Groundbreaking Moment as a Robot Closes the NY Stock Exchange

The UR5e robot arm from Universal Robots is the first “cobot” to ring the NYSE bell, marking the rapid growth of collaborative robotics within the industrial automation market.

Carlos Gonzalez

Oct. 22, 2018

2 min read

Fig. 1 — Universal Robots and ROBO Global ring the closing bell at the NYSE.

Last Wednesday, Oct. 17, traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) were treated to a first-ever experience: A collaborative robot (cobot) rang the day’s closing bell. The cobot was Universal Robots’ UR5e with a two-finger gripper from Robotiq.

This particular ceremony celebrated the five-year anniversary of ROBO Global, the first-ever robotics, automation, and AI index. Having launched in October 2013, it currently invests into more than 80 companies across the globe, including 12 subsectors ranging from manufacturing to healthcare.

Despite the sudden departure of Rethink Robotics, which was one of the leaders in the cobot market, the cobot industry remains the fastest-growing sector of the industrial automation market. By 2025, the cobot market is expected to grow 34% in sales, according to the International Federation of Robotics.

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The UR5e was used to ring the bell with the help of a gripper from Robotiq.

Universal Robots was the first to sell a commercially viable cobot in 2008. It still leads the market with more than 60% global share, and recently sold its 25,000^th cobot. “We have long admired UR as a pioneer and global leader in the collaborative robotics market,” said Travis Briggs, CEO of ROBO Global U.S. “Since acquiring UR in 2015, Teradyne has been a key growth driver in the ROBO Global Index. We are thrilled that Teradyne generously agreed to join the ROBO Global team for this one-of-a-kind NYSE bell ringing.”

Universal Robots was founded in 2005 by the company’s CTO Esben Østergaard and is the receipent of the Engelberger Award Winner. The company, which is part of Teradyne Inc., is headquartered in Odense, Denmark, with subsidiaries and regional offices in the United States, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic, Turkey, China, India, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Mexico.

The video below captured the moment of the UR cobot ringing the bell.

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About the Author

Carlos Gonzalez

Special Projects Manager at ASME (The American Society of Mechanical Engineers)

Carlos Gonzalez is a Special Projects Manager at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

Carlos started working as a Technology Editor for Machine Design Magazine in 2015. In 2018, he became the Content Director of Machine Design and Hydraulics & Pneumatics magazine. Topics Carlos has written about over the years include robotics, alternative energy, aerospace, and STEM education.

Carlos achieved a B.S. in mechanical engineering at Manhattan College and an M.S. in mechanical engineering at Columbia University.

Prior to working for Machine Design, Carlos worked at Sikorsky Aircraft in its Hydraulics and Mechanical Flight Controls department; working on the S76D commercial and the Navy’s CH-53K aircraft programs.