Zurich, Switzerland – In a strategic move to address the critical challenges facing the global logistics and fashion sectors, ABB has expanded its portfolio of sorting robots with the introduction of two new AI-powered function modules. The “Fashion Inductor” and “Parcel Inductor” modules are designed to automate key processes such as item induction, singulation, and sorting, promising a new era of end-to-end automation in warehouses and distribution centers.
The launch comes at a pivotal time. E-commerce growth is projected to drive parcel volume increases of up to 9% annually, placing unprecedented pressure on supply chains to operate with greater speed and precision. Compounding this issue is a severe global labor shortage, which affects 37% of supply chain and logistics companies, making it increasingly difficult to staff repetitive and ergonomically unsound roles.
“Our expanded item picking range, powered by artificial intelligence, is a direct response to these dual pressures,” said Craig McDonnell, Global Business Line Manager for ABB’s Robotics & Discrete Automation business. “By automating processes from end to end, we are enabling businesses to boost throughput and productivity while significantly reducing error rates.”
The core of these new modules is ABB’s proprietary AI vision technology. This system allows the robots to handle unknown, randomly arranged items in unstructured environments—a significant leap beyond traditional automation that requires fixed, predictable layouts. The AI provides high-accuracy, fast-picking capabilities, achieving an industry-leading pick precision of over 99.5%. It can adeptly manage items of varying sizes, shapes, and packaging, and is even smart enough to identify and reject non-conveyable items like spherical or cylindrical products, ensuring smooth and efficient operation.
Beyond initial order fulfillment, these technologies are equally vital in managing the unpredictable flow of returns, a major pain point for retailers.
Engineered for Speed and Seamless Integration
A key advantage highlighted by ABB is the modules' rapid deployment capability. Designed as pre-integrated units, they can be installed and commissioned in as little as one week, drastically reducing setup time, operational errors, and complexity. This is achieved through the ABB Application Controller Platform (ACP), which seamlessly integrates the robot, gripper, and camera into a single, easy-to-manage system.
The modules are deeply integrated with ABB’s motion control and path-planning software. Once the AI vision system identifies an item, the software automatically calculates a collision-free path for the robot, optimizing movement for speed and safety.
The Fashion Inductor is tailored for plastic-bagged apparel and accessories, achieving a pick rate of up to 1,300 items per hour.
The Parcel Inductor is designed for small parcels, handling boxes, bags, envelopes, and packages at speeds of up to 1,500 items per hour in postal and parcel centers.
By offering pre-trained AI models, a validated robotic system, and an integrated control platform, ABB has effectively de-risked the automation journey for system integrators and end-users alike. This comprehensive approach solves the core challenges of detection, grasping, and motion control, enabling businesses to adopt advanced automation faster and with greater confidence, ultimately transforming their operational resilience in a demanding market.
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