17 April, 2024ABB Robotics has announced its first Flexley Tug T702 autonomous mobile robot equipped with AI-based Visual SLAM navigation technology and its new AMR Studio® software, allowing users to easily program and manage entire fleets of mobile robots without knowledge of code. The new features simplify setup and can reduce commissioning time by up to 20 percent, paving the way for a workplace where intelligent robots operate autonomously amid a critical shortage of skilled labour.
"Following our acquisition of Sevensense in January, we are pleased to introduce our first AMR with AI-based Visual SLAM technology and AMR Studio® software. With this combination in our mobile robots, we offer unmatched intralogistics flexibility and scalability for ABB customers in an environment that is moving from linear production lines to dynamic networks," explained Marc Segura, President of ABB Robotics. "This is the perfect match in T702 for a wide range of industries, such as automotive, consumer goods and logistics, especially in large warehouses and logistics centres where their environment can be constantly changing.
The latest announcement follows the acquisition of Swiss start-up Sevensense in January, as ABB continues to expand its portfolio to meet the growing mobile robot market, which is expected to grow at a 20% CAGR through 2026, from .5 billion to .5 billion.
Combining AI and 3D vision, Visual SLAM technology enables AMRs to make intelligent decisions, differentiating between stationary and moving objects in dynamic environments. Using simultaneous visual mapping and localisation (Visual SLAM), robots can create a map that is used to operate independently, reducing set-up time from weeks to days and enabling fully autonomous operation in highly complex and dynamic environments alongside people. Maps are constantly updated and shared across the fleet, offering instant scalability without disruption to operations and greater flexibility compared to other navigation technologies.
The new capabilities offered by Visual SLAM are further enhanced by the launch of ABB's AMR Studio® software (AMR Studio), which allows inexperienced users to easily create and configure routes and tasks for AMRs, without the need for programming skills. AMR Studio® streamlines the process of configuring an entire fleet of AMRs from start to finish, guiding users through the necessary steps, from mapping the environment mapping to mission generation and system configuration.
Once the fleet is up and running, AMR Studio® Fleet Manager software puts users in full control of what happens on the shop floor. Intelligent order allocation uses powerful algorithms to ensure orders are distributed efficiently, while real-time visualisation and data monitoring provide full traceability.
The interface is flexible and easy to use and makes AMR fleets more easily scalable by allowing users to directly control system modifications and add new routes.
ABB will continue to expand its AMR portfolio with Visual SLAM and AMR Studio® navigation technology.
