ABB is extending its portfolio of fully autonomous mobile robots by equipping its Flexley Mover® P604 with 3D visual simultaneous localization and mapping (Visual SLAM) navigation and user-friendly AMR Studio® programming software. The launch marks another milestone in ABB’s journey towards autonomous mobile robots that are more versatile, efficient and easier to use.

“ABB has perfected robot eyes, through 3D AI vision technology; hands, through advanced force-sensing, precision dexterity and machine learning; and independent mobility, through 3D mapping”, said Marc Segura, President for ABB Robotics.  “Fusing these technologies gives our robots a complete and dynamic understanding of the world around them, enabling safer, more intelligent and autonomous operations for our customers across automotive, manufacturing and logistics.” 

ABB’s Flexley Mover is designed to lift and transport objects across a variety of payloads in a variety of settings, enabling greater efficiencies in applications including intralogistics and kitting operations.

Accurate to within 10mm, the positioning technology is matched to an AI learning algorithm that enables each robot to generate its own maps of its workspace and securely share this knowledge with other robots in its fleet, to enable fully independent, flexible and scalable navigation alongside human workers, with no need for additional infrastructure. 

According to Industry ARC (Analytics Research & Consulting), the market is expected to grow at a rate of 21.4 % percent CAGR by 2030 to reach $14.4.4bn1. 

The capabilities of 3D AI vision are further amplified by ABB's innovative AMR Studio software, which provides a user-friendly platform for creating and configuring routes and tasks for AMRs, from standalone units through to entire fleets. 

With simplified programming and graphical interfaces, the software reduces commissioning time by up to 20 percent compared to conventional systems, with potential cost savings of up to 30 percent. 

Throughout this year, ABB will continue to focus on fusing its precision hardware with artificial intelligence and software, towards further autonomy and versatility.   

Marc Segura concluded: “We’re in a new era of robotics innovation. Robots that can do more things, in more places, and do it faster, safer and smarter directly open the door to greater productivity and eliminate the need to invest in specialist skills or infrastructure.  With our 50-year heritage as the original robotics innovator, we remain at the forefront of not just developing the latest technologies, but also engineering them for commercial use, at scale.”

ABB
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ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation
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