“ReBeLs on Wheels” uses modern plastic technology to make driverless transportation systems affordable.
Cologne/Hannover, April 24, 2024 – Mobile robotic systems are being used in more and more work areas, including modern restaurants as well as e-commerce warehouses. The prices of conventional models on the market start from around 25,000 euros, while solutions with an integrated robotic arm cost around 70,000 euros. However, its high price often makes it difficult for small and medium-sized businesses to afford its widespread use in the market. igus wants to change this situation with its new low-cost robot products and will present a series of low-cost mobile plastic robots at the Hannover Fair.
The market for automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) is booming. The global market for mobile robots, including service robots, is currently worth about $20.3 billion, and experts expect it to nearly double in size by 2028.One Mobile robots are particularly common in intralogistics and industrial applications. And smart assistants are increasingly active in restaurants and hospitals. Additionally, at motion plastics specialist igus, plastics experts have been successfully testing AGVs in-house for four years. That means unmanned shelves that deliver mail and packages to offices, and mobile robots for production that move shipping and rotating stack containers. The experience gained was directly applied to the development of the new low-cost automation product line “ReBeL on Wheels”. Their goal is to pave the way for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to use cost-effective mobile robotics.
Mobile ReBeL solution for education, logistics and services
The basis of all mobile robotic systems is ReBeL. The use of plastic makes the robot particularly affordable at 4,970 euros, and its weight of 8.2 kg makes it the lightest service robot with cobot functions in its class. Without exception, all mechanical components that make up ReBeL are developed and manufactured by igus. The load capacity is 2kg and the reach is 664mm. A variety of mobility systems are planned, with ReBeL centrally integrated. igus starts with an inexpensive version for the educational sector at 14,699 euros including the robotic arm. Thanks to its open source nature, ReBeL EduMove with gripper serves as a self-learning platform for educational institutions. It has a modular structure and can be flexibly expanded to include additional features such as LiDAR, camera technology, and SLAM algorithms. Another variation is driverless transportation systems for small and medium-sized businesses. It can carry up to 30kg. The optional ReBeL allows simple A to B positioning. Instead of using expensive sensors, it uses self-developed 3D sensor technology. The price is 17,999 euros. Additionally, igus is presenting research on service robots at low prices in Hannover. ReBeL Butler is ideal for simple but time-consuming pick-up and delivery services in the hotel and catering industry, for example.
lighthouse project on wheels
The goal of all these developments is the Lighthouse project, a mobile robot with integrated vision and HMI that can clean offices independently. “With this project, we are pursuing a top-down strategy of not including certain components, such as the safety laser scanner, in the basic package in order to keep prices low,” says Alexander Mühlens, Authorized Representative and Director. Automation at igus is a decidedly low-cost business area. “Nevertheless, this solution can be adapted to industrial requirements.” This year, igus launched an affordable gripper with a large stroke and travel path that provides high flexibility when gripping different geometries. Alexander Mühlens: “The areas of application for these desired low-cost AMRs are very diverse and go far beyond simple transport tasks. It covers a wide range of applications in different areas of life, such as cleaning tasks or serving coffee directly at work.”