ABB, a prominent player in industrial robotics, has made a strategic move by acquiring Sevensense, a Swiss startup specializing in advancing the mobility of industrial robots. The purchase reflects ABB’s commitment to meeting the rising demand for autonomous and independently moving industrial robots in factory and warehouse environments.
Sevensense, based in Zurich, focuses on the development and production of sensor and artificial intelligence (AI) systems, providing factory robots, responsible for transporting components to production lines, with the capability to navigate through plants with enhanced vision and decision-making capabilities.
Traditionally, robots used fixed magnetic strips to navigate production lines, limiting flexibility and requiring time-consuming installations. With Sevensense’s technology, ABB aims to equip robots with “eyes and a brain,” enabling them to move freely throughout the factory. Each robot, equipped with six cameras, can handle 2 tons of materials at speeds reaching 1.5 meters per second.
Sami Atiya, ABB’s head of robotics and discrete automation, highlighted the transformative impact, stating, “Under the old system, when you needed to change a production line or add a new production cell, it was impossible to divert the robot. Now we can do that easily.”
The market for autonomous mobile robots (AMR) is anticipated to experience significant growth, with ABB estimating an annual increase of around 20% up to 2026. This expansion is projected to boost the AMR market from $5.5 billion in 2023 to $9.5 billion by 2026, outpacing the expected growth rate for traditional fixed robots, where ABB predicts an annual growth of 8%.
The acquisition of Sevensense adds to ABB’s series of strategic investments in the robotics sector. ABB, a competitor of Japan’s FANUC and Germany’s Kuka, has been expanding its global footprint, including the expansion of its U.S. factory in the previous year and the acquisition of ASTI Mobile Robotics in 2021.
The terms of the Sevensense acquisition were not disclosed. ABB is actively integrating Sevensense’s technology into its product lineup, with notable customers such as automaker Ford and French tire manufacturer Michelin already benefiting from the enhanced capabilities of these AI-equipped robots.
