Common Misconceptions with Mobile Robotics
By better understanding Mobile Robots, you can ensure their safe operation.
As mobile automation begins to grow in warehousing and manufacturing settings, companies are looking for all the ways it may help with their operations. And there are many promising applications, from goods-to-person picking to assistance with sortation, material transportation, and more, the roles of Mobile Robots continue to grow. Along with those uses comes the potential for enhanced productivity and efficiencies, saving on the bottom line.
While the benefits of Mobile Robots are many, it’s important to understand them well, too. As with any technology advancement, misconceptions abound about their applications, limitations, and usage. Here are four of the most common misconceptions:
One product/solution fits all:
It’s easy to think that mobile robots come in a one-size-fits-all package, but that’s far from the truth. There are several iterations of mobile robots, and each has its own specific design and purpose. Before considering buying an AGV or AMR, it’s important to understand your goals and then learn about what type of robot might best suit your application. Some robots are intended to work well in dense fields of rack or shelving that have small aisles, millimeters from each other—they make the most of dense storage and narrow aisles, and they’re not well suited to be anywhere near humans. Others are better suited to wide, open spaces, in proximity to humans. They can navigate around obstacles safely and roam without guidance. The former style of mobile robot is an AGV and is well suited for order fulfillment, while the latter are referred to as AMRs and are often working to transport components or work in process from one manufacturing process stage to another. Two very different applications.
Not all Mobile Robots are safe to work near humans:
While mobile robot products are designed to be safe, there are limitations to that and all people working on a floor with the robots should be aware of those limitations. For instance, if they’re carrying a large, potentially unstable load, it’s best that employees not be in proximity to the robot. Robots that operate in tight spaces, as mentioned above, should also be considered off limits to human interactions—it would be easy for a human to get trapped in a pinch point and injured by the robot. AGVs and AMRs that work in wider spaces should be able to navigate safely around humans and lift trucks, but there should always be training and awareness in any space where either an AGV or AMR is present.
They require minimal maintenance:
While it’s nice to think you can put mobile robots on the floor and forget about them, they still require maintenance to operate at their best. Educate yourself on what that means—from cleaning sensors daily, replacing wheels as they wear, and updating the software on board. Mobile Robots require a fair amount of maintenance and it’s essential to understand what that looks like.
Cyber security is not a guarantee with Mobile Robots:
This is another misconception that needs to be corrected. As cyber-attacks increase in all settings, Mobile Robots are not immune. They have their own on-board computers, which are industrial PCs. As with any computer, that is a vulnerability for cyber-attacks. Stay on top of the robot’s firmware with the latest security updates to ward off the potential for vulnerability.
To find out more about MHI’s MAG Industry Group: https://www.mhi.org/mag
For further articles/podcasts from MAG:
Cybersecurity and Your Robotics
Essential Sensors for Safe AMRs
Integrating Mobile Robots Into Your Operations
Building Sustainability Through Mobile Automation
Podcast: Energizing Mobile Automation
Top Misconceptions Of Mobile Automation
Podcast: MAG – How To Get Started With Mobile Automation
Podcast: Sensors Revolutionizing Automated Material Movement: Efficiency And Safety Enhanced
