Programmable Universal Machine for Assembly

The PUMA is a widely used industrial robots. The name stands for Programmable Universal Machine for Assembly ( Programmable, universal mounting machine) or Programmable Universal Manipulation Arm ( Programmable, universal handling arm). Structurally, it is characterized in that its movable in full six degrees of freedom manipulator based solely on rotary joints ( as opposed to a combination with translational joints such as the SCARA industrial robot ).

The PUMA was developed by Victor Scheinman at Unimation, the first robot manufacturer. Scheinman had previously developed at MIT and Stanford University, the underlying principles in the context of the Stanford arm project. The company was bought out in 1980 by Westinghouse, 1988 Stäubli. The Ur - PUMA was established in 2003 handed over to the Smithsonian Institution as an exhibit.

Nokia Robotics also introduced in the 1980s more than 1500 PUMA robot here, especially the Cougar 650th