#USA #Stockholm #Robotics #AEON #Hexagon

Hexagon Unveils AEON: A Humanoid Robot Designed for the Future of Industry

Hexagon, a global leader in measurement technologies, has made a significant breakthrough by launching AEON, a state-of-the-art humanoid robot, during its flagship event, Hexagon LIVE Global. This innovative robot combines various advanced technologies to help industries overcome labor shortages and streamline operations.

What Makes AEON Unique?

AEON is specifically engineered to cater to the real-world needs of industries. It integrates Hexagon’s industry-leading sensor technology with cutting-edge locomotion and mission control powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). This powerful combination allows AEON to perform a myriad of industrial applications ranging from asset handling and inspection to reality capture and operator support. Moreover, AEON aims to enhance safety and promote autonomy in sectors such as automotive manufacturing, aerospace, transportation, and logistics.

Ola Rollén, Chairman of Hexagon, highlighted, "Hexagon’s legacy in precision measurement and sensor technologies has always revolved around next-generation autonomy. For the past decade, we have tirelessly worked on robotic innovations across all our divisions. AEON stands as a significant achievement in our vision to help clients drive sustainable growth amid demographic changes. It’s exciting to witness AEON come to life."

Core Capabilities of AEON

• - Agility: AEON merges dexterity with advanced locomotion. It can swiftly navigate spaces while performing tasks that require high precision, thanks to Hexagon's patented measurement technologies.
• - Spatial Awareness: By combining spatial intelligence with reasoning capabilities, AEON interprets multimodal sensor data to understand its environment and optimize its tasks efficiently.
• - Versatility: AEON is designed to handle various tasks including picking specific objects, scanning industrial components for inspection, and creating digital twins through reality capture and teleoperation, all with a holistic training approach.
• - Energy Autonomy: Thanks to a unique battery swapping mechanism, AEON can continue its operations without frequent recharging interruptions, improving productivity.

Arnaud Robert, head of Hexagon’s Robotics division, stated, "With AEON, we are pushing the boundaries of physical AI to address real operational challenges, connecting cutting-edge technology with the practical needs of the industry. We have collaborated with several industry leaders, and in the next six months, we will implement AEON in production settings before expanding our commercial launch."

Partnerships and Testing

Hexagon’s Robotics division has partnered with companies like Schaeffler and Pilatus to test AEON in diverse use cases ranging from material handling, machine tending, to components inspection and reality capture. Roman Emmenegger from Pilatus expressed excitement regarding this collaboration, stating, "Amid current manufacturing challenges in Switzerland, we believe AEON will contribute significantly to maintaining our competitiveness in increasingly demanding global markets. Its unique locomotion and integrated sensors provide agility and versatility, opening numerous opportunities for automation and digital transformation in our daily operations."

Sebastian Jonas, a senior vice president for Advanced Production Technology at Schaeffler, reinforced this sentiment, saying, "By leveraging disruptive technologies such as humanoid robots, Schaeffler is paving the way to becoming a leader in motion technology. We are eager to test Hexagon’s humanoid solutions across numerous applications in our factories, utilizing our decades of knowledge in manufacturing and vertical integration."

Technological Collaborations

To bring AEON to market, Hexagon Robotics has established strong alliances with tech leaders like NVIDIA, Microsoft, and maxon. AEON benefits from NVIDIA's accelerated computing capabilities, with NVIDIA Omniverse and Jetson empowering its functional prowess. Microsoft Azure further supports scalable development and on-demand training capabilities for AEON’s features, while maxon’s advanced actuators drive AEON’s unique and efficient mobility across various environments.

Conclusion

As industries face unprecedented challenges with labor shortages and operational demands, AEON stands out as a beacon of innovation and practical solutions. By combining advanced technologies with practical applications, Hexagon’s AEON not only promises to enhance industrial efficiency but also contribute to the sustainable growth of the manufacturing sector. The releases from Hexagon indicate a clear move towards a future where humanoid robots actively participate in industrial processes, making AEON a significant step in this revolutionary journey.

For real-time updates and to watch the live streams of the Hexagon LIVE Global keynote sessions, click here.