AMP Robotics, an American technology company, and Ryoshin, a Japanese waste management firm, recently announced a partnership to develop and sell AI-powered industrial robots for material recovery in Japan.
The companies developed a robotic system that identifies, sorts, picks up and processes construction and demolition (C&D) debris.The robots use AMP’s Neuron AI platform to power their analytics and performance.
The two robots are called AI-Benkei and AI-Musashi. AI-Benkei is the heavy hitter, using a single-robot cell to manipulate heavy debris up to 40 kg. The robot can process up to 25 metric tons an hour. By contrast, AI-Musashi is the high-speed performer that uses a tandem-robot cell that rapidly sorts through smaller pieces of debris at a rate of 160 items per minute, processing up to 10 metric tons per hour. Working together, the two systems can combine speed and payload capabilities as they operate day and night to process the vast variety of construction site materials, including wood, plastics, electronics, metal and concrete.
AMP Neuron functions as the eyes and brain of the robots, using real-time pattern recognition to identify materials. As it processes data from the materials it collects—amounting to millions of images captured by its visual sensors—it continuously learns and refines its capabilities. AMP’s AI recognizes colors, textures, composition, shapes and patterns. Customers can use this data to monitor and measure performance and to inform business decisions.
“Our customers will benefit greatly from AI-Musashi and AI-Benkei,” said Osamu Kono, Ryoshin’s Chief Executive Officer. “This technology marks a significant advancement for recycling in Japan.”
The partnership promises to deliver strong results for both companies. AMP has licensed AMP Neuron to Ryohshin for their use with Ai-Musashi and Ai-Benkei in Japan, while AMP will use the robotics developed with Ryohshin for its own AMP Cortex C&D robotic system for sale in North America.
Ryohshin displayed AI-Benkei and AI-Musashi at the recent 2019 N-Expo, Asia’s largest environmental trade show.
Bringing AI and robotics to construction and demolition cleanup promises to vastly increase efficiency and reduce costs. “The combination of AI-Benkei and AI-Musashi with AMP Neuron is a tremendous leap in technology and productivity for C&D businesses,” said Matanya Horowitz, Chief Executive Officer of AMP.
Read more about robotics in the construction industry at Research Team Develops Humanoid Construction Robot.