ODENSE, Denmark, Nov 24, 2025 – Universal Robots is working with Viam to develop a robotic block-sanding system for marine manufacturing. The solution uses UR series cobots and Viam software to automate fiberglass sanding, a task that is physically demanding and often causes production delays. The companies aim to help yacht builders increase throughput, improve quality and reduce labor shortages by automating key steps in surface-prep workflows.
JP Hathout, president of the Teradyne Robotics said: “We’re excited to partner with Viam. Their AI-powered software opens new applications for our collaborative robots and sets the stage for rapid innovation in the marine sector and across industries in the years ahead.”
How it Works
Viam’s software adds an AI-driven control layer that lets UR cobots handle parts of different sizes, from small parts to large hulls, without changing existing workflows. The solution can shift between cobot arm models and maintain consistent motion and surface quality through built-in control and monitoring tools.
While fiberglass sanding is the first marine deployment, Viam’s technology also supports gelcoat and paint application, wood sanding and polishing, extending automation into furniture, construction and industrial manufacturing.
“Viam’s intelligent software layer combined with Universal Robots’ cobots can enable rapid adoption of automation,” said Viam founder and CEO Eliot Horowitz. “They are a true industry leader in robotic hardware and will help us to scale our solutions globally, both in the marine sector and in manufacturing broadly.”
The system will debut in Europe at Metstrade 2025 in Amsterdam, Nov 18–20. The solution, which features Universal Robots’ UR series, was shown at IBEX 2025, the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference, in Tampa, FL.
Source: Universal Robots
About Universal Robots
Universal Robots, founded in 2005 in Odense, Denmark, is a manufacturer of collaborative robots (cobots) designed to work alongside humans in industrial settings. The company offers a range of robotic arms, including the UR3e, UR5e, UR10e, UR16e, UR20, and UR30 models, each tailored for tasks such as assembly, machine tending, packaging, and quality inspection. The cobots are utilized across various industries, including automotive, electronics, metal fabrication, and healthcare. The company employs over 1,000 people globally and has expanded its footprint with offices in over 20 countries, providing localized support and services to its customers.
About Viam
Viam, founded in 2020 and based in New York, develops a software platform for robotics and automation. The company provides tools that let developers and organizations build, deploy and manage robotic systems using a hardware-agnostic framework. Its platform supports data capture, cloud synchronization, AI model training and remote fleet management. Viam works with industries such as robotics, marine systems, climate technology, manufacturing and automation. The software integrates with sensors, cameras, robotic arms and mobile robots, and supports both edge and cloud processing. Viam focuses on helping teams move from prototypes to production systems using standardized APIs, software development kits and management tools.