Though still in its early stages, the industrial humanoid robot market sees AEON joining a growing roster of contenders striving to introduce versatile robotic solutions.
Hexagon has forged partnerships with notable industrial entities like Schaeffler and Pilatus for pioneering pilot programs. These collaborations will subject AEON to tests encompassing manipulation, machine supervision, part assessment, and reality capture functions in genuine manufacturing settings.
The introduction of AEON coincides strategically with a global labor shortage, leaving 50 million roles unfilled in sectors like manufacturing and logistics. Hexagon’s industrial humanoid robot emerges as a potentially tech-driven solution to a critical issue faced by companies worldwide, particularly those necessitating skilled personnel for precise tasks.
- “With AEON, we are surpassing conventional boundaries of physical AI to tackle real operational challenges
- bridging cutting-edge technology with practical industry requirements,” stressed Arnaud Robert, President of Hexagon’s Robotics division.
Tags: internet of things, iot, robotics, robots
The robot’s capability to create digital replicas through reality capture could offer significant value to firms seeking to digitize their operations.
One key aspect highlighted in the development of AEON is the reduced duration of training achieved through simulation. By adopting a simulation-focused approach, Hexagon was able to expedite its robotic development process, allowing AEON to master fundamental locomotion skills within a mere two to three weeks, as opposed to the customary five to six months, prior to its deployment in real-world scenarios.
“Building on our rich history of innovation and perpetual pursuit of excellence, we are thrilled to collaborate with Hexagon’s Robotics division to explore humanoid solutions in our facilities,” stated Roman Emmenegger, VP of Manufacturing at Pilatus.
“The age of versatile robotics has dawned, owed to technological advancements in simulation and physical AI,” declared Deepu Talla, NVIDIA’s VP of robotics and edge AI. “Hexagon’s novel humanoid AEON represents the fusion of NVIDIA’s tri-computer robotics platform, marking a substantial step towards addressing key industry challenges.”
AEON’s emphasis on industrial applications sets it apart from consumer-oriented humanoid robots, targeting specific sectors like automotive, aerospace, transportation, manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics.
For a more in-depth look: NVIDIA turbocharges humanoid robot development with AI
Leveraging NVIDIA’s advanced AI and robotics platform, this robot claims to offer top-notch, tailor-made capabilities to handle intricate operations spanning various industries.
(Photo by Nvidia)
The real challenge lies in determining whether these advanced machines can deliver a solid return on investment to warrant their adoption across industrial settings while navigating the intricate dynamics of human-robot collaboration in work environments.
Echoing the excitement, Sebastian Jonas, Schaeffler’s Senior VP of Advanced Production Technology, mentioned, “By leveraging groundbreaking technologies like humanoid robots, Schaeffler is charting a path towards becoming a leading motion technology company.”
While AEON signifies a significant technological leap, uncertainties linger regarding the practical challenges of implementation, cost-effectiveness versus conventional automation solutions, and the broader ramifications for human employment within industrial environments.
AEON’s development heavily relies on NVIDIA’s three-computer robotics platform, tapping into AI supercomputers for training, utilizing the NVIDIA Omniverse platform for simulation testing, and leveraging NVIDIA IGX Thor robotic computers for real-time operations.
For those eager to delve into the realm of IoT with insights from industry experts, the IoT Tech Expo offers a prime opportunity. This comprehensive event occurs concurrently with other high-profile gatherings such as the Cyber Security & Cloud Expo, AI & Big Data Expo, Intelligent Automation Conference, Edge Computing Expo, and Digital Transformation Week across Amsterdam, California, and London.
Hexagon, a major presence in the field of measurement technology, has recently unveiled AEON, a state-of-the-art industrial humanoid robot designed to address the mounting global labor crisis impacting the manufacturing and logistics sectors significantly.
The robot’s attributes encompass agility through precision measurement technologies, awareness via multimodal sensor fusion, versatility across diverse industrial tasks, and power autonomy enabled by a unique battery-swapping mechanism that eliminates recharging downtime.
“Hexagon has always been committed to enabling next-gen autonomy through precision measurement and sensor technologies. Our focus on robotics innovation spans across divisions over the last decade,” affirmed Ola Rollén, Chairman of the Board at Hexagon, highlighting the company’s global position to lead and shape the humanoid robotics field.
The Swiss aviation manufacturer views the industrial humanoid robot as a valuable asset in enhancing its competitiveness in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
This robust technological foundation equips the industrial humanoid robot to execute a broad array of tasks, ranging from reality capture and digital twin creation to precise manipulation and component inspection.
Insights gained from successful pilot programs with Schaeffler and Pilatus are likely to provide valuable perspectives into the viability of humanoid robots in real-world industrial settings.
By utilizing NVIDIA Isaac Sim for intricate action simulation and NVIDIA Isaac Lab for reinforcement learning, the industrial humanoid robot underscores how advanced simulation settings can significantly hasten robotics development cycles.
The company is preparing to deploy the industrial humanoid robot in production environments over the next six months before expanding its commercial availability.
