How Autonomous Mobile Robots Are Shaping the Future of Automation and Safety?

Highlights

• Introduction
• Applicability of mobile robotics in warehouses
• Future of mobile robotics
• Recent developments in the industry

In the past few years, mobile robotics have made significant advancements, finding applications in many fields. Integration of advanced technologies such as AI, machine learning, sensors, and computer vision has elevated the research and development efforts of robotics companies. The increasing demand for automation, aimed at optimizing efficiency and reducing costs, presents a substantial opportunity in this field. The mobile robotics industry is expected to witness the fastest growth with a 23.1% CAGR throughout the forecast timeframe.

The growing emphasis on human safety drives the adoption of mobile robotics, particularly Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), which enhance safety measures across various industries. Integrating AMRs enhances workplace safety by automating tasks that could be hazardous to human workers. Advanced navigation systems and sensors enable robots to sustain challenging environments with precision, reducing the possibility of accidents. As a result, industries prioritize deploying mobile robots in high-risk situations to improve overall workplace safety.

 

Enhanced customer satisfaction with automated material handling solutions

 

The traditional order fulfillment method, known as Person-to-Goods (PTG), requires workers to travel to various zones to locate products that match Store Keeping Units (SKUs), resulting in considerable non-value-added walking. In contrast, Goods-to-Person AMRs transport pods to a pick-and-pack station. This approach significantly reduces foot traffic and walking, leading to a substantial increase in productivity levels.

 

Material handling robots automate some of the most monotonous, unsafe, and tedious tasks in a production line, making them one of the easiest ways to introduce automation in intra-logistics processes. They enhance production line efficiency and increase customer satisfaction by delivering quality products promptly. Material handling encompasses a range of product movements on the shop floor including part selection and transfer, palletizing, packing, and machine loading.

A new era of smart factories with futuristic innovations

In the coming years, AMRs are expected to revolutionize industries, enable the development of smart factories, and expand into new applications. As technologies advance and costs decrease, the adoption of AMRs is expected to accelerate rapidly in the coming years. Furthermore, AMRs play a key role in Industry 4.0 by enabling the automation and digitization of manufacturing processes. They work alongside human workers to enhance efficiency, productivity, and safety. The AMR integration with cloud robotics and human-robot collaboration is essential for smart factories.

Vision-based simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) technologies are advancing quickly, enabling AMRs to autonomously navigate dynamic environments without relying on fixed infrastructure. By combining 3D cameras, inertial sensors, and AI, AMRs are able to map and localize themselves similarly to humans. This progress is projected to open new applications for mobile robots in unstructured environments.

Moreover, AMRs are being used in agriculture to automate tasks like planting, harvesting, and crop monitoring. They have significant potential to tackle labor shortages and boost crop yield. Additionally, AMRs are utilized for last-mile delivery, hospital logistics, and personal assistance. As technology advances, AMRs are expected to have applications in an even wider range of domains.

Continental developed mobile robot software for logistics and agriculture using AWS

A division of Continental's Automotive Group Sector, Continental Mobile Robots, designed mobile robots for automotive manufacturing facilities. The company offers a comprehensive autonomous mobile robot solution, encompassing hardware, an autonomy software stack, and fleet management software. This system is powered by artificial intelligence and supported by its partners. Continental is leveraging Amazon Web Services (AWS) to develop a cloud-based platform, enabling customers and partners to customize solutions according to their specific industry needs, thereby providing greater flexibility in the software stack. Although Continental initially focused its AMR on logistics applications within manufacturing, the product team is now broadening the solution's capabilities to enter the agriculture sector. They anticipate launching a new system designed for farmers by the end of 2024.

ABB acquired Sevensense to enhance its leadership in next-generation AI-powered mobile robotics

ABB announced the acquisition of Sevensense, a Swiss start-up renowned for its AI-driven 3D vision navigation technology for autonomous mobile robots, in January 2024. Founded in 2018 as a spin-off from ETH Zurich, Sevensense was previously part of ABB's innovation ecosystem following a minority investment in 2021. ABB plans to integrate Sevensense's technology into its AMR portfolio, enhancing speed, accuracy, and payload capabilities following successful pilot projects in the automotive and logistics sectors.

Summing up, the rapid advancements in mobile robotics, driven by AI and sensor technologies, are reshaping industries by enhancing efficiency, safety, and customer satisfaction. However, the evolution of autonomous mobile robots and their integration into smart factories are expected to drive future innovations and expand their impact across diverse applications.

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