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Smarter Robots: AI, Machine Learning, and 3D Vision

New robotic technologies under the artificial intelligence umbrella make make it possible to now automate complex packaging tasks.

Schubert’s new AI-driven tog.519 cobot has been designed for pick-and-place tasks and for separating lightweight product at 80 cycles/min.
Schubert’s new AI-driven tog.519 cobot has been designed for pick-and-place tasks and for separating lightweight product at 80 cycles/min.

In a new report from PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, titled, “2022 Robots and Cobots An Automated Future,” CPGs and OEMs said they believe the top three improvements in robotic functionality that will have the greatest impact in the next five years and that will influence OEM applications, respectively, are AI, machine learning, and vision, all of which are rooted in AI applications. According to the report, AI’s use in packaging is predicted to grow at a CAGR of over 50% for the next five years.

Says PMMI, “AI and machine learning have been key developments in robotics that are continually expanding the realm of possibility for robot applications. Closely intertwined, AI and machine learning allow robots to adapt to new scenarios by building on a constantly increasing volume of relevant data. These technologies have opened up a world of complicated tasks for robots, from dynamically picking items the robot has never encountered before to rapidly and accurately inspecting incoming and outgoing products on a line.”

Interviewed for the report, an advanced manufacturing manager from an SME household company, said, “Both AI and self-learning will be huge to manage mixed pallets and make corrections on the fly.”

Regarding advancements in vision, a director of sales and marketing for an OEM said, “Vision has come a long way in the past few years, with 3D vision. Continued improvements to vision functionality will be key.”

The ABB Robotics Depalletizer uses machine vision software to master complex depalletizing tasks.The ABB Robotics Depalletizer uses machine vision software to master complex depalletizing tasks.One solution that incorporates machine vision software to master complex depalletizing tasks in the logistics, e-commerce, healthcare, and CPG industries is ABB Robotics’ new ABB Robotic Depalletizer, designed to replace heavy manual lifting and improve efficiency. The depalletizer is equipped with ABB four- or six-axis robots and ABB’s RobotStudio digital twin software, which allows customers to build tailored solutions to process assorted loads with very little engineering effort and a short setup time.

Says ABB, not only are depalletizing tasks growing more complex as the composition and configuration of pallets becomes more varied, but these previously manual sorting jobs are typically characterized by high staff turnover and increased recruitment costs. “ABB’s Robotic Depalletizer solves these problems by using advanced machine vision and machine learning algorithms to quickly and efficiently process pallets of up to 2.8 meters high, the only solution currently capable of operating at these heights,” the company shares.


Watch video   Watch this video of the ABB Robotic Depalletizer.

The robotic depalletizer software uses the information gathered by the vision sensor to provide the robot with a suitable grasping point for each box. The robot then picks up the box—weighing up to 30 kg—and places it on either another pallet or an outfeed conveyor. The system can operate at a peak rate of up to 650 cycles/hr, 24 hr/day.

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