Applications

Automotive

Automation for automotive manufacturing

Complete robotic guidance using vision

Apera AI makes vision software called Vue that guides robots as they perform a variety of manufacturing tasks. This includes bin picking, material handling, assembly, kitting and feeding machines.

We are trusted by the manufacturing teams of more than 10 leading automotive manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers with combined revenue of more than $400 billion. Customers that have publicly shared their use of our products include Ford, Flex-N-Gate and Linamar Corporation.

Body shop applications

Racking and de-racking using vision

If your automotive plant is racking and de-racking parts, eye-in-hand vision is for you. The robot-mounted cameras scan the area to find the racks and the next pickable hood. The robot can then handle the part with precision for the next step, whether that's assembly, welding or any other action.

Choosing vision-guided robotic material handling spares your people from hard, repetitive lifting. Repeatable racking and racking means they can focus on part quality and improving other areas of your plant.

Performance highlights

Speed and intelligence

Make real gains in productivity with an industry-leading total vision cycle time as low as 0.3 seconds. This is 10X faster than conventional vision systems.

Training this task into our AI involves more than 1 million simulated cycles. We train to the point where the task is 99.99% successful. This process happens in parallel to designing the cell—use of the robot cell is not needed—so the implementation process is shortened.

"With our ABB / Apera combination bin picking cells, the operator is able to focus on maintaining the machines making the components, and making sure that the parts are being manufactured with good quality."

Badr Dowcet, Process Engineer, Hastech, a Linamar Corporation company.

Bin picking / machine tending cell in a powertrain plant

Scalable

Off-the-shelf 2D cameras make it cost-effective to cover large areas, including with multiple robots.

Reliability

Custom end-of-arm tools, objects and the task are trained into Apera's AI to improve reliability of the cell.

Lighting

Even when lighting conditions change, 4D Vision technology continues to work. No structured light or lasers are used.

Robot agnostic

Vue software works with all of the major brands used by automotive manufacturers.

Object finishes

Even if an object is shiny, has a complex geometry or is covered in oil, the Apera vision system will work.

Reliability

Risk-free buying

Apera AI's application engineering team performs a full assessment of your project. We agree on vision system performance goals with you. If we don't meet them, we refund your vision system purchase.

"We saw an almost 9% increase in accuracy to 99% through the [Apera Vue] vision system. From a cost savings perspective, we have been able to reduce repair and manpower, and improve part quality into our customer."

Don Cumming, General Manager, Flex-N-Gate

Applications for AI in automotive manufacturing

Random bin picking

Apera's Vue robotic vision software uses AI training to completely understand objects, and how to handle them. Bin picking capabilities can be used for ongoing steps in assembly, kitting parts carts for the line or feeding machines.

It works even when light condition changes, when the objects are shiny, or when they are covered in oil.

Robotic guidance

Vue can guide a robot to pick up objects and guide them precisely to an ongoing manufacturing step. Even when a custom end-of-arm tool has to grasp a difficult part. Enables you to move away from custom fixturing, since objects can be found and moved precisely by the vision system.

Robotic assembly

Assemble parts like brakes or interiors, with accuracy and precision equal to the most precise robots you choose. Once complete, our AI can look at the final part and determine if it is correctly assembled with all components present.

Robotic machine tending

Use labor efficiently by having robots feed machines like CNCs. Vue software can locate parts in bins or from conveyor belts and feed them into the machines. Operators and managers can focus on part quality and keeping machines running.

Make robotic cells better

Have you considered a vision retrofit?

If you have an underperforming vision-guided robot or a blind robot, Apera AI can help. Read our blog about retrofitting cells for better performance.