Mobile Industrial Robots Launches AI-Enabled Robot to Transport Loads and Pallets

Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR), according to a recent release, has launched the MiR1000, the company’s largest autonomous mobile robot (AMR), which reportedly can automatically pick up, transport and deliver pallets and other heavy loads up to 2200 lbs (1000 kg) through dynamic environments. The company says that its autonomous robots are designed to be collaborative, safe and flexible alternatives to forklifts on the factory floor. MiR also said it is releasing new artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities across all of its AMRs for improved navigation.

The company’s MiRs are already installed in more than 45 countries at companies such as Airbus, Flex, Honeywell, Toyota, Visteon, and Hitachi. According to Thomas Visti, CEO, MiR, the company built the MiR1000 in response to strong demand from customers of the smaller robots who also want to transport heavy materials such as those in the aerospace and automotive industries.

“With the MiR1000, we are once again extending the possibilities for automating internal logistics, especially for those who want to transport very large materials without reconfiguring their infrastructure,” Visti said. “Manufacturers today must deal with ever-changing customer demands, which means they need flexible and easily adaptable production facilities. Conventional logistics solutions like forklifts and conveyor belts and even traditional automated guided vehicles (AGVs) haven’t been able to support this type of production. With the MIR1000 and our other highly flexible autonomous robots, none of which require rebuilding infrastructure or extensive programming capabilities, we have made it especially easy to optimize the transportation of all types of materials. Customers have seen that with our other robots and will experience the same efficiencies with the MiR1000 and much heavier loads.”

With artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities incorporated into the software and cameras that function as an extended set of robot sensors, MiR has enabled its robots for optimized route-planning and driving behavior. The cameras, called MiR AI Camera, enable the robots to detect and recognize different moving obstacles and react accordingly.