9905-7512 ABB is combining 3D Vision Synchronous Positioning and Map Building technology (VSLAM) with an exceptional hardware and software portfolio to become a leader in the next generation of AMR.
ABB has acquired Swiss startup Sevensense, a leading provider of artificial intelligence 3D visual navigation technology for autonomous mobile robots (AMR). Sevensense was founded in 2018 as a spin-off of ETH Zurich.
Prior to this acquisition, ABB had joined Sevensense’s innovation ecosystem in 2021, after which it made a minority investment in the company. In the same year, ABB also acquired ASTI Mobile Robotics Group. ABB did not disclose financial details of the transaction. Following pilot customer projects in the automotive and logistics industries, ABB will integrate Sevensense’s advanced technology into its AMR portfolio, offering customers unprecedented access to mobile robots with high speed, precision and load capacity.
“The acquisition of Sevensenese marks a significant step forward in our visio9905-7512 n of the ideal workplace of the future,” said Martin An, president of ABB’s Robotics and Discrete Automation division. That is, with the assistance of artificial intelligence robots, to meet customers’ demand for more flexible and intelligent production, so as to cope with the shortage of skilled labor. Each mobile robot is equipped with vision and artificial intelligence technology capable of scanning features of the mobile robot operating environment; These robots work together to build and update maps, allowing them to operate autonomously in a rapidly changing environment.
Sevensense’s navigation technology combines artificial intelligence and 3D vision technology to enable AMR to distinguish between fixed and moving objects in dynamic environments and make intelligent decisions. With simple manual operation, mobile robots equipped with 3D Vision Synchronous Positioning and Map Building Technology (VSLAM) can create maps for fleet operations, dramatically reducing commissioning time from weeks to days, and enabling AMR to work alongside humans in highly complex dynamic environments. In addition, maps are constantly updated and shared across the fleet, providing greater flexibility and scalability in real time without interrupting production compared to other navigation technologies.
At present, this artificial intelligence navigation technology has been widely used in the automoti9905-7512 ve manufacturing and logistics industries, bringing faster and more efficient operation value to enterprises. Ford, for example, will deploy ABB AMR with VSLAM technology at its production sites in the United States, while Michelin will use it for internal logistics at its Spanish plant. Other automakers will also deploy the technology in the UK, Finland and Germany.
Ma Sicang, global president of ABB’s robotics business unit, said that ABB’s unique and market-proven technology has raised the autonomy and intelligent cognitive capabilities of mobile robots to a new level, helping the industry transition from traditional fixed production line production to discrete modular production. The intelligent AMR navigates autonomously to the production unit, not only tracking the status of the material inventory, but also sharing information with other robots in real time.
What’s more, these robots can safely work side by side with human employees. With the acquisition of Sevensense, ABB will become a leader in the next generation of AMR, providing leading VSLAM technology for autonomous mobile robots, while offering customers a complete portfolio of products and solutions covering all types of robotics and mechanical automation. All of this is managed by our high-value software.
