SIEMENS, UNIVERSAL ROBOTS (UR) AND THE Norwegian machine vision specialist Zivid have joined forces with Mecalux, the Spanish specialist in automated warehouses, to create a “groundbreaking” technology that streamlines warehouse automation and solves intralogistics fullment challenges. The technology brings together a long-reach UR20 cobot, a Zivid 2+ M130 camera – said to be the rst 3D sensor capable of imaging anything, including transparent and translucent items – and Siemens’ Simatic Robot Pick AI – pre-trained, deep learning-based vision software that allows robots to perform tasks that previously had to be performed by hand. The combined technologies are said to offer “a significant leap in solving the complex challenges faced by the logistics and ecommerce sectors”. The system has been developed to provide a reliable way of picking large quantities and varieties of SKUs (stock-keeping units), regardless of their shape, size, opacity or transparency. The picking technology, developed at Mecalux’s technology centre in Barcelona, is designed to operate 24/7 and to execute up to 1,000 picks per hour. It uses AI functions integrated into a Siemens Simatic S7-1500 PLC using a TM-MFP module. A camera positioned above the picking box captures a 3D image of the goods to prepare the orders. “The AI algorithm has been pretrained with millions of items to offer out-of-the-box performance,” explains José Ramón Castro, CEO of Siemens Digital Industries in Spain. “It’s able to make decisions in milliseconds on robust, collision-free picking positions for products presented completely arbitrarily. It doesn’t need to know the 3D model of the item in question beforehand. The advanced AI algorithm acts as the brain, enabling the smart picking process.” Once the item has been selected, the cobot deposits it precisely in the picking box, making the most of the available space. Mecalux has devised an algorithm to ensure that the cobot places items in the best location. The picking system can change its gripping system automatically depending on the type of goods being handled. TECHNOLOGY n ‘Groundbreaking’ technology will solve warehouse challenges The cobot-based technology developed by Universal Robots, Siemens, Zivid and Mecalux is intended to solve automation problems in warehouses and fullment centres.
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