This VBoT implements Vecow’s VHub ROS solution, a unified platform with AI and robotic control functions to accelerate AMR application development and Kudan’s Visual SLAM※1 software (KdVisual).

This VBoT consists of the following hardware and software: 1) Vecow’s processing unit (ABP-3000 based on Intel Core i7 processor), 2) its camera unit (DVC-1000 based on Intel RealSense D435i), 3) 2D-Lidar sensor, 4) VHub ROS development kit and 5) Kudan Visual SLAM software (KdVisual).

The addition of KdVisual software significantly improves the localization accuracy and performance, making it more robust across various environments. A recurring problem for AMRs with 2D Lidar as its primary sensor is the loss of tracking that occurs, primarily due to 2D Lidar’s narrow field of view, and the system cannot uniquely identify its location and position for a period of time while it is moving or initialized in an arbitrary location within a factory or warehouse. This causes a significant loss in productivity and brings up questions around the reliability and suitability of the product※2. KdVisual software alleviates and solves the relocalization problem, as seen in the VBoT demo video below, and can reliably recover from a loss of tracking.

Along with Vecow’s VHub ROS development kit, the KdVisual ROS node integrates easily into the ROS navigation stack enabling rapid integration and development for an AMR platform. As demonstrated with this collaboration effort, full integration took less than a week with minimal friction, illustrating the ease of use and powerful combination of the VHub ROS development kit and KdVisual for their partners and customers.

Youtube Video：

Vecow and the Kudan Group, including Artisense, plan to further our engineering collaboration with this platform and continue joint marketing activities.

※1：SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) is a technology which allows devices to simultaneously self-locate and create maps of their surrounding environment. Kudan owns SLAM technology utilizing both cameras and Lidar sensors, and has successfully combined these to further develop low-latency, high-precision, high-stability technology.

※2：Please find below for an in-depth article on this topic.
https://www.kudan.io/archives/533

More details about the partnership with Vecow
https://www.kudan.io/archives/476

About Vecow Co., Ltd.
Vecow is a global team with embedded expertise. It designs and delivers industrial-grade computer systems with leading performance, trusted reliability, and innovative concepts since it was founded. Our application fields of Machine Vision and Imaging, Video Analytics, Surveillance, Intelligent Industrial Automation.
For more information, please refer to Vecow’s website at http://www.vecow.com/.

About Kudan Inc.
Kudan (Tokyo Stock Exchange securities code: 4425) is a Deep Tech research and development company specializing in algorithms controlling artificial perception (AP). As a complement to artificial intelligence (AI), AP functions allow machines to develop autonomy. Currently, Kudan is using its high-level technical innovation to explore business areas based on its own milestone models established for Deep Tech which provide wide-ranging impact on several major industrial fields.
For more information, please refer to Kudan’s website at https://www.kudan.io/.

■Company Details
Name: Kudan Inc.
Securities Code: 4425
Representative: CEO Daiu Ko

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