ABB Rebrands Autonomous Mobile Robot Portfolio

ABB has launched its first range of rebranded Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) following its acquisition of mobile robot leader ASTI Mobile Robotics in 2021. Since adding AMRs to its portfolio, ABB says it is the only company with a comprehensive and integrated offering of robots, AMRs and machine automation solutions.

ASTI Mobile Robotics’ solutions are now rebranded and integrated into ABB’s portfolio, grouped under the Flexley name. The first models to be released, Flexley Tug and Flexley Mover, cover applications including towing and trolley transportation up to 2000 kg, as well as lifting and transporting racks, containers and pallets of 1,500 kg.

Building on ASTI’s use of laser scanner-based 2D simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) navigation, the future ABB autonomous mobile robots will also feature visual SLAM (VSLAM) technology of Sevensense Robotics – a Swiss start-up in ABB’s portfolio of partner companies – that enables mobile robots to navigate complex and dynamic environments. This unique technology reportedly opens new possibilities for flexible manufacturing: artificial intelligence (AI) that makes ABB’s AMRs as autonomous as its robotic arms, while making work more productive and safer for people.

Already supplying AMR solutions for customer projects, ABB has worked with strategic partner Expert Technology Group in the UK to deliver a complete assembly line based on AMRs for a technological start-up producing revolutionary products for electric vehicle (EV) drive trains. Transporting products between robotic automation cells and manual assembly stations, ABB’s automation solution combines the use of ABB robots, vision function packages and AMRs.

The integration of ASTI into ABB includes a complete rebranding of all its offices and facilities, as well as the launch of a new web site at amr.robotics.abb.com.