The Industrial Challenge
Fixed automation lines lack the agility to service sprawling factory floors or retool when manufacturing cells shift. Traditional autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) only transport pallets from point A to point B without physical manipulation.
System Architecture & Mechanical Modularity
- Autonomous Transit: Industrial MiR AMR base executing LiDAR SLAM, dynamic obstacle avoidance, and fleet dispatch.
- Precision Manipulation: 6-axis Universal Robots (UR) collaborative arm mounted on a custom rigid, vibration-damped docking frame.
- 30-Minute Rapid Modularity: Modular quick-disconnect mechanical and electrical interfaces enable complete disassembly in ~30 minutes and retooling for different processing stations in under 2 hours.
- Unified Interface: One UR + MiR interface, released as a URCap (built with a programmer).
- Built-in Safety: Software safety wall, speed control, an interlock with the MiR lidar so the arm cannot move while the base moves, and visual and audio warnings.
- Load Handling: Clamps that secure FOUP loads in motion, and grippers for automated pick-up.
Commercial Aerospace Deployment
- Sold and delivered 3–4 units; Baboo personally programmed and deployed them for machine-to-machine material transfer.
- Used for aircraft-engine visual inspection at Pratt & Whitney Singapore: the robot moved around the engine and photographed it from all angles.