The machines are well suited to a variety of environments, but it’s key to understand how.
There’s a good deal of buzz around robots in the warehouse, and for good reason. They can help with the labor shortage, increase efficiencies, and improve your bottom line. But there’s still also a good deal of confusion, or lack of understanding, around what exactly robots can do in warehousing. Demystifying robots—the various types and the tasks they can perform—is an essential first step.
In general, robots fall into two categories: fixed arms, and mobile. Under those categories, there are several variations and use cases, so defining them can help when it comes to your consideration of robots.
Articulated arms are available as industrial and collaborative. Examples of how you might use a collaborative arm include tight spaces where you have a packing station where you’re putting an item into a set of boxes, over and over. Ideally, the arm can move out of the way for human operators when the arm isn’t a good fit, like each picking.
On the industrial arm side of the equation, you’ll need plenty of space, guarding, and the need to go at a rapid pace. This will involve much larger payloads than the collaborative arms. The industrial arms might pick rows or eaches at a very fast rate. Determining whether either arm is appropriate for your application will require working with a consultant or integrator to help you.
Industrial arms do have some challenges and are not a perfect fit for every scenario. Small warehouses, for instance, due to space constraints and because they are tougher to standardize movements. New technology that has emerged in the past few years are making them a more realistic application, however. Some are now connected to vision systems and intelligent controllers, which help them understand the environment and act in real time. Many robot manufacturers are now leaning into AI and machine learning to assist in this.
Mobile robotics come in the form of AGVs and AMRs. The former works on a guided path, moving predictably throughout the warehouse. This makes them well suited for predictable, repetitive movements. They are particularly good in high density areas that require fast movement—think goods to person, versus person to goods. Like fixed arms, AGVs are also leaning into AI. As a result, where AGVs used to be largely reserved for greenfield sites, they are now available to brownfield sites, too.
AMRs, on the other hand, move freely about a warehouse and are suited to a variety of tasks. They can navigate on the fly and share space with other vehicles, traffic, and humans. There may be multiple machines in multiple locations in the facility, and they are well suited for person to goods applications.
Making a business case for any type of robot requires partnership with providers and integrators. Each case is highly individual. But as the workforce continues to age out, and the technology continues to improve, it’s worth your while to consider robots.
Learn more about The Robotics Group (TRG): mhi.org/trg
For further articles from the The Robotics Group (TRG):
How Robots Positively Impact the Labor Shortage
How to Justify the Cost of Robotics–Part 1
Podcast: Robotics and Humans: A Synergistic Workforce
Order Orchestration Optimization Through Robots
Robotics in Logistics, Part 2 – You’ve Decided to Add Robots—Now What?
