For security, never use a USB drive or files from untrusted sources. If in doubt, contact your IT department or Beacon Support.
The Universal Robot (UR) Operating System, also known as "PolyScope" and "URSoftware", runs on the robot controller, operating the robot and allowing user interaction.
In this article, you'll learn:
Terminology
Before we start, let's review some terminology and icons used in this article.
Term | Definition |
PolyScope | The Universal Robot's operating system and programming interface. |
URSoftware | Synonym for PolyScope. |
Hamburger Menu |
|
Automatic Mode |
|
Manual Mode |
|
Icon on teach pendant to tap to open the menu.
Icon on teach pendant that indicates the robot is in Automatic Mode and can only perform certain functions.
Icon on teach pendant that indicates the robot is in Manual Mode and gives the human operator more control.
When to Update PolyScope
UR periodically announces updates for PolyScope. Once Hirebotics has tested and approved an update, you'll receive a notification to update your robot.
Hirebotics recommends customers update to PolyScope 5.17.
Check the Robot's Current PolyScope Version
First, determine the PolyScope version currently installed on the robot. Based on that version, the steps to update may differ.
On the teach pendant, tap 
to open the menu.
Tap About.
The "About" window displays the current PolyScope version in the format "URSoftware a.b.c.d (month day year)" where a.b.c.d represent the major, minor, patch, and build version numbers, respectively.
Example
In the PolyScope version "URSoftware 5.16.0.127960 (Apr 10 2024)", the major version is 5, the minor version is 16, the patch version is 0, and the build version is 127960. PolyScope versions are commonly referred to by their "major.minor" or "major.minor.patch" version numbers, like "PolyScope 5.16" or "PolyScope 5.16.0".
Determine Your Path to Update PolyScope
Now that you know the current version of PolyScope running on your robot, next determine the appropriate path to update the robot to a newer PolyScope version.
For robots running PolyScope 5.4 and below, the robot must be incrementally updated. For example, to update from PolyScope 5.2 to 5.5 then you would need to sequentially install PolyScope 5.3 then PolyScope 5.4 then finally PolyScope 5.5. Refer to UR's Legacy Download Center for instructions and links to each PolyScope version you must install incrementally.
For robots running PolyScope 5.5 and above, you may directly update to any PolyScope version at 5.8 and above. For example, to update from PolyScope 5.5 to PolyScope 5.16 then you can directly install PolyScope 5.16 without installing any versions in between.
Pro Tip
To minimize the number of updates you must install for robots running PolyScope 5.4 or below, incrementally update them to PolyScope 5.5 then apply a final update to the desired PolyScope version.
Important
After each PolyScope update, you must initialize the robot arm to properly apply the update. If you are installing updates incrementally, you must initialize the robot arm after each incremental update before installing the next.
Important
Downgrading PolyScope is not supported. Do not install an older PolyScope version on a robot running a newer PolyScope version. Doing so can cause robots not to function properly.
Download PolyScope Updates
Now that you know your path to update PolyScope, next download the PolyScope version(s) you need to install.
For robots running PolyScope 5.4 and below:
From a computer, go to UR's Legacy Download Center.
Scroll to the "Robot Software Update Legacy (PolyScope Update)" section.
Download each PolyScope version after your robot's current version up to and including PolyScope 5.5.
For each downloaded version, sequentially perform Install a PolyScope Update.
Once the robot is updated to PolyScope 5.5, see the following instructions for updating robots with PolyScope 5.5 and above.
For robots running PolyScope 5.5 and above:
From a computer, go to UR's Downloads Site.
In the search box, type
polyscope.Click the result for "Latest PolyScope Software Update".
Read the instructions and warnings on that page.
Click the Download button to download the
*.urupfile.
Install a PolyScope Update
Now that you have one or more PolyScope updates downloaded, next install them onto your robot.
If installing incremental updates, start with the oldest (smallest version number) update then sequentially repeat all of these steps for each subsequent PolyScope version.
From a computer, save a PolyScope version to a USB drive.
Insert your USB drive into the port at the top of the teach pendant.
On the teach pendant, if required, switch from Automatic mode to Manual mode and enter the password.
Tap
to open the menu.
Tap Settings.
Tap System to expand a sub-menu then tap the Update option.
WIth the USB drive plugged into the teach pendant, tap the Search button (mid-right of screen).
This will provide a list of available PolyScope updates.
Tap the PolyScope update that you want to install.
Tap the Update button (bottom-right of screen).
Follow the on-screen prompts to install the update.
Once updated, the robot will shutdown then restart automatically. Once rebooted, if required, switch from Manual mode back to Automatic mode.
Important
After each PolyScope update, you must initialize the robot arm to properly apply the update. If you are installing updates incrementally, you must initialize the robot arm after each incremental update before installing the next.
If you have more PolyScope updates to install, repeat these steps for each incremental version.