ABB YuMi IRB 14000 vs DENSO COBOTTA: Cobot Comparison
Updated: 10 hours ago
IN A NUTSHELL
🔎 THE KEY DIFFERENCE Load figures need careful reading: ABB YuMi IRB 14000 lists 0.5 kg per arm, while DENSO COBOTTA lists 0.5 kg. First decide whether your process needs one arm or two; per-arm capacity is not a combined lifting allowance. ABB YuMi IRB 14000 has 14 axes in total, with 7 per arm, compared with 6 axes for DENSO COBOTTA. |
→ CONSIDER ABB YuMi IRB 14000 Consider it when your process needs two arms and the per-arm capacity covers each tool and part. This article compares 0.5 kg per arm with a published reach of 559 mm; include the gripper and part in the load. |
→ CONSIDER DENSO COBOTTA Consider it when a single-arm layout matches your process and its load and reach cover the real task. This article compares 0.5 kg with a published reach of 342.5 mm; include the gripper and part in the load. |
💡 THE TAKEAWAY Decide whether the task needs one arm or two before comparing catalogue figures. Validate each arm’s tool load, the complete movement path and coordinated operation; compare quotations for the delivered system. |
ABB YuMi IRB 14000 vs DENSO COBOTTA is a buying comparison built around the actual robot configurations, not a collection of family maxima. A dual-arm assembly concept is not equivalent to a single COBOTTA. Compare the number of simultaneous operations the process actually requires. The useful result is a cell that meets its load, quality, access and throughput requirements with a maintainable integration plan.
The starting-price figures used here are USD 59,700 for ABB YuMi IRB 14000 and USD 15,000 for DENSO COBOTTA, taken from the individual ATC reviews. They are indicative review prices rather than binding current quotations. This guide separates rated payload, published workspace, positioning repeatability and complete-system requirements so that a cheaper or larger arm is not mistaken for a valid finished-cell alternative.
Quick verdict
ABB YuMi IRB 14000: Coordinated small-part assembly that can make practical use of two seven-axis arms and the integrated IRC5 controller. The 0.5 kg payload is per arm. Do not turn two ratings into a claim that either arm can lift a 1 kg part. The two-arm body and collision management must fit the workbench.
DENSO COBOTTA: Very light desktop assembly and inspection with an integrated controller and a compact single-arm layout. Use the general 0.5 kg load rating. The review's 0.7 kg figure is conditional on a downward wrist orientation within ±10 degrees; it is not a universal extra allowance.
ABB YuMi IRB 14000 vs DENSO COBOTTA: technical specifications
Specification | ABB YuMi IRB 14000 | DENSO COBOTTA |
|---|---|---|
Rated payload | 0.5 kg per arm | 0.5 kg |
Published reach / geometry | 559 mm | 342.5 mm |
Position repeatability | ±0.02 mm | ±0.05 mm |
Controlled axes | 14 total; 7 per arm | 6 |
Arm / system mass in review | 38 kg; including integrated controller | 4 kg |
Controller / HMI | ABB IRC5 (integrated) | Integrated controller |
Indicative starting price | USD 59,700 | USD 15,000 |
The figures refer to the variants discussed in the linked reviews. YuMi's payload is specified per arm, not as a combined lifting allowance on one arm.
Payload: start with the complete attached tool
YuMi's rating is 0.5 kg per arm. Each gripper, adapter, cable attachment and carried part must fit the relevant arm's permitted load. Two arms do not turn a 0.5 kg rating into a universal 1 kg single-part lifting capacity. A coordinated two-arm handling concept requires its own validation; it should not be assumed from the sum of two headline numbers.
For this pair, the reviewed masses are 38 kg for ABB YuMi IRB 14000 and 4 kg for DENSO COBOTTA. Installation mass is separate from tool payload. Include the mounting frame, anchoring, lifting method and service access in the concept. A lighter arm may simplify handling, while a heavier installation may demand a different support structure; neither is a reason to omit dynamic-load and stability checks.
Workspace and posture: check every required pose
ABB YuMi IRB 14000 is listed with 559 mm, compared with 342.5 mm for DENSO COBOTTA. These figures are useful for an initial layout but do not by themselves describe the usable workspace of the actual tool. An endpoint may be reachable while its required orientation, approach corridor or escape path is not. Include the machine door, fixture, cables and maximum part envelope in the study.
