The world's "most remote work" robot to help rebuild the Amazon rainforest - ABB robots

ABB Robotics partnered with the non-profit organization Junglekeepers on a pilot project that demonstrated the huge potential of robotics and cloud technology to reverse deforestation.

The ABB YuMi® cobot uses solar energy to automate seeding, making the rebuilding process of the Amazon rainforest faster, more efficient and more scalable.

The project is made possible by RobotStudio® cloud technology: ABB technical experts can simulate, optimize and deploy robot programs in real time from Sweden, 12,000 kilometers away.

ABB Robotics partnered with Junglekeepers, a United States nonprofit, on a pilot project to demonstrate the role of cloud technology in rapidly and efficiently scaling up rainforest rebuilding efforts.

ABB Robotics supports Junglekeepers' mission to protect 55,000 acres of the Amazon rainforest and reverse deforestation. ABB's YuMi cobot demonstrated for the first time in the Jungle Lab its ability to automate planting tasks. It speeds up the planting process and allows Junglekeepers volunteers to dedicate valuable time and resources to more impactful work.

The world's "most remote work" robot to help rebuild the Amazon rainforest - ABB robots

ABB's RobotStudio cloud technology enabled ABB's experts to simulate, optimize and deploy YuMi's program from 12,000 kilometers (7,460 miles) away in the city of Stross, Sweden, to perform tasks in remote jungles, becoming the world's "most remote-working" robot.

"ABB's partnership with Junglekeepers shows that robotics and cloud technologies can play a central role in the fight against deforestation, which is also a major contributor to climate change. We're piloting with the world's most remote robots to help automate repetitive tasks, freeing rangers to devote more time and resources to the more important work of rainforest conservation and helping them protect the land they depend on. ”

A remote jungle lab in the Amazon of Peru installed a YuMi cobot to automate the key steps in the seed planting process: burrowing, sowing, compacting the soil, and marking with color-coded labels. These tasks are usually done manually. With the YuMi cobot, the Junglekeepers are able to plant an area the size of two football fields per day in the rainforest reclaimed area.

At the same time, YuMi's automation technology allows Junglekeepers volunteers to focus valuable time and resources on more meaningful work, such as patrolling areas to stop illegal logging, educating locals to protect the rainforest, and planting mature saplings.

The creation of a fully remote, autonomous cobot workstation solves the challenge of recruiting rangers to work in remote jungle areas. YuMi is able to perform tasks autonomously after the initial installation, simply troubleshooting if necessary.

Moshin Kazmi, co-founder of Junglekeepers, said: "So far, we have lost 20% of the total area of the Amazon rainforest. If today we do not use modern technologies, then conservation efforts will still come to a standstill. Having YuMi robots at our sites gives our rangers access to new methods and technologies. It accelerates and expands our actions to protect the rainforest and advance our mission to the next level. ”

The destruction of the Amazon rainforest by human activities such as logging and burning for land reclamation has exacerbated the catastrophic effects of climate change. It is estimated that more than 870,000 square kilometres of Amazon rainforest have been cleared since 1985, an area larger than the combined areas of France, United Kingdom and Belgium. [1] Tens of billions of trees have disappeared, and the region's climate is warming rapidly. [1] World Economic Forum 2023

Dennis del Castillo Torres, director of forest management research at the Peru Institute of the Amazon, said: "The Amazon rainforest is at risk, which is why we need to combine technology, science and local knowledge to save it. Otherwise, it's too late. The Amazon rainforest can be saved, but we have to bring all these elements together to make an impact. It is very important to combine high technology and environmental protection, and we have a large number of technologies that can be used to protect forests. The use of robots can speed up the process of reforestation, but it must be selective. We want to apply it to heavily deforested areas to speed up the replanting process. ”

The pilot project is powered by ABB's RobotStudio cloud technology, enabling global teams to collaborate in real-time. This remote programming mindset brings greater flexibility, instant optimization, increased efficiency and resilience, and no loss of planting time. With more than 25 years of offline programming experience, RobotStudio provides best-in-class digital technology that makes the match between analog and reality 99% better. This reduces the time it takes users to test robotic solutions by 50% and reduces production downtime to zero.

ABB Robotics' pilot project in the Amazon rainforest furthers its goal of promoting sustainable transformation through intelligent robotics and automation solutions, contributing to increased productivity, reduced waste and maximized efficiency. In 2022, ABB Robotics partnered with the Parley Global Cleanup network, a non-profit organization, to use 3D additive printing to transform ocean plastic waste into personalized design pieces, such as recycled furniture. Depending on the wishes of the Junglekeepers, the pilot project with RobotStudio cloud technology and YuMi robots in the rainforest will last for about six weeks (May-June 2023). Following the conclusion of the pilot project, ABB will explore opportunities to work with Junglekeepers on a broader basis and continue to pursue further opportunities where its robotics solutions and cloud technologies play a central role in driving sustainable transformation.

The world's "most remote work" robot to help rebuild the Amazon rainforest - ABB robots

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