Mobile platforms and robotics in production and logistics: AI-based robot guidance

At SPS 2024, SICK introduced the PALLOC (PALlet content LOCalization) system, an innovative AI-powered solution for automated depalletizing with robots. PALLOC combines a high-performance 3D snapshot camera, a factory-installed and pretrained neural network, and a Deep Learning-based localization algorithm. This cutting-edge system identifies and provides positioning coordinates for virtually limitless stacked boxes, enabling precise and reliable robot guidance. Pretrained for various box types, the system also allows users to add new variants with an intuitive AI tool suite.

Revolutionizing Palletizing with AI and Robotics

Automated palletizing solutions—manual, conventional, or robot-assisted—are critical for seamless goods transport in logistics and production. The integration of robot guidance systems with AI, smart cameras, and Deep Learning enhances efficiency by accelerating processes and reducing repetitive tasks for employees. SICK’s PALLOC embodies this approach, providing an advanced, future-ready solution for depalletizing tasks.

What Makes PALLOC Unique?

PALLOC stands out due to its innovative features:

• Integrated Neural Network: The SensorApp is built directly into the camera, eliminating the need for external computing hardware.
• Seamless Compatibility: The system connects effortlessly with most industrial robots and cobots via Ethernet TCP/IP.
• High-Performance Imaging: Equipped with a 3D stereo and color imaging system, PALLOC captures up to 30 full-color and 3D image pairs per second in high resolution.

Flexible Mounting for Optimized Detection

The 3D snapshot camera can be mounted on the robot arm or above its working area, ensuring accurate detection of details regardless of the box surface distance. By comparing 3D data with color data, the system measures and records contours, edges, and layer depths with precision and repeatability.

Easy Adaptation for New Applications

Pretrained for a wide variety of box types, PALLOC’s neural network easily adapts to new requirements. Using SICK’s AI tool suite, including the dStudio web service, users can train the system for new box designs, sizes, or colors, ensuring long-term flexibility and scalability.

The Future of Robot-Assisted Depalletizing

SICK’s PALLOC is more than a robot guidance system; it is a transformative solution that combines AI, Deep Learning, and advanced imaging to redefine efficiency in logistics and production. With its robust capabilities and adaptability, PALLOC is set to become a cornerstone for the future of automated depalletizing.

For more information, please visit: https://www.sick.com/de/en/press/pressreleases