Siemens' industrial software portfolio will be used to develop future autonomous robots, helping autonomous robot developers accelerate their development.

Siemens Digital Industries Software announced today that WheelMe, a Norwegian autonomous factory automation startup, has selected the Siemens Xcelerator industrial software portfolio as a service to develop its next-generation autonomous system, Genius 2, which can transform a variety of objects into self-driving robots.

The wheel.me system optimizes logistics operations by efficiently transporting goods on the factory floor without human intervention, and can transform anything into an autonomous robot with minimal effort, without requiring changes to design or form.

Genius 2 was designed and engineered at Wheelme's Oslo, Norway headquarters using Siemens Xcelerator as a service. Genius 2, which consists of four autonomous driving wheels, one of which acts as a central brain, operates in conjunction with WheelMe's indoor navigation technology and data analysis.

It also features advanced sensor technology-based obstacle detection and dynamic path planning capabilities, allowing it to adapt to different loads and sizes.

The included software enables customized process flows and centralized control, ensuring efficient operation and successful transport throughout your facility.

In 2023, WheelMe recognized the need to move beyond its existing multi-vendor tool set, which comprised disparate engineering systems and basic management solutions. It needed to transition to a single, integrated platform that encompassed mechanical design, integrated teams and data, and offered robust lifecycle management capabilities.

“We realized that sourcing multiple software components from different suppliers was slowing down our development process, so we decided to look for an integrated solution that could provide the complete package,” says Casper Rødsrud, Head of Mechanical Engineering at Wheelme.

WheelMe, with the support of local sales partner Clever, adopted Siemens' Mechanical Design bundle for product engineering (interoperable with Siemens NX™ software and Solid Edge® software) and Teamcenter® software, the industry-proven PLM solution.

This allows for flexible switching between design tools of your choice within a controlled and centralized data management environment.

“Having access to both NX and Solid Edge gave us the flexibility to choose the tool that best suited our project needs,” said Rodrude. “Flexibility is our top priority. This allows us to perform a quick conceptual design in Solid Edge and then move to NX for in-depth design and simulation,” he said.

“We believe that startups are the lifeblood of innovation across the design and manufacturing industries,” said Mats Friberg, Vice President and General Director, Northern Europe Operations, Siemens Digital Industries Software. “We are delighted to be working with WheelMe as they explore the potential of autonomous robotics in factories and warehouses. The Siemens Xcelerator portfolio provides world-class design and engineering capabilities in a controlled, managed and secure lifecycle management environment. This is used by pioneering companies of all sizes to support true innovation and pioneer the future. This collaboration is a prime example of this.”

Wheelme anticipates continued growth. Therefore, the scalability of its processes and infrastructure is crucial, both now and in the future.

"Demand is continuously growing, and we want to grow with it," said Rodrude. "WheelMe is growing globally, particularly in Europe and the US, and the future is bright. While we navigate this rapid growth, we must also ensure that it is sustainable and that resources are being used wisely. As we work with our customers to pioneer the future of autonomous factory automation, Siemens Xcelerator as a Service is the optimal toolset."

Learn more about the Siemens Xcelerator industry software portfolio as a service here.