ABB Acquires Mobile Robotics Navigation Startup Sevensense

Automation technology leader ABB has acquired Swiss startup Sevensense. The AI-enabled 3D vision navigation technology developer supports autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) required to make intelligent decisions and differentiate between fixed and mobile objects in dynamic environments.
ABB’s Flexley Tug AMR using Sevensense’s navigation technology. Courtesy of ABB.

ABB’s "Flexley Tug" autonomous mobile robot (AMR) uses Sevensense’s navigation technology, which aims to enable AMRs and humans to work simultaneously in common dynamic environments. ABB acquired Sevensense for an undisclosed sum. Courtesy of ABB.

Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

The acquisition follows ABB’s minority investment in Sevensense, which it made after Sevensense joined the company’s innovation ecosystem in 2021. ABB acquired ASTI Mobile Robotics in a separate transaction, also in 2021.

Following pilot customer projects in the automotive and logistics industries, ABB said that it will integrate Sevensense’s technology into the company’s AMR portfolio.

Published: January 2024

Glossary

embedded vision: Embedded vision refers to the integration of computer vision technologies into various embedded systems, devices, or machines. Computer vision involves teaching machines to interpret and understand visual information from the world, much like human vision. Embedded vision takes this concept and applies it to systems where the processing occurs locally within the device, as opposed to relying on external servers or cloud-based services. Key components of embedded vision systems include: ...
machine vision: Machine vision, also known as computer vision or computer sight, refers to the technology that enables machines, typically computers, to interpret and understand visual information from the world, much like the human visual system. It involves the development and application of algorithms and systems that allow machines to acquire, process, analyze, and make decisions based on visual data. Key aspects of machine vision include: Image acquisition: Machine vision systems use various...