An AI-Automation Hub
ABB Expands Facility to Meet Future Needs of Manufacturing Workforce
State-of-the-art doesn’t begin to describe ABB’s revamped robotics and training facility in Auburn Hills, MI. The upgraded factory serves as a U.S. hub for developing AI-enabled technology helping businesses respond to labor shortages, global uncertainty and sustainable manufacturing.
The building hints at the future of robotic and automation technologies while also celebrating ABB’s storied manufacturing history with demonstration displays highlighting the first robot in the world to be controlled by an electric microcomputer—the IRB 6—as well as the YuMi collaborative robot, the first cobot to feature a dual arm design.
“Most of our demos here on the floor are collaborative,” said Doug Hixon, robotic applications manager, Robotics Business Unit, ABB. “One, because it’s still one the hottest topics to talk about and two, we don’t have to have them in boxes or cages.”
A robot refurbishing display showed what ABB can do with an old foundry robot by restoring the equipment to good-as-new. Affectionately called “Harvey,” the robot was named after Batman nemesis “Two-Face, Harvey Dent.”
This refurbished foundry robot is affectionately called "Harvey" for its resemblance to Two Face Harvey Dent. Another growing area of robotic expansion is taking place in packaging and logistics.
“The idea in larger logistic systems is connectivity via PCs. Therefore, the robot is pretty much just taking direct commands. This example uses AI to distinguish objects and determine how to pick them up. The robot uses camera systems to identify objects and put them in the correct bins,” Hixon said. “All of this is being run on a webpage and we can call up on the screen how these different applications interconnect with each other.”
