Segway-Ninebot (九号机器人), a Chinese manufacturer of short-distance transportation tools and robots, is blazing new trails as it ventures beyond categories like self-balancing scooter by partnering with Nvidia.
At the recent Computex 2023 exhibition held in Taiwan, Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, unveiled IsaacAMR, the chip giant’s new AMR platform to be applied in warehouse logistics.
According to the agreement between the two firms, Nvidia will take care of the software parts of the platform, including chip, algorithm and sensor, while Segway-Ninebot is responsible for providing the robot chassis named RMPLite220 and integrating all the components.
RMP stands for robotics mobility platform.
Information from Segway-Ninebot indicates that RMPLite220 supplies general-purpose, integrated robot chassis solutions and is open to third-party development or customization.
Segway, which Ninebot bought in 2015 to become what is now Segway-Ninebot, began its work on RMP as early as 2003. To meet evolving market needs, its parent Ninebot has made continuous efforts over the years to iterate these products.
To date, Ninebot has released four RMP product lines, namely, Lite220, Pro401, Plus401 and Smart260. Coming in various forms and shapes, they are designed for multiple use cases ranging from indoor delivery and warehouse logistics to inspection and cleaning.
Serving as the “feet” of AMRs, these robot chassis are expected to move with agility and smoothness in action.
This is especially the case with Ninebot’s RMPLite220, the type of platform chosen by Nvidia as a key part of its IsaacAMR system.
In addition to a longer battery life, it has a two-wheel differential steering system that helps it navigate all kinds of terrains and make turns with agility.
Ninebot claims that its RMP is characterized by a high degree of compatibility and adaptability.
Besides, it scores “obviously better” than competitors in aspects such as speed, battery life, energy efficiency, payload and reliability, the firm said.
Segway-Ninebot has joined forces with Intel, Nvidia and Microsoft to supply the technologies needed to move their robots around.
“As long as client needs are within the field of ‘smart mobility,’ they will be the goal and pursuit of Ninebot,” Ji Yafei, general manager of Ninebot’s commercial robotics unit, was once quoted as saying in media reports.
