ABB GoFa
Collaborative mobile robot for flexible factory automation
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ABB GoFa is an autonomous mobile collaborative robot (AMCobot) that combines a cobot arm with an autonomous mobile robot base. Designed for factory automation, it can navigate autonomously to perform tasks like machine tending, material handling, and quality inspection. The GoFa targets manufacturers seeking flexible, safe human-robot collaboration in dynamic production environments.
Released: 2023
Overview
ABB GoFa represents a new category of industrial robots: the autonomous mobile cobot (AMCobot). By integrating ABB's collaborative robotic arm technology with an autonomous mobile robot platform, GoFa delivers unprecedented flexibility in manufacturing operations. The system can navigate factory floors independently, position itself precisely for tasks, and work safely alongside human operators without protective barriers.
Designed specifically for the demands of modern flexible manufacturing, GoFa addresses the challenge of automating tasks that require mobility and adaptability. Unlike traditional fixed-position robots or standalone AMRs, GoFa combines manipulation capabilities with autonomous navigation, enabling it to handle diverse workflows across multiple workstations. This makes it ideal for facilities seeking to optimize space utilization while maintaining production agility.
The robot's collaborative design ensures safe operation in shared workspaces, with built-in safety features that allow it to detect and respond to human presence. GoFa's intuitive programming and fleet management capabilities enable manufacturers to deploy and reconfigure automation solutions quickly, reducing downtime and accelerating return on investment.
Key Features
- Autonomous Navigation: Integrated AMR base enables independent movement throughout the facility with obstacle detection and path planning
- Collaborative Operation: Safe human-robot collaboration without safety fencing through force limiting and collision detection
- Flexible Deployment: Easily reprogrammable and redeployable to different tasks and locations as production needs change
- Precision Manipulation: 950mm reach cobot arm with 5kg payload capacity for machine tending and material handling
- Fleet Management: Coordinated multi-robot operation through centralized fleet management software
- Quick Setup: Intuitive programming interface reduces deployment time and enables fast task reconfiguration
Applications
ABB GoFa excels in manufacturing environments requiring flexible automation across multiple workstations. Primary applications include machine tending for CNC machines and injection molding equipment, where the robot autonomously travels between machines to load/unload parts. Material handling tasks such as pick-and-place operations, parts kitting, and intralogistics benefit from GoFa's ability to transport items while performing manipulation tasks. Quality inspection workflows leverage the robot's mobility to visit multiple inspection stations, using integrated sensors or tools to verify product specifications.
The automotive, electronics, plastics, and general manufacturing industries have adopted GoFa for operations where production volumes and product mixes change frequently. The robot's flexibility makes it particularly valuable for small-to-medium batch production, where traditional fixed automation proves economically unfeasible. By eliminating the need for permanent installation and safety barriers, GoFa enables manufacturers to optimize floor space while maintaining the agility to respond to changing customer demands.
Technical Highlights
The technical innovation of ABB GoFa lies in seamlessly integrating collaborative robotics with autonomous mobility. The robot employs advanced sensor fusion combining LiDAR, cameras, and other perception systems to navigate complex factory environments while avoiding obstacles and ensuring worker safety. The cobot arm features ABB's SafeMove technology, providing certified safety functions that enable close human-robot collaboration without traditional guarding.
GoFa's intelligent fleet management system allows multiple units to coordinate activities, optimize routing, and share workload dynamically. The platform supports integration with existing factory systems through standard industrial protocols, enabling seamless communication with MES, ERP, and other enterprise software. Programming is simplified through ABB's Wizard Easy Programming interface, allowing operators to teach new tasks through lead-through programming or graphical interfaces without extensive robotics expertise. The modular design facilitates customization with different end-effectors and accessories to match specific application requirements.
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