Aptiv PLC, an industrial technology contributor, and Comau, a contributor in industrial automation, has announced a collaboration to explore the co-development of next-generation intelligent automation solutions designed to help industrial customers operate more safely, efficiently and autonomously. Via a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the MoU establishes a framework for the two companies to evaluate joint development in key areas of focus including advanced robotics, autonomous systems and automated warehouse and logistics systems.
“Robotics and industrial automation are evolving quickly, with systems that sense, think, and act in real time at the edge,” said Jay Bellissimo, the senior vice president and president of intelligent systems of the software and services at Aptiv. “Through our work with Comau, we aim to combine Aptiv’s advanced perception, compute and software solutions with Comau’s deep expertise in robotics and large-scale industrial deployment, to help customers build smarter, safer automation without the cost and complexity that has historically slowed adoption.”
“Comau’s planned partnership with Aptiv creates a powerful combination of complementary strengths. Together, we can deliver advanced robotic and digital solutions that help customers in many different sectors modernise operations, accelerate AI adoption, and prepare for a future where autonomy is foundational to industrial productivity,” said Giovanni Volpes, the chief extended Europe officer at Comau.
The proposed collaboration combines Aptiv’s portfolio, including proven Wind River edge platforms and Aptiv PULSE sensor and high-performance interconnect solutions, with Comau’s technology portfolio and expertise in robotics, automation and large-scale deployment across complex production environments all over the world.
This initial phase of the cooperation is expected to explore several high-value use cases across the industrial automation landscape:
- Advanced robotics: Next-generation perception solutions and compute reference architectures for Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), Collaborative Robots (CoBots) and other autonomous platforms, validated with real-world Comau use cases.
- AI-enabled warehouse and logistics automation: Enhancement of Comau’s Automha logistics software, drawing on Wind River cloud and edge technologies to support AI/ML at the edge, improve system intelligence, real-time responsiveness and lifecycle management across logistics operations.
- High-performance interconnect for industrial environments: Ruggedised cabling, micro and modular connectors and cable assemblies engineered for performance, durability and weight efficiency in demanding robotic applications.
- Radar and vision-based industrial safety: Alternative safety architecture integrating deterministic compute and multizone monitoring to improve worker protection while reducing cost and system complexity.
This collaboration seeks to build on Comau’s longstanding use of Wind River’s VxWorks in its industrial controllers as well as the use of Comau robots in Aptiv manufacturing facilities, with the goal of extending the relationship across Aptiv’s broader portfolio of perception, compute, sensing and interconnect solutions.
As industrial automation grows more complex, Aptiv and Comau share a vision for making it more accessible, aiming to deliver solutions that are smarter, safer and built for our customers’ operational needs.
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