ABB acquires Sevensense as a provider of AI-supported navigation

Sevensense's innovative navigation technology combines AI and 3D image processing. This enables AMR to make intelligent decisions and distinguish between fixed and moving objects in dynamic environments. After one-time manual guidance, mobile robots use Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (Visual SLAM) technology to create a map that enables them to operate independently. This reduces the commissioning time from weeks to days and enables the AMR to navigate in highly complex, dynamic environments in which people are also present. Maps are continuously updated and shared across the fleet, enabling instant scalability without interrupting operations and greater flexibility compared to other navigation technologies. Already today, this AI-powered navigation technology is transforming the automotive and logistics industries, where it is creating value through faster and more efficient operations. At car manufacturer Ford, ABB's AMR with Visual SLAM technology will increase efficiency at production sites in the US, while Michelin will use the technology in intralogistics at its plant in Spain. Other car manufacturers will introduce the technology in the UK, Finland and Germany.

"The transaction is an important step towards our vision of a working environment where AI-powered robots support humans. We are responding to our customers' increasing demands for more flexibility and intelligence in times of acute skills shortages," said Sami Atiya, Head of ABB's Robotics & Factory Automation business. "Equipped with vision technology and AI, each mobile robot scans a specific part of the building. The fields of view of all robots are merged into a complete map, allowing the AMRs to operate autonomously even in rapidly changing environments." The acquisition follows ABB's purchase of a minority stake in Sevensense after the two companies entered into an innovation partnership in 2021. In the same year, ABB also acquired ASTI Mobile Robotics. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Following pilot projects with customers in the automotive and logistics industries, ABB will integrate Sevensense's technology into its AMR portfolio. "ABB's unique, market-proven technology offers greater autonomy and cognitive intelligence, paving the way for the transition from linear production lines to dynamic networks. Intelligent AMRs autonomously navigate to production cells, sense inventory along the way and share this information with other robots while working safely side-by-side with humans," said Marc Segura, head of ABB's Robotics division. "With the acquisition of Sevensense, ABB becomes the leading provider of next-generation AMR. We can now offer Visual-SLAM in autonomous mobile robots, along with an integrated portfolio of robots and machine automation solutions, driven by our value-adding software."