Which company created the first widely sold collaborative robot, the UR5?

Universal Robots created the UR5, one of the first widely sold collaborative robots.

Universal Robots is a Danish robotics company founded in 2005 by Esben Østergaard, Kasper Støy and Kristian Kassow. Its UR5 robot was introduced in 2008 as a lightweight six-axis arm intended to work near people and automate tasks such as machine tending, assembly and packaging.

Collaborative robots, often called cobots, are designed with safety features that can allow them to operate in shared workspaces under suitable conditions. They are generally easier to deploy and reprogram than many traditional industrial robot cells, although risk assessment and guarding requirements still depend on the application.

The UR5 is not the same as a conventional fixed industrial arm from KUKA, FANUC or ABB. Universal Robots helped popularize the cobot market by targeting small and medium-sized businesses as well as larger manufacturers.