ABB Robotics names winners in AI Startup Challenge

ABB Robotics named T-Robotics and Mbodi as the winners of its 2024 ABB Robotics AI Startup Challenge, "marking a significant milestone in advancing artificial intelligence solutions for industrial robotics."

Selected from over 100 global applicants, these pioneering startups will help transform how industrial robots understand, learn, and adapt to complex manufacturing environments through breakthrough artificial intelligence solutions.

“Today’s manufacturing challenges demand solutions that combine simplicity with sophisticated AI capabilities”, said Marc Segura, president of ABB Robotics. “T-Robotics and Mbodi demonstrated groundbreaking innovations and by collaborating with both, we will accelerate the development of more intuitive, adaptable and easier-to-use robotic solutions that will make business more efficient, flexible and resilient.”

T-Robotics has developed physical AI models that allow operators to program robots through natural conversation while maintaining precision through industry-specific skill models. This innovative approach significantly reduces programming time while ensuring optimal performance across various manufacturing scenarios, the company said.

“The convergence of robotics and physical AI will transform how manufacturing operates," said Asad Tirmizi, founder of T-Robotics. "We're thrilled to partner with ABB in pioneering this transition towards a future where robots become intelligent assistants helping us produce better.” 

Mbodi’s AI platform introduces real-time skill acquisition capabilities, enabling robots to learn and adapt to new tasks on the fly, through written and spoken natural language and demonstration.  Their technology represents a major advancement in making robotic automation accessible to businesses of all sizes, particularly those seeking flexible solutions for high-mix, low- volume production environments.

“We’re augmenting the industrial robotics experience through cutting-edge generative AI that fulfils evolving customer needs," said Sebastian Peralta, co-founder and CEO of Mbodi. "As an industrial leader, ABB's enthusiasm for disruptive technologies like ours will be instrumental in driving this transformation.” 

Both winners will receive $30,000 in project funding and will collaborate directly with ABB's technology experts to develop market-ready solutions and a six-month membership to SynerLeap, ABB’s startup accelerator. Both T-Robotics and Mbodi expect to launch their first commercial application with ABB in 2025.

"The disruptive potential of Generative AI in robotics is vast, but requires focused scrutiny," said Segura. "By focusing on three pivotal areas -natural language programming, skill learning, and autonomous decision-making - we identified two key solutions that position us to accelerate AI-driven, market-ready industrial products. This approach aligns with ABB’s vision of creating robots that are more intuitive, adaptable, and efficient, paving the way for a new era of AI-powered robotics innovation.”