Prime Vision and Delft Robotics team up for postal logistics automation
Prime Vision and Delft Robotics will be working together to develop automation solutions for postal logistics. In a recent statement about the partnership, Prime Vision said its postal recognition technology will complement the expertise of Delft Robotics to apply robots based on 3D machine vision using deep learning.
“By combining the high flexibility of robotic arms with the versatile sensing capabilities of 3D vision technology, it will be possible to provide solutions to automation problems that have – until now – been impossible or too expensive to develop,” said Prime Vision. “Intelligent robotic systems use a combination of technologies that allow the system to ‘look’ at its work environment. In this way, robotic systems are able to cope with product differences, which is particularly important in the postal sector, where the processing of parcel variety remains a major barrier to wide scale robot adoption.”
Prime Vision and Delft Robotics will also focus on integrating with the Internet of Things (IoT).
“Both companies believe that the mid-term future of postal logistics will see printed electronics propel the sector into a world where every parcel is ‘smart’, which in turn will demand the evolution of recognition methodology,” said Prime Vision.
“Working in partnership, Prime Vision and Delft Robotics will be able to realise dynamic and cost-effective solutions for this exciting environment quicker than would be possible if acting in isolation.
“Among the core focus areas of Prime Vision’s Innovation Department is robotics. Here, trends in greater computing power and vision potential are making robots far more mobile than they were in the past. Applying this school of thought to postal logistics, pick and place robots are becoming a reality. These robots will be able to recognise each parcel type, grasp it accordingly and place it where required.”
Prime Vision and Delft Robotics said they are now planning to begin joint R&D with “one or more postal companies” who are looking to reap the benefits of automation.
