End-effector specification.
• Vision configuration.
• Safety documentation.
• Complete bill of materials.
• RobotStudio simulation or reach study.
• Cycle-time estimate.
• Factory acceptance-test criteria.
• Warranty terms.
• Training scope.
• Spare-parts recommendation.
• Service-response agreement.
• Installation and commissioning responsibility.

Review the ABB YuMi IRB 14000 listing, browse other ABB robots, or contact Anton Robots to discuss supplier and configuration options.

If the robot class is not yet defined, use Find My Robot before committing to YuMi.

What Is New for ABB YuMi in 2026?

The most important 2026 update is not a new generation of the dual-arm YuMi.

It is YuMi’s position inside a robotics market that has changed substantially around it.

YuMi IRB 14000 remains in ABB’s current portfolio

ABB continues to list the dual-arm IRB 14000 on its global robotics website and in its collaborative-robot portfolio.

Current ABB product material still identifies:

• 500 g payload per arm.
• 559 mm reach.
• 14 axes.
• 0.02 mm pose repeatability.
• Embedded IRC5 controller.

That is important because YuMi is sometimes treated online as if it were merely a historical 2015 product.

It remains a current ABB offering.

Its role has become more specialised

ABB now has a much broader cobot portfolio.

GoFa variants provide substantially greater payload and reach, while other collaborative and collaborative-capable robots target faster and heavier applications.

As a result, the logic for buying YuMi has become clearer:

buy it for two arms—not because it is ABB’s default collaborative robot.

Single-arm YuMi has moved onto OmniCore

ABB’s current single-arm YuMi material identifies OmniCore as its controller platform and continues to promote Wizard graphical programming and lead-through teaching.

The dual-arm IRB 14000, by contrast, remains associated with embedded IRC5.

For organisations standardising new automation around OmniCore, this controller difference deserves discussion before purchase.

The safety standards have changed

ISO published new editions of the main industrial-robot safety standards in February 2025:

• ISO 10218-1:2025 for industrial robots.
• ISO 10218-2:2025 for industrial robot applications and robot cells.

A new 2026 YuMi project should therefore be assessed against the standards and legal requirements applicable to the destination and completed machine—not simply against terminology used when YuMi originally launched in 2015.

Real-world evidence is stronger than it was at launch

YuMi now has years of published deployment history across assembly, electronics, testing, laboratories and inspection.

That makes its strongest and weakest applications easier to identify than they were when the robot first appeared.

The strongest pattern remains lightweight, precise, compact, repetitive work where two-arm dexterity provides measurable value.

ABB YuMi FAQ

What is ABB YuMi?

ABB YuMi is a family of collaborative industrial robots designed primarily for lightweight, precise small-parts automation. The best-known model is the IRB 14000 dual-arm YuMi.

What does YuMi mean?

ABB describes YuMi as “you and me,” referring to people and robots working together.

Is ABB YuMi still available in 2026?

Yes. ABB continues to list the dual-arm IRB 14000 and single-arm IRB 14050 in its current collaborative-robot portfolio.

How much does ABB YuMi cost?

ABB does not publish a current public list price. Its official collaborative-robot FAQ instructs buyers to contact ABB Robotics for a quotation.

How much can ABB YuMi lift?

The dual-arm IRB 14000 has a published payload of 500 g per arm. The single-arm IRB 14050 also has a 500 g payload.

Does that mean dual-arm YuMi can lift 1 kg?

Do not treat the two 500 g arm ratings as a simple 1 kg combined payload specification. Each arm has its own load limits, and the tooling, centre of gravity, robot posture and application must be checked against ABB’s load data.

How far can YuMi reach?

ABB publishes 559 mm of reach for both the dual-arm and single-arm YuMi.

How many axes does ABB YuMi have?

The dual-arm IRB 14000 has 14 axes in total—seven per arm. The IRB 14050 has seven axes.

How accurate is ABB YuMi?

ABB publishes 0.02 mm pose repeatability for both versions.

How fast is ABB YuMi?

ABB publishes a maximum TCP speed of 1.5 m/s. Actual operating speed depends on the programmed motion, payload and safety requirements of the application.

How heavy is dual-arm YuMi?

ABB documentation lists the IRB 14000 at approximately 38 kg including its integrated controller.

Can YuMi be mounted on a wall or ceiling?

The dual-arm IRB 14000 is specified for table mounting. The single-arm IRB 14050 supports mounting in multiple orientations, including table, wall and ceiling.

