ABB mobile robot gains AI-supported autonomy

"ABB has perfected robots' eyes through AI-powered 3D vision technology, hands through advanced force sensors, precise control and machine learning, and independent mobility through 3D mapping," explains Marc Segura, head of ABB's Robotics division. "The fusion of these technologies gives our robots a comprehensive and dynamic understanding of the world around them. This enables safer, smarter and autonomous operations for our customers in the automotive, manufacturing and logistics industries."

ABB's Flexley Mover is designed to lift and transport a wide range of loads in a variety of environments, increasing efficiency in areas such as intralogistics and material handling (kitting).

The positioning technology achieves an accuracy of 10 millimetres. Thanks to an AI learning algorithm, each robot is able to create its own maps of its operational environment and share this knowledge securely with other robots in the fleet. This ensures fully independent, flexible and scalable navigation, even in the presence of humans, without the need for additional infrastructure.

According to the market research company IndustryARC, the AMR market is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 21.4% to USD 14.4 billion by 2030.

Simple programming with AMR Studio

The capabilities of AI-powered 3D image processing are complemented by ABB's innovative AMR Studio software - a user-friendly platform for creating and configuring routes and jobs for individual AMRs and entire AMR fleets.

Thanks to simple programming and a graphical user interface, the software reduces commissioning time by up to 20 percent compared to conventional systems, which in turn can result in cost savings of up to 30 percent.

This year, ABB will continue to focus on combining its high-precision hardware with artificial intelligence and software to further increase the autonomy and versatility of its solutions.

"We are in a new era of innovation in robotics. Robots that are able to do more things in more places faster, safer and smarter open the door to higher productivity and eliminate the need to invest in specialized skills or infrastructure. With our 50-year history as a robotics pioneer, we remain at the forefront of not only developing the latest technologies, but also commercializing them on a large scale," adds Marc Segura.