AUTOMATION & ROBOTICS


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ow, a significant shift is underway. A Autonomous Versatile Robotics (AVR) approach reflects the next phase in the industry’s move toward more flexible automation, systems that


can be rapidly reconfigured, interpret their environment through advanced sensing and switch between tasks with minimal reprogramming. This evolution could help unlock automation’s potential for the high-variation, low-volume processes that characterise much of UK manufacturing.


BREAKING FREE FROM FIXED AUTOMATION Traditional industrial robotics operates within carefully controlled boundaries. A robot programmed to pick specific components from predetermined locations can require adjustment if those components shift, change orientation, or are replaced by a new product variant. AVR addresses this challenge by


integrating capabilities that have often been deployed separately: human–robot interaction, sensing and perception, data- driven decision-making, motion control, navigation and dexterity. Using AI-enabled vision systems, 3D mapping, and force sensing, these robots can interpret sensor data and adapt their actions to handle variation within defined operating scenarios. They distinguish between fixed reference points and moving objects, identify expected item types and adjust workflows as conditions change.


ROBOTS THAT SEE, SENSE AND RESPOND This increased versatility is particularly relevant to the UK manufacturing sector, which faces growing demand for product diversity. An automotive supplier producing multiple component variants, or a consumer goods manufacturer running different SKUs through the same line, must traditionally pause production for changeovers, reprogramming, or mechanical adjustments. With AVR-enabled systems, many of


these transitions can be managed more efficiently. AI-assisted vision allows robots to recognise different parts and adjust their handling strategies automatically. Now widely adopted in advanced autonomous mobile robots, Visual SLAM (Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping) navigation enables operation in dynamic environments by creating and updating maps using natural features, without requiring fixed markers or infrastructure changes. Combining this technology with fleet-


management software enables ABB’s Flexley Tug and Flexley Mover autonomous mobile robots to be reassigned to support different material flows, tow configurations, or production lines without extensive modification or downtime. This means that a robot delivering components in one shift


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HOW AUTONOMOUS ROBOTS ARE SET TO TRANSFORM UK FACTORIES


By Julian Ware, UK & Ireland Sales Manager, ABB Robotics UK Ltd


For decades, industrial robots have been the workhorses of manufacturing, yet they have also been fundamentally constrained


can be redeployed to move finished goods in another, supporting changing operational needs.


PUTTING ROBOTICS WITHIN EASIER REACH AVR also reflects a broader trend toward making robotics more accessible. While programming tools have steadily improved over the past decade, perceived complexity has remained a barrier, particularly for SMEs. In our most recent survey of 250 UK


companies across multiple sectors, 40 per cent of respondents expressed concerns around applying robots in their businesses. In many cases, this was directly linked to a lack of trained staff with the knowledge and experience to program and operate robots. AVR systems are designed with interfaces


that allow operators to configure tasks through visual tools, demonstration or simplified programming methods. Building on established lead-through teaching methods, operators can guide


JULY/AUGUST 2026 | FACTORY&HANDLINGSOLUTIONS


robots physically through tasks, while software tools such as the new RobotStudio AI Assistant allow users to configure applications using conversational inputs. These interfaces are designed to complement, not replace, engineering expertise, enabling faster deployment and adjustment.


VERSATILITY ON THE FACTORY FLOOR AVR technology can be applied across multiple sectors crucial to UK manufacturing. In automotive supply chains, autonomous mobile robots are already handling line feeding, kitting and inter- process connections, adapting to constant product variations.


PUSHING PRODUCTIVITY AND PERFORMANCE AVR’s operational benefits extend beyond flexibility. In applications using mobile robots, the combination of our Visual SLAM and AMR Studio fleet management software that provides real-time monitoring,


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