While engineers around the world are puzzling over how to fit an industrial robot into the cramped space between machines, the Danish manufacturer Universal Robots has acted ingeniously simply — created the UR20 model with an outstretched arm. This slender, handsome man is able to reach where ordinary robots can only look helplessly, like a curious cat through a narrow crack.

The new robot has a truly serpentine flexibility: its arm stretches by 1,750 mm, while maintaining the ability to carry 20 kg of cargo. This is about the same as if a ballerina could hold two watermelons at arm's length without losing her grace. However, unlike a ballerina, UR20 does not require rest breaks and does not threaten to go on maternity leave.

The product will especially please owners of cramped industrial premises, where every centimeter of space counts. Now you don't have to break down walls or rebuild entire workshops — just put this "slender guy" in a corner, and he will reach the most remote corners of production. Although, of course, the question arises: isn't it time to just build more spacious factories instead of creating more and more sophisticated robots?

The developers are proud to declare that the robot is ideal for palletizing, welding and working with CNC machines. That is, for all those boring tasks that people perform with apparent reluctance. Speaking of humans, UR20 is so safe that it can work side by side with humans without protective cells. Although in close spaces, this neighborhood can lead to awkward situations — imagine that you are trying to walk past a robot that at that moment decided to swing its two-meter arm.

Critics may say that creating specialized robots for cramped spaces is only a temporary solution, and that it's time to rethink the very organization of production lines. But why change production if you can just buy a new robot? Especially since he's so slim and elegant.

However, one must admit that the Danes have once again proved that in robotics, not only strength is important, but also the ability to fit into circumstances. Perhaps soon we will see a whole line of "acrobat robots" capable of working in absolutely any environment — even in a spaceship or on a submarine. All that remains is to teach them how to make coffee and not hurt people at the same time.