Microintelligence Integrates AI with Industrial Robots

Chinese AI firm Microintelligence has expanded into industrial robotics by integrating AI-powered machine vision with robotic control. The company aims to address manufacturing challenges by developing systems that not only identify defects but also direct robots to perform repairs.

Traditionally, industrial robot programming relies on fixed paths. Microintelligence, founded in Changzhou, China, in 2018, recognized the inefficiency of this approach for tasks where the scope of work varies per component. The company reported an instance where a machine would take an hour for a task a skilled worker completed in eight minutes, driving their focus towards systems where machine perception guides real-time action.

Microintelligence initially focused on AI-driven quality inspection, using machine vision and deep learning to locate and classify defects. However, the company quickly realized that identification alone was insufficient. Production environments demanded seamless integration of hardware and software, prompting the development of solutions combining image capture, defect detection, and robotic manipulation.

A project involving the finishing of a large, two-meter-long die-cast component highlighted the need to connect inspection with action. Microintelligence's system can now analyze visual data, identify imperfections, and generate paths for a grinding robot to address them. This allows the robot's subsequent action to be directly informed by its inspection findings, significantly enhancing process efficiency.

In 2022, Microintelligence acquired Jiangsu Zhiyun Tiangong, strengthening its position in industrial robotics. The company's path toward a Hong Kong listing showcases its evolution from AI-based quality assessment to integrated robots capable of autonomous operations in manufacturing settings. Microintelligence continues to combine sensors, software, and robotics to develop advanced industrial solutions.