ABB recently demonstrated top-notch robotics applications, including the smallest shoe factory in the world that can make a shoe from scratch in less than 6 minutes (watch the video here). Most impressive in our view was a high-speed picking system that brings together a 6-axis industrial robot, advanced machine vision, and a suction cup manipulator to pick parcels and packages of various shapes on a high-speed conveyor. At Robo Global, we think logistics is one of the most promising applications for robotics, automation, and AI, as discussed in detail our white paper, A Look into Logistics Automation.
One example is ABB’s YuMi®, a dual-armed collaborative robot that can work in close proximity to humans—without cages or fences—and can be taught a process by being physically guided through it, eliminating the need for complex programming and coding. Even more, YuMi is already moving from teaching to learning. Earlier this year, ROBO Global Strategic Advisor Ken Goldberg, Professor and Chair of the Industrial Engineering and Operations Research Department at UC Berkeley, demonstrated a highly reliable robotic grasping solution based on deep learning neural networks. You can watch the video here.
At ROBO Global, we see ABB making all the right moves. The company’s technology investments are paying off, making its exit from Power Grids the next logical step on its path to a leadership position in robotics, automation, and electrification. We look forward to what the future holds for this long-time member of the ROBO Global Index.
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