IAM Robotics today said its new Bolt autonomous mobile robot will debut at ProMat DX on April 12, 2021. The new robot is designed to improve productivity and efficiency in warehouse and manufacturing environments, said the Pittsburgh-based company.
Founded in 2012, IAM Robotics has more than 50 employees and said its robotics engineers and supply chain veterans work closely with partners to model, simulate, and configure optimal solutions to support customers worldwide. ABI Research recently named the company as one of the top 10 providers of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).
Bolt desgined to go faster, longer, and farther
IAM Robotics claimed that Bolt's new features is more adaptable, safer, and power-efficient than other AMRs. Bolt is designed to enable users to add standardized tops or customize a unique accessory to flexibly meet their needs. They can add everything from piece-picking arms to pallet movers, said the company.
For “smarter safety,” Bolt uses 360-degree vision and a combination of state-of-the-art sensors and direct-drive wheel motors, said IAM Robotics. Direct-drive wheel technology uses the robot's entire body as a bump sensor. IAM said Bolt offers the same type of power and force-torque limiting as collaborative robot arms.
In addition, Bolt has a battery at 3.5 times the size of similar AMRs and 20-hour runtime that exceeds that of any other AMR, IAM Robotics said. One person can change its patented hot-swap battery in 10 seconds or less.
Bolt has a 661-lb. payload capacity, is completely autonomous, and is compatible with conveyor and material handling systems. IAM Robotics also touted Bolt's scalability for a wide variety of applications, building on its autonomous mobile manipulation robot (AMMR) experience.
“When we built our AMR, we thought, ‘How can we make this the most powerful, flexible, and collaborative solution?’” said Tom Galuzzo, founder and CEO of IAM Robotics. “Bolt expands on our AMMR solution Swift by turning its base into a standalone AMR.”
“We applied what we learned with Swift, honing in on battery power and direct-drive wheels to ensure Bolt has the power to operate safely and efficiently—even with top modules attached,” he said. “Bolt is already opening new doors for IAM Robotics because it introduces us to a faster-growing market with general AMRs.”
IAM Robotics strives to meet AMR demand
The global market for automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and AMRs will experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 35%, reaching $13.2 billion by 2026, predicted Research and Markets. It said the installed base will surpass 1.5 million units in the next five years and attributed the growth to increasing e-commerce demand, labor expenses and shortages, and improvements in artificial intelligence and safety features.
Research and Markets also noted that the Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) business model reduces upfront risks for users by moving costs from capital expenditures to operational expenditures. Similarly, Fortune Business Insights said the global market for AMRs will grow from $1.67 billion in 2020 to $8.7 billion in 2028, experiencing a CAGR of 23.7%.
IAM Robotics added that AMRs have a lower barrier to entry than other robots because of their affordability, ease of deployment, and flexibility. The company said customers can deploy its systems in weeks. AMRs do not require fixed infrastructure like stationary conveyors, and Bolt is designed to complement human workers and existing automation, said IAM Robotics. The company is taking appointments now for ProMat DX.
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