ifm efector’s Obstacle Detection System tackles the toughest hurdles of integrating 3D cameras into mobile robots, streamlining development, and reducing both capital expenditure and the total cost of ownership. This increases a user’s return on investment (ROI) and could help to democratize mobile robots, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

While mobile robot developers have effectively addressed person detection with standard safety lidars, collisions with objects beyond their view remain a challenge, potentially causing damage and hindering mission efficiency.

Both automated guided vehicles (AGVs), which navigate using static path planning, and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), which navigate using dynamic path planning, react differently to detected obstacles. However, both grapple with potential collisions. 3D cameras can offer a comprehensive solution, affording a complete view of the robot's path.

The ifm Obstacle Detection Solution reduces mobile robot development time by providing a ready-made option for manufacturers, ensuring integration across diverse environments, and reducing facility integration time, irrespective of floor conditions.

Although mobile robots are gaining popularity as a tool to enhance workforce efficiency and address labor shortages, they have not yet achieved widespread adoption. ROI is one factor holding mobile robots back. Addressing this requires a shift in focus towards total cost of ownership (TCO), with significant development and deployment times emerging as the primary impediments.

By offering an obstacle-detection system priced at just $450 per robot, without recurring fees, ifm provides a viable “buy” option for developers and aims to redefine affordability and performance benchmarks for mobile robots. This approach enables manufacturers to concentrate on delivering value to end-users, catalyzing the integration of mobile robots into SMEs.

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