·The new functional module solves key challenges such as single piece separation, grabbing, and sorting of packages by achieving end-to-end automation in logistics and in plant logistics scenarios
·The AI enabled high-precision and fast picking technology developed by ABB has improved efficiency, reduced reliance on manual labor, and seamlessly integrated into existing systems for rapid deployment
·After integration with ABB's motion planning software, the AI vision system can recognize each pick and place action, achieving collision free automatic path planning
Recently, ABB has added two new AI enabled functional modules to its picking robot product line to expand its robot product solutions for logistics and e-commerce supply chains. The clothing sorting and express sorting and packaging solutions adopt ABB's own AI vision technology, which has been tested and verified by the world's leading fashion retail and logistics companies. It can be used for the two most critical logistics links of item grabbing and packaging.
Faster speed
The automatic packaging solution for clothing industry robots can achieve single piece separation and sorting of clothing and accessory items packaged in plastic bags at a speed of up to 1300 pieces/hour for packaging.
The automatic packaging solution for robots in the express delivery industry is designed for the separation and sorting of small items, and can process boxes, bags, envelopes, and packages at a speed of up to 1500 pieces/hour in postal and express logistics centers. After integration with ABB's motion planning software, once the AI vision system recognizes each item, collision free automatic path planning can be achieved.
Craig McDonnell
Global Head of ABB Robotics Industrial Business Unit
With the booming development of e-commerce, it is expected that the number of express packages will grow at a rate of up to 9% per year, which will increase the demand for speed and accuracy when grabbing and supplying random unknown items. At the same time, many companies are finding it increasingly difficult to hire people to engage in these repetitive and non ergonomic jobs, and 37% of global supply chain and logistics companies are facing serious labor shortages. Our AI powered picking robot product line can address these challenges and help companies achieve end-to-end automation of these processes, improve traffic and productivity, and reduce errors
Other advantages
01 Combining ABB AI vision technology
With the help of ABB's AI vision technology, both clothing sorting and express sorting solutions can handle unknown and randomly distributed items in unstructured environments, ensuring smooth processing in high flow, high mix logistics operations.
02 Precise Capture in High Dynamic Environment
These two functional modules can achieve industry-leading gripping accuracy of over 99.5% even in highly dynamic environments where item size, shape, and packaging type change daily.
03 Automatic detection cannot sort items
The AI system can also be trained to detect and reject items that cannot be sorted, such as spherical or cylindrical products, to ensure operational reliability and efficiency.
04 is suitable for handling random objects
In addition to order processing, the ability to handle random and unpredictable objects is also beneficial for handling returned packages as they cannot be predicted in advance in terms of time, type, or date.
Seamless integration
These two functional modules are designed for rapid deployment and both use pre integrated methods to minimize debugging time, reduce operational errors, and setup complexity, with debugging time as short as one week.
Using ABB's Application Control Platform (ACP), different components including robots, fixtures, and cameras can be seamlessly integrated through a single computer and user interface. Through pre trained AI models, visual technology, validated robot performance, and integrated control platforms, these functional modules address core challenges such as recognition, grasping, and motion control, thereby reducing the time and cost invested by system integrators in building automated picking solutions and eliminating research and development risks.
As a whole station solution provider, ABB provides end-to-end support from application software and robot hardware to global after-sales service, ensuring smooth implementation and continuous reliability. This approach eliminates the problems associated with purchasing and integrating solutions from multiple suppliers, making specification determination, setup, and operation easier.