Arrow Electronics, in collaboration with eInfochips, has launched a Robotics Center of Excellence (COE) aimed at expediting the development and market entry of cutting-edge automation solutions across various industries. By partnering with technology leaders Analog Devices (ADI), NVIDIA, and onsemi image sensors, Arrow aims to provide customers with reference designs and proof of concepts to enhance product design and accelerate time to market.
The Robotics COE encompasses a range of resources, including engineers, hardware, software, and simulators. NVIDIA’s platforms, such as Jetson developer kits and modules, Isaac Sim, Omniverse, Metropolis, TAO Toolkit, TensorRT, and Triton Inference Server, are being utilized, alongside open-source tools like ROS and Gazebo. The COE’s primary focus is to address key robotics tasks like perception, navigation, and planning by offering innovative solutions and reference designs.
This initiative comes at a time when robotics and cobots have witnessed substantial growth in industrial manufacturing, doubling in the past five years according to the International Federation of Robotics. The demand for robots capable of operating safely, accurately, and efficiently in diverse environments while interacting with their surroundings has increased significantly. Developing viable robotic solutions to meet these requirements poses a challenge.
Aiden Mitchell, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing and Engineering at Arrow Electronics, emphasized the potential of artificial intelligence at the edge and autonomous machines to revolutionize the digital factory and enable Industry 4.0. He stated, “Arrow Electronics is proud to work together with ADI to create a center of excellence to empower the Intelligent Edge through design services capabilities, reduce technology complexities, and accelerate time to market.”
Customers can rely on the Robotics COE to access support, leverage ADI sensor technologies, computing platforms, and development kits for robotics, accelerate design cycles, and manage their product roadmap and lifecycles effectively.
Leo McHugh, Vice President of Industrial Automation at ADI, highlighted the collaboration with Arrow Electronics in developing advanced automation solutions, including industrial robotics. By integrating ADI’s modular solutions with AI modules, complex algorithms, and simulation tools from NVIDIA, customers can focus on their specific applications and bring solutions to market more efficiently.
The Robotics COE is already making strides in innovation. One of its initial solutions, featuring VSLAM and Sensor Fusion algorithms utilizing ADI CMOS TOS and IMU, is being showcased at Sensors Converge in San Jose, California (Booth 1034).
Arrow Electronics’ Robotics Center of Excellence aims to drive technological advancements, foster collaboration, and accelerate the adoption of automation solutions, ultimately shaping the future of intelligent edge and robotics in manufacturing and beyond.