ABB YuMi IRB 14000 has two seven-axis arms, while DENSO COBOTTA has 6. The single-arm alternative cannot perform a two-handed assembly sequence without a different fixture, external device or second mechanism. Demonstrate the real motion, not just a hand-positioned endpoint.
ABB YuMi IRB 14000: engineering assessment
The reviewed ABB YuMi IRB 14000 combines 0.5 kg per arm rated load with 559 mm and ±0.02 mm positioning repeatability. Compare the assembly concept, not just a single-arm specification. One arm might locate a component while the other manipulates it, but that benefit requires a validated fixture and program. Independent single-arm handling may not use the extra mechanism productively.
The 0.5 kg payload is per arm. Do not turn two ratings into a claim that either arm can lift a 1 kg part. The two-arm body and collision management must fit the workbench. For small-part work, gripper mass, fixture compliance and part presentation can dominate the result. Keep the exact single- or dual-arm configuration and controller arrangement in the quotation.
DENSO COBOTTA: where the alternative adds value
The reviewed DENSO COBOTTA offers 0.5 kg rated load, 342.5 mm and ±0.05 mm positioning repeatability. A roughly 4 kg robot can be attractive for a small bench, but the 342.5 mm arm length constrains fixture placement. A short-reach concept may be economical for one task and unsuitable for the same task spread across a wider work surface.
Use the general 0.5 kg load rating. The review's 0.7 kg figure is conditional on a downward wrist orientation within ±10 degrees; it is not a universal extra allowance.
Positioning, force interaction and process quality
The tighter stated position-repeatability value is ±0.02 mm, compared with ±0.05 mm for the other robot. That is a useful shortlist input, not a finished-part tolerance guarantee. Repeatability concerns returning to a pose under specified conditions; absolute accuracy, tool calibration, fixture movement and process variation remain separate engineering concerns.
For assembly, measure seating quality or fastener results; for handling, measure reliable pickup, placement and reject recovery. Use representative production variation rather than one prepared sample. The robot that meets the actual process criterion with the simpler maintained system can be the better choice even when a competing data-sheet figure looks more impressive.
Programming, interfaces and ownership
The ABB source identifies ABB IRC5 (integrated). Keep the integrated IRC5 dual-arm arrangement distinct from the separate OmniCore single-arm configuration. A familiar software environment can reduce maintenance friction, but only if the actual team can back up, diagnose and restore the application. Ask for the exact version and the rights to the finished program.
The alternative's reviewed control or HMI arrangement is Integrated controller. Verify the programming interface, licenses, communication options and integration responsibilities in the offered package.
Write an I/O and network schedule for the gripper, PLC, machine, inspection device and safety system. Verify voltages, connector pinouts, signal direction and timeout behavior. A protocol listed in a review is not proof that every license or board is supplied. Include a lost communication link, failed acknowledgement and an interrupted production sequence in the acceptance demonstration.
Safety, environment and real cycle time
Collaborative capability is one element of an application risk assessment. The tool, carried object, machine, hot or sharp process and trapping points may need safeguards beyond the arm's own functions. Establish intended operating modes and validate the completed safety concept with representative operator access. A collaborative label is not permission to assume that fencing or sensing is unnecessary.
The ABB review lists IP30 for the arm. Specify the alternative's exact environmental rating and approved operating conditions in the quotation; do not infer them from its appearance or product class. Ingress ratings do not authorize every cleaning chemical, steam treatment or pressure-washing procedure. Check the controller, cable exits, connectors and tool independently, and distinguish standard protection from a paid option.
Compare useful output using the same part, tool, normal safety settings and peripheral delays. Maximum or typical TCP speeds are not a matched cycle-time benchmark. Gripping, machine dwell, process time and operator visits may dominate. Record good parts, rejected parts, changeover and restart time alongside motion time before turning a supplier demonstration into a payback estimate.
Price and total installed cost
The indicative starting prices are USD 59,700 and USD 15,000, a difference of USD 44,700. The lower-priced arm is DENSO COBOTTA. Those figures come from the linked ATC reviews and may change. They do not establish equivalent controllers, pendants, safety equipment, software, stock or turnkey scope.
Request comparable bills of materials covering the robot, tool, fixture, machine interface, vision, safety devices, controller options, commissioning and training. Include freight, tax and installation where relevant. Name the supplier responsible for diagnosing faults across component boundaries and obtain configuration-specific warranty and delivery commitments. A cheap arm that needs an unsuitable layout changed is not automatically the cheaper installed system.
