Universal Robots (UR) cobots are the world's most widely deployed collaborative robots. The UR3, UR5, UR10, UR16, and UR20 cover a range of payload and reach requirements for most factory applications.
UR cobots are marketed as "easy to program." That claim is partially true and partially misleading — it depends heavily on what you mean by "easy" and what task you are trying to program.
The UR Programming Stack
PolyScope
The PolyScope graphical interface lets operators position the robot by physically guiding the arm and saving waypoints. For simple tasks with a fixed sequence and no conditional logic, this is accessible to trained factory workers.
Limitations: complex paths require precise waypoint management; conditional logic and signal integration require additional scripting knowledge; new tasks cannot be created without physically guiding the robot; every SKU or fixture change may require re-teaching.
URScript
URScript is the underlying programming language that gives full access to UR functionality. It supports precise trajectory control, digital and analogue I/O, conditional logic and loops, and external communications.
Limitations: requires programming knowledge; integrators charge $150–250/hr to write and maintain URScript programs; each task change is a new programming engagement.
URCaps
URCaps are third-party software plugins that extend PolyScope. Common URCaps handle gripper control, vision system integration, and force-torque sensor integration. Each URCap adds setup cost and version management complexity.
What No-Code UR Programming Means
Level 1: PolyScope waypoint-only tasks — Simple sequences with no conditional logic. Accessible to factory workers with PolyScope training. Limited to linear sequences of fixed waypoints.
Level 2: PolyScope with URCaps — Extends Level 1 with gripper control and basic I/O. Requires URCap configuration.
Level 3: Video demonstration with intent extraction (Aurevix) — Replaces manual waypoint teaching entirely. A factory worker films the task once. The system extracts task intent, generates the robot plan, and exports URScript. The team reviews the plan in simulation before deployment.
Supported UR Models and Tasks
Aurevix supports Universal Robots cobots including the UR3, UR5, UR10, UR16, and UR20.
Supported task types include pick and place, machine tending, assembly sequences, signal-wait logic, and pneumatic, electric, and vacuum gripper control.
Contact the Aurevix team with your UR model, the task you want to automate, and your gripper type.