ABB announces AI‍-‍powered autonomous forklift

ABB Robotics has announced the expansion of its Autonomous Mobile Robotics (AMR) range with the launch of the Flexley Stack F712 autonomous forklift. Combining tugs and movers — and now autonomous forklifts — on one platform, ABB Robotics said it is enabling users to automate a broader range of material-handling and intralogistics processes.

ABB said the F712 is designed for demanding material handling, end-of-line storage and warehouse operations across industries, helping increase efficiency, flexibility and scalability.

“Across intralogistics operations, businesses are being asked to process greater volumes in less time, while working with increasingly limited resources,” said Marc Segura, President, ABB Robotics. “They are under pressure to move goods faster and with greater flexibility, while labour availability is becoming a critical constraint.

“As part of our journey to more autonomous and versatile robotics (AVRTM), we have combined advanced vision, mobility and intelligence in the Flexley Stack F712 forklift AMR, completing our scalable, AI-powered AMR portfolio.”

The F712 is versatile, capable of handling multiple load types and sizes — including open and closed pallets, containers or racks — up to 2000 kg and reaching heights of 8.5 m.

Applications include intralogistics tasks such as warehouse storage and retrieval, as well as line supply, end-of-line handling, body- and press-shop and drive-in and light buffer in the automotive sector.

The F712 uses Visual SLAM to map and navigate its environment, eliminating the need for pre-installed infrastructure like markers or reflectors. The AI-enabled Visual SLAM supports the autonomous decisions required to operate in complex, dynamic warehouse operations with a positional accuracy of ±10 mm, according to ABB. Certified to the latest ISO and ANSI safety standards, the F712 can safely operate at speeds of up to 1.7 m/s while loaded.