FEATURE Smart factories and AI
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AI ushers in the next wave of robotic automation
Equipping robots with AI-based solutions unlocks a wealth of applications, says Julian Ware, UK & Ireland Sales Manager for ABB Robotics
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obotic automation is already standard in some manufacturing sectors, such as automotive. However, the arrival of artifi cial intelligence (AI) and machine learning is providing an opportunity to roll out automation in fresh applications and new industries where robots have previously struggled to make much impact: electronics, healthcare, e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, and food & beverage are all set to become major users within the next fi ve years. Industrial AI previously focused largely on data analytics, where it is used to trawl through reservoirs of data in search of hidden patterns. This allows it to predict trends such as the performance and future health of machinery, information that can then be used to improve business practices such as predictive maintenance. More recently, AI-driven analytics has been joined by developments in generative AI which enables robots to learn and adapt in a growing array of applications. AI- enabled robots can see, act and reason in the world around them, completing tasks too varied and complicated for traditional programmed robots. These robots engage in reinforcement learning, adapting to new tasks on their own.
Practical solutions So, how are these AI-enabled capabilities being used in practice?
Many of the latest applications involve teaming AI with advanced machine vision, giving robots the ability to carry out tasks in relatively unstructured situations. For example, ABB’s Robotic Item Picker is a pre-confi gured solution to boost the productivity of warehouse and fulfi lment operations across sectors such as e-commerce, logistics and healthcare. Featuring a robot, suction grippers and a proprietary machine vision sensor, the Item Picker fully automates complex tasks for cuboids, cylinders, pouches, boxes, polybags and blister packs, among others. In the past, only human operators would
14 March 2024 | Automation
have had the dexterity and fl exibility to deliver this level of adaptability.
AMRs
In another example, ABB launched its fi rst range of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) last year. AMRs can move untethered around a facility, rather than being confi ned to a single production cell in the way that a robot arm would be. In the latest advance, ABB Robotics is transforming its AMRs with the addition of Visual Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (Visual SLAM) technology, enabling them to make intelligent navigation decisions based on their surroundings. Using AI-enabled 3D vision to perform location and mapping functions, ABB’s Visual SLAM AMRs make production faster, more fl exible, effi cient and resilient whilst taking on dull, dirty and dangerous tasks so people can focus on more rewarding work. Visual SLAM combines AI and 3D vision technologies to navigate without the need for external cues in the surrounding infrastructure, such as magnetic tape, refl ectors or QR codes. This additional autonomy and intelligence allow the new AMRs to operate just as safely as their predecessors in dynamic, human- populated environments, despite their
added freedom. Visual SLAM technology off ers accurate positioning to within three millimeters. Visual SLAM uses cameras mounted
on the AMR to create a real-time 3D map of all objects in the surrounding area. The system can diff erentiate between fi xed navigation references such as fl oors, ceilings and walls that need to be added to the map, and objects such as people or vehicles that move or change position. By eliminating the need to tailor the environment, stop production or add infrastructure, Visual SLAM technology helps to reduce commissioning time by up to 20% compared to 2D SLAM.
One to watch The roll-out of AI and autonomous technologies at scale has been one of ABB’s top-three predictions for robotics in 2023, thanks to AI’s ability to make robots easier to use, integrate and access, and at the same time expected to carry out ever more complex tasks.
These autonomous technologies will continue to make robots in established applications easier to program, operate and maintain. They will also give many more companies the confi dence to make their fi rst investments in robots or fi nd ways to deploy them in new applications.
automationmagazine.co.uk
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