Is ABB YuMi waterproof?

No waterproof rating should be assumed. ABB lists IP30 protection for YuMi.

Is there a cleanroom YuMi?

ABB lists cleanroom versions of YuMi. Confirm the exact classification and configuration required for the application.

Can ABB YuMi work without a safety fence?

It was specifically designed for collaborative and potentially fenceless operation, but whether guarding is required depends on the complete application and its risk assessment.

Is ABB YuMi safe around people?

YuMi incorporates collaborative safety features including lightweight padded construction and collision behaviour. However, the complete robot application—including tools, workpieces, fixtures and connected machinery—must still be assessed for safety.

What controller does dual-arm YuMi use?

ABB’s current portfolio documentation lists an embedded IRC5 controller for the dual-arm IRB 14000.

What controller does single-arm YuMi use?

ABB currently lists the IRB 14050 with OmniCore.

Does ABB YuMi support RobotStudio?

Yes. RobotStudio is an important part of ABB’s YuMi engineering ecosystem for offline programming, simulation and cell development.

What programming language does YuMi use?

ABB robots use RAPID for robot programming. YuMi also uses ABB tools for dual-arm coordination and application development.

What is MultiMove?

ABB MultiMove allows multiple robot motion tasks to operate independently or in coordination. On dual-arm YuMi, it is used to control and coordinate the left and right arms.

Does YuMi have vision?

ABB offers gripper configurations with integrated camera options, and vision can also form part of the wider automation system.

Can YuMi use vacuum grippers?

Yes. Vacuum is available within YuMi’s SmartGripper ecosystem, depending on the selected configuration.

What is ABB YuMi best used for?

Its strongest applications include electronics assembly, lightweight two-handed assembly, inspection, testing, small-part handling, kitting and laboratory automation.

Can ABB YuMi palletise?

It is generally a poor choice for normal palletising because each arm is limited to 500 g and 559 mm of reach.

Can YuMi do machine tending?

Yes, for sufficiently small and lightweight parts in machines that fit its reach. Heavier machine-tending applications are better suited to higher-payload robots.

Can YuMi be used for welding?

Its low payload, compact reach and collaborative design make it a specialist rather than a general welding robot. Most conventional welding applications are better matched to robots designed around welding payloads, reach and process protection.

What is the difference between ABB YuMi and ABB GoFa?

YuMi prioritises compact precision and, in the IRB 14000, two-arm manipulation. GoFa is a newer ABB cobot family with significantly higher payload and reach and an OmniCore controller.

Is ABB YuMi better than Universal Robots?

Not universally. YuMi is unusual because the IRB 14000 provides two seven-axis arms. A robot such as the UR3e provides substantially more payload in a simpler single-arm platform. The better robot depends on the process.

Is ABB YuMi worth buying in 2026?

Yes, if two-arm manipulation creates a measurable process advantage. If the task can be completed by one modern cobot, compare alternatives before accepting YuMi’s 500 g payload, short reach and older controller architecture.

Final Verdict: Should You Buy the ABB YuMi?

Shortlist the ABB YuMi IRB 14000 when your process genuinely benefits from two coordinated arms performing precise work inside a compact human-scale workstation.

That is where YuMi remains difficult to replace.

Its 14-axis design can automate tasks that resemble two-handed human assembly, potentially reducing fixtures, robot count and floor space. ABB’s published deployments show that this is not merely theoretical: YuMi has been used in real assembly, electronics, inspection, testing and laboratory applications for years.

But buyers should resist evaluating it through its reputation alone.

By 2026, its raw specifications are highly specialised:

• 500 g payload per arm.
• 559 mm reach.
• IP30 protection.
• Table mounting.
• Embedded IRC5 architecture.

Newer cobots offer far more payload, greater reach and newer control platforms.

The purchasing decision therefore comes down to one question:

Does having two coordinated seven-axis arms make the complete automation system simpler, smaller or more productive?

If the answer is yes, YuMi remains one of the most compelling industrial dual-arm robots available.

If the answer is no, choose the simpler single-arm robot.

The smartest buying process is application-led: model the actual parts, tooling, work envelope and cycle in RobotStudio, complete the safety assessment, obtain a configuration-level quote and require an acceptance test using representative production components.

Ready to evaluate a system? View the ABB YuMi IRB 14000 at Anton Robots, browse ABB robots, or request help comparing robots and suppliers.