ABB Robotics previews innovation drivers to be discussed at RoboBusiness

The past year has been eventful for robotics developments, with economic headwinds, new applications, and excitement around humanoids and AI. John Bubnikovich, president of ABB’s Robotics Division in the U.S., will be among the panelists discussing the future of robotics innovation at RoboBusiness in California next week.

In that keynote panel, Bubnikovich will join NVIDIA’s Amit Goel, DHL’s Joan-Wilhelm Schwarze, and Teradyne Ventures’ Eric Truebenbach in analyzing the drivers of innovation and how to scale automation.

As one of the world’s largest producers of industrial automation, as well as collaborative and mobile robots, ABB Robotics is in a good position to observe the latest trends. Bubnikovich provided The Robot Report with a sneak peek at the perspectives he’ll share at RoboBusiness.

Bubnikovich offers advice for robotics startups

What’s the biggest trend in robotics at the moment?

I believe the biggest trend in robotics is how many end users are harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to make their robotic systems smarter and more adaptive.

At ABB Robotics, we define four areas for industrial applications of AI-powered robotics: 

• Generating insights: AI can analyze large datasets and generate meaningful insights that form the basis for decision-making. 
• Optimization: From macro-level energy management to micro-level path planning for robot movements, AI optimizes operations and increases efficiency.
• New capabilities: With AI robots can perform a broader range of complex tasks that were previously difficult to automate. By leveraging data and algorithms to optimize processes, robots execute tasks faster and more precisely, with greater in dynamic and unstructured environments. 
• Human-machine collaboration: AI makes robots and automation more accessible and user-friendly, enabling people without programming knowledge to guide and control a robot or machine.

What advice do you have for ensuring product-market fit, especially in a tight and competitive market?

Robotic OEMs, and in many instances their system integrator (SI) partners, must get as close to their customers and potential customers as possible, in order to truly understand their needs, and the performance metrics they are hoping to achieve. 

The incredible advancements in robotic technology over the past few years have opened up automation to a far wider range of industries and applications. Many of these are relatively new, with little in the way of prior models to emulate.

OEMs and SIs must be consultative and work closely with customers to achieve the best results. Patience is also a virtue, as the time it takes to specify, text, and install a robotic system in a new application can be very time consuming.

Tools like ABB’s RobotStudio offline simulation programming software is a valuable resource to test the design and performance of a potential robot system before any commitment is made.

What advice do you have for young robotics startups?

Make sure there is a viable market for your specific technology, and focus on becoming the best possible solution for companies that need what you have to offer. Seek to collaborate with end users in your target industry segment, and work with them to test and validate your offering.

Be nimble and flexible so you can quickly modify your technology as your earn more about what your potential customers want and need.

Cultivate a solid foundation of investors, but communicate a realistic growth and profitability schedule. Pursue product expansions only after you have fully refined your core technology and have established the infrastructure to support your growing customer base. 

What are you looking forward to about RoboBusiness?

I am looking forward to participating in the keynote panel with such an esteemed group of industry leaders, and I am eager to establish a rapport with them and the many other robot cognoscenti who will be attending the event.

I’m also excited to see the new technology concepts from both the startups and more advanced-stage entities that will be displaying their latest developments in the exhibit area. Though ABB is a long-tenured robot OEM, we continue to embrace an entrepreneurial spirit, and being among such robotics industry innovators for a couple of days will be inspiring!

Join ABB Robotics and more at RoboBusiness 2024

In addition to robotics innovation and enabling technologies, RoboBusiness will focuses on investment and business topics related to running a robotics company. Other keynotes at the event will feature:

• Rodney Brooks, co-founder and chief technology officer at Robust AI, as well as co-founder of iRobot and Rethink Robotics
• Sergey Levine, co-founder of Physical Intelligence and an associate professor at UC Berkeley
• Claire Delaunay, chief technology officer at farm-ng
• Torrey Smith, co-founder and CEO of Endiatx

RoboBusiness will also include more than 60 speakers, over 100 exhibitors and demos on the expo floor, 10+ hours of dedicated networking time, the Pitchfire Robotics Startup Competition, a Women in Robotics Luncheon, and more.

RoboBusiness will be co-located with DeviceTalks West, which focuses on the design and development of medical devices. Thousands of robotics practitioners from around the world will convene at the Santa Clara Convention Center, so register now to ensure your spot!

Register now.