ABB acquires Sevensense, a Swiss start-up specialising in AI-assisted 3D-vision technology that helps autonomous mobile robots (AMR) navigate. The manufacturer of AMRs, industrial robots and collaborative robots, among others, will integrate Sevensense's technology into its portfolio.
Founded in 2018, Sevensense is a spin-off from Swiss university ETH Zurich. Sevensense's navigation technology for AMRs combines AI and 3D vision technology. This enables AMRs to autonomously find their way around industrial environments. In doing so, the robots can make their own intelligent decisions, including distinguishing between fixed and moving objects in dynamic environments.
When the technology is commissioned, the mobile robots only need to be manually guided through the environment once. In doing so, using Visual Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (Visual SLAM) technology, they create a map that allows them to autonomously navigate through the environment.
From days to weeks
The process shortens the commissioning time of AMRs with Visual SLAM technology from weeks to days compared to many others. The technology also allows the AMRs to navigate autonomously in highly complex and dynamic environments, where humans are also present. The robots continuously update and share maps with each other.
"ABB's unique, market-proven technology offers greater autonomy and cognitive intelligence, paving the way for a shift from linear production lines to dynamic networks. Intelligent AMRs autonomously navigate to production cells, track inventory while on the move and share this information with other robots while safely working side-by-side with humans," said Marc Segura, president of ABB's Robotics Division.
Minority stake
ABB already invested in the company in 2021, taking a minority stake at the time. The parties previously conducted pilot projects at a number of customers. Now, with ABB taking full ownership of Sevensense, the company is integrating the start-up's technology into its own AMR portfolio.
In doing so, the Swedish-Swiss multinational is responding to the expected growth in demand for AMRs. The market for AMRs is expected to grow from $5.5 billion in 2023 to $9.5 billion in 2026. This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20%.
Ford and Michelin embrace Visual SLAM
Several customers are embracing the technology. For example, ABB points to car manufacturer Ford, which wants to deploy ABB AMRs with Visual SLAM technology to increase efficiency in production sites in the United States (US). Consider also car tyre manufacturer Michelin, which is deploying AMRs in its Spanish plant.
ABB also reports that other carmakers are embracing the technology in Germany, Finland and the UK.
Remains for sale as stand-alone technology
ABB integrating Sevensense into its does not mean Sevensense will disappear from the market. ABB intends to continue providing the company's technology for applications in material handling, cleaning and other service-oriented applications, among others. Sevensense offers three products: Alphasense Position for positioning mobile machines, Alphasense Autonomy for AI navigation for AMRs and Core Research for exploring Visual AI applications using an inertial sensor.
Sevensense's 35 employees will continue to work from its Swiss office in Zurich. Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Image: ABB