How to choose for a representative application
Decision | Start by testing | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
Load and tooling | 0.5 kg per arm versus 0.5 kg | Include all adapters and attached equipment |
Workspace | 559 mm versus 342.5 mm | Match geometric references and tool orientation |
Configuration | Two-arm assembly versus single-arm handling | Do not merge different operating concepts |
Process quality | ±0.02 mm versus ±0.05 mm | Measure the finished result, not only robot position |
Value | USD 59,700 versus USD 15,000 | Align the installed package and maintenance plan |
A dual-arm assembly concept is not equivalent to a single COBOTTA. Compare the number of simultaneous operations the process actually requires. For the ABB candidate, the application to demonstrate is: coordinated small-part assembly that can make practical use of two seven-axis arms and the integrated IRC5 controller. For the alternative, evaluate: very light desktop assembly and inspection with an integrated controller and a compact single-arm layout. If a load, pose or safety requirement fails, redesign the concept before judging its apparent purchase-price saving.
Acceptance testing before purchase
Give both suppliers the same workpiece range, complete tool CAD, load data, required poses, target cycle, environmental exposure and intended operator interaction. Agree pass criteria before the trial. Test a missed pickup, a rejected part, a stopped machine and restart after power loss. Ask the intended operator to change a recipe and recover the sequence safely; a supplier-only demonstration is not a maintenance handover.
Retain the program, safety configuration, I/O schedule, tool settings and backup procedure. Establish support escalation, replacement-part responsibilities and the revision of the equipment being supplied. Where contact or dual-arm coordination is involved, keep the demonstrated process settings in the acceptance record so that later changes do not silently invalidate the qualified result.
Complete product reviews
Frequently asked questions
Which should I choose: ABB YuMi IRB 14000 or DENSO COBOTTA?
A dual-arm assembly concept is not equivalent to a single COBOTTA. Compare the number of simultaneous operations the process actually requires. Coordinated small-part assembly that can make practical use of two seven-axis arms and the integrated IRC5 controller. Very light desktop assembly and inspection with an integrated controller and a compact single-arm layout. Choose the concept that passes the actual tool-load, workspace, process-quality and safety tests with an acceptable installed quotation and maintenance plan.
What are the indicative starting prices in US dollars?
The ATC reviews list ABB YuMi IRB 14000 from USD 59,700 and DENSO COBOTTA from USD 15,000. The difference is USD 44,700. Prices are indicative and may change; confirm the supplied controller, pendant, software, safety equipment, tooling, delivery and integration scope.
Does the payload rating include the gripper?
Yes. Allocate the permitted load to the complete end effector, adapters and carried part, then check moments and inertia. The ratings used here are 0.5 kg per arm and 0.5 kg. The YuMi value is per arm and must not be treated as one combined lifting allowance.
Which has the longer usable workspace?
ABB YuMi IRB 14000 lists 559 mm, while DENSO COBOTTA lists 342.5 mm. Verify matching geometric references, tool orientations, approach paths and obstacles. A larger nominal number does not guarantee every required pose or a faster completed cycle.
Does repeatability guarantee the finished-part tolerance?
No. The comparison uses ±0.02 mm for ABB YuMi IRB 14000 and ±0.05 mm for DENSO COBOTTA. These positioning figures do not independently establish absolute accuracy or completed-process tolerance. Fixtures, tooling, calibration, part variation and contact behavior must be included in the acceptance test.
Can two YuMi arms be treated as one 1 kg lifting arm?
No. The review specifies 0.5 kg per arm. Each arm and tool must satisfy its own permitted load, and any coordinated two-arm manipulation needs separate validation. A dual-arm assembly concept is not equivalent to giving a single arm a higher payload rating.
Are all controller and software options included?
Not automatically. The source identifies Integrated controller for DENSO COBOTTA, but only a current quotation defines what is supplied and enabled. Confirm programming tools, protocol licenses, hardware interfaces, backups and ownership of the final application program.
What should the supplier demonstrate before purchase?
Require the real tool, representative parts and normal operating settings. Include critical poses, process quality, a realistic cycle, lost grip or communication, operator interruption and safe restart. Record acceptance criteria and retain the configuration and program used in the successful trial.
Specifications and indicative review prices describe the exact configurations discussed. Confirm the offered revision, package, safety requirements, warranty and delivery with the supplier. This is an editorial buying comparison and does not claim a hands-on performance benchmark.
