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Advantech, a global leader in AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) and edge computing solutions, has officially joined the Open Source Robotic Alliance (OSRA) as a Supporting Organization. OSRA serves as the governance body for the Robot Operating System (ROS) community, a leading open-source framework widely used in the robotics industry. This strategic move highlights Advantech’s ongoing commitment to advancing autonomous mobile robot (AMR) technology and fostering innovation within the robotics sector.
As a member of the ROS community, Advantech will contribute its industry expertise to enhance the integration, development, and deployment of AMR systems. This collaboration is expected to improve the performance, compatibility, scalability, and security of ROS across various computing platforms, providing developers and robot manufacturers with more robust tools to commercialize their innovations.
Advantech’s Expertise and Vision for AMR Development
Founded in 1983, Advantech brings 40 years of experience in embedded computing to the robotics industry. The company is known for offering comprehensive system integration solutions, combining hardware and software to meet the growing demands of industrial automation and robotics. Advantech’s global logistics support further strengthens its ability to deliver cutting-edge solutions that can be deployed across industries.
In its latest efforts, Advantech has introduced the AFE-R series, a line of advanced controllers specifically designed for AMRs. The AFE-R series is engineered to provide a seamless ROS development environment, streamlining the integration of hardware and software and accelerating the overall development process for autonomous robots. These controllers cater to a wide range of applications, including vision AI, perception, localization, wireless connectivity, safety, and security—key challenges faced by robot developers.
By integrating the AFE-R series with ROS, Advantech is simplifying the development process for robotics engineers. The controllers are equipped with various computing platforms and form factors, offering robust features such as built-in inertial measurement units (IMUs), enhanced electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection, isolated I/O, and other calibrated elements designed for demanding environments. These features ensure that AMRs powered by Advantech’s solutions can operate efficiently and reliably in a wide range of conditions.
Advanced Tools for ROS Developers
Advantech’s contribution to the ROS community goes beyond hardware. The company has developed its Robotic Suite, which includes a comprehensive set of tools designed to facilitate seamless integration with ROS. The suite provides pre-configured sensor data for ROS, a rosbag database for recording and analyzing sensor data, and support for widely used industrial protocols like Modbus and OPC-UA.
Additionally, Advantech’s Robotic Suite includes Docker container management, enabling developers to create modular, scalable applications that can be easily deployed across various platforms. By offering these advanced tools, Advantech aims to empower developers with the resources they need to accelerate the development of ROS-based applications.
Advantech is also focused on enhancing the security of ROS systems. As part of its support for the ROS community, the company offers ROS Expanded Security Maintenance, ensuring that developers have access to long-term security updates and real-time patches for Ubuntu, the most widely used operating system in the ROS ecosystem.
Advancing the Future of Autonomous Robots
By joining the ROS community as a Supporting Organization, Advantech is positioned to drive significant advancements in AMR technology. The company’s contributions are expected to improve the overall performance and scalability of ROS, making it easier for developers to bring their innovations to market. As the demand for autonomous robots grows across industries such as logistics, manufacturing, and healthcare, Advantech’s expertise in edge computing and embedded systems will play a crucial role in shaping the future of robotics.
Mark Yang, Director of Advantech’s Industrial Automation Group, expressed the company’s excitement about its involvement in the ROS community. “By supporting the ROS community, we are not only helping to accelerate AMR development but also ensuring that more developers have the tools and resources they need to succeed. Our goal is to enable the widespread commercialization of AMR technology, making it accessible to businesses of all sizes.”
About Advantech
Advantech is a global leader in IoT intelligent systems and embedded platforms. With a corporate vision to “Enable an Intelligent Planet,” the company is committed to delivering innovative hardware and software solutions that help businesses thrive in the era of IoT, big data, and artificial intelligence. Through its industrial IoT platform, WISE-IoT, Advantech aims to assist clients in connecting their industrial chains and advancing toward industrial intelligence. In partnership with businesses worldwide, Advantech co-creates ecosystems that drive the future of industrial automation and robotics. More information about the company and its offerings can be found at www.advantech.com.
