• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Subscribe
  • Your Membership
    • Edit Your Profile
  • Services
    • Advertising
    • Case studies
    • Design
    • Email marketing
    • Lead generation
    • Magazine
    • Press releases
    • Publishing
    • Sponsored posts
    • Webcasting
    • Webinars
    • White papers
    • Writing
  • Shop
    • My Account
    • Cart
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Terms of use
  • Events

Robotics & Automation News

Market trends and business perspectives

  • News
  • Features
  • Video
  • Webinars
  • White papers
  • Press releases
  • Featured companies
    • AMD Xilinx
    • BlueBotics
    • Elite Robot
    • RGo Robotics
    • SICK Sensor Intelligence
    • Vicor Power

SLAM software paving the way for new generation autonomous mobile robots

August 28, 2019 by David Edwards

Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM), a software-and-hardware technology which enables a mobile device to map its environment while positioning itself within it, is a crucial driver for robotics.

SLAM will enable the transition from automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in the industrial space.

According to report by global tech market advisory firm, ABI Research, the installed base of SLAM-enabled commercial and industrial robots will exceed 15 million by 2030.

For many years, business owners in the industrial sector have been using AGVs in factories and warehouses to streamline their processes, increase production, reduce inventory counting time, and fight shrinkage.

Now, AMRs comprise a new generation of industrial robots that can optimize their paths and processes on the factory floor, react to unexpected situations, and navigate around obstacles.

To coordinate factory activities and avoid collisions between AMRs, AGVs, and people, a system which can pinpoint the location of every robot in real-time must be in place.

Andrew Zignani, principal analyst for location technologies at ABI Research, says: “In these first years of the Industry 4.0, few factories will have a Real-Time Location System (RTLS) established, making it essential that AMRs can dynamically map their immediate environment using SLAM.

“Still, factories which already have an RTLS system deployed, can use RTLS and SLAM together to provide valuable IoT data to a digital platform that can be used to optimize processes and make factories even leaner, thereby driving much faster ROI.”

Deploying robots on the factory floor will allow business owners to save substantial amounts of money in manpower and insurance, as well as increase productivity. For that, intelligent and easily reprogrammable robots will be necessary.

Such need will be addressed by AMRs, which are predicted by ABI Research to comprise 80 percent of all commercial robot shipments by 2027.

All AMRs must possess mapping and localization capabilities to react to the fast-changing environment inside factories to avoid collisions with other machines and humans.

Therefore, most industrial robots are expected to have SLAM capabilities in the next decade. Data generated by these robots’ SLAM capabilities can also be integrated into a centralized digital factory platform to be analyzed for KPIs.

SLAM relies on sophisticated algorithms to work smoothly and accurately. Furthermore, the large amount of data generated by the various sensors on AMRs require efficient and low-latency processing.

As a result, some software companies like Intermodalics, Kudan, and Accuware have identified the market opportunity that lies in developing SLAM algorithms and are partnering up with AMR integrators to deploy their software solutions.

Intermodalics’ Pick-It, for example, is a 3D vision localization solution for robots which allows them to identify and pick items on shelves.

This is a particularly useful tool for AMRs in warehouses and retail establishments and has the advantage of being plug-and-play, thus not requiring deep technical expertise to operate.

Zignani says: “The 2020s are going to kick off with drastic changes in industrial environments.

“AI, IoT, RTLS, and connectivity technologies such as 5G will interact and improve each other in complex ways, and not all levels of the robotics value chain are ready for it.

“There are great opportunities in software development yet to be explored, SLAM being a big part of it.”

Image credit: Udo Frese

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • Skype
  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram
  • Pocket

You might also like…

Filed Under: Features, Logistics Tagged With: abi, agvs, amrs, capabilities, data, environment, factories, factory, industrial, localization, location, mobile, processes, robots, rtls, slam, software, system

Join the Robotics & Automation News community

Primary Sidebar

Latest articles

  • How do you heat a car to sleep?
  • Florida university opens Blendid robotic smoothie kiosk
  • Robots vs CNCs: What’s better for working metal?
  • Thermal imaging cameras in the food industry
  • IDS offers its industrial camera users free update to its new deep learning method
  • August Robotics machines helping with floor marking at Leipzig Messe
  • Security robots ‘deter crime and minimize risk’, says Knightscope
  • Schneider Electric invests €40 million in new smart factory in Hungary
  • Jabil to manufacture Sarcos’ robotic systems
  • Smart Robotics launches new robotic mixed case palletizer

Most Read

  • Stiga launches ‘world’s smartest’ autonomous lawn mower
    Stiga launches ‘world’s smartest’ autonomous lawn mower
  • Top 20 electric vehicle charging station companies
    Top 20 electric vehicle charging station companies
  • Difference Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Power
    Difference Between Three-Phase and Single-Phase Power
  • Agility Robotics launches next generation of its humanoid worker robot
    Agility Robotics launches next generation of its humanoid worker robot
  • Scientists have found more water in space than they ever knew possible
    Scientists have found more water in space than they ever knew possible
  • Qualcomm releases ‘groundbreaking IoT and robotics’ platforms
    Qualcomm releases ‘groundbreaking IoT and robotics’ platforms
  • Schneider Electric invests €40 million in new smart factory in Hungary
    Schneider Electric invests €40 million in new smart factory in Hungary
  • Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers
    Top 20 programmable logic controller manufacturers
  • DeepRoute.ai launches $1,000 ‘map-free’ self-driving solution
    DeepRoute.ai launches $1,000 ‘map-free’ self-driving solution
  • What You Need to Know About Fixing an Engine Misfire
    What You Need to Know About Fixing an Engine Misfire

Overused words

ai applications automated automation automotive autonomous business companies company control customers data design development digital electric global industrial industry logistics machine manufacturing market mobile operations platform process production robot robotic robotics robots safety software solution solutions system systems technologies technology time vehicle vehicles warehouse work

Secondary Sidebar

Latest news

  • How do you heat a car to sleep?
  • Florida university opens Blendid robotic smoothie kiosk
  • Robots vs CNCs: What’s better for working metal?
  • Thermal imaging cameras in the food industry
  • IDS offers its industrial camera users free update to its new deep learning method
  • August Robotics machines helping with floor marking at Leipzig Messe
  • Security robots ‘deter crime and minimize risk’, says Knightscope
  • Schneider Electric invests €40 million in new smart factory in Hungary
  • Jabil to manufacture Sarcos’ robotic systems
  • Smart Robotics launches new robotic mixed case palletizer

Footer

We are…

Robotics and Automation News was established in May, 2015, and is now one of the most widely-read websites in its category.

Please consider supporting us by becoming a paying subscriber, or through advertising and sponsorships, or by purchasing products and services through our shop – or a combination of all of the above.

Thank you.

Independent

Archivists

August 2019
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Jul   Sep »

Complex

Old-skool

This website and its associated magazine, and weekly newsletter, are all produced by a small team of experienced journalists and media professionals.

If you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to contact us at any of the email addresses on our contact page.

We’d be happy to hear from you, and will always reply as soon as possible.

Future-facing

Free, fair and legal

We support the principles of net neutrality and equal opportunities.

Member of The Internet Defense League

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT