Sevensense Robotics

History

2021: Investment from ABB

ABB November 26, 2021 announced its entry into a strategic partnership with Swiss startup Sevensense, founded in 2018 as a separate company of the Swiss Higher Technical School (Zurich ETH Zurich). The goal of the partnership artificial intelligence technical vision is to bring autonomous mobile from robots ABB to a different level with the help of map building technology. Thanks to technology, customers will receive a high level of flexibility, since mobile robots will be able to autonomously move in close proximity to people in a complex dynamic environment both indoors and outdoors.

This partnership is another important step in the implementation of ABB's strategy to promote the next generation of flexible automation and expand ABB's robotics and automation portfolio following the acquisition of the global manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots, ASTI Mobile Robotics. The partnership includes minority investments in Sevensense through ABB's venture capital division, ABB Technology Ventures, which is expected to end by the end of November 2021.

Based on our acquisition of ASTI Mobile Robotics in early 2021, our partnership with Sevensense is another milestone in our desire to open up additional flexible automation capabilities to our customers, "said Sami Atiya, President of Robotics and Discrete Automation at ABB. - Integration of artificial intelligence technologies and construction of Sevensense 3D maps with our offer of autonomous mobile robots will help accelerate the replacement of line production lines with fully flexible links. In our vision of the workplace of the future, autonomous mobile robots move materials, parts and finished products between smart workstations in an increasingly unstructured, dynamic work environment, and our partnership with Sevensense is an important step in realizing this vision.

Navigation Sevensense uses advanced computer vision algorithms and artificial intelligence to create a 3D map that is more accurate than 2D solutions. This results in good navigation capabilities and more cost-effective solutions than based navigation. laser scanners A self-contained mobile robot equipped with Simultane Localization and Mapping (SLAM) technology will be able to accurately interpret its surroundings, to identify person, pallet or other robot and independently make decisions to circumvent these obstacles. This level of intelligence will guarantee a safer interaction between the person and the machine, as well as ensure the safety and efficiency of the movement of materials in factories and warehouses for maximum flexibility and productivity.

This is a big step for us, taken at the right time. Partnership with ABB lays the foundation for long-term collaboration while maintaining our full independence as a business. This allows us to benefit from our experience and create the best product for all our customers in the long term. At the same time, ABB's investments provide security for planning. We very much hope to bring our technology to the global level and to make Sevensense the leader among the international companies working in the field of technical sight and navigation with support of artificial intelligence, - Gregory Hitz, the CEO of Sevensense Robotics commented.

ABB integrates Sevensense software and hardware technologies into stand-alone mobile robot solutions. Pilot projects for customers are scheduled for 2022.