Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are a type of technology that is very quickly increasing in popularity inside material handling facilities globally. AMRs are designed to navigate a warehouse or distribution center on its own, without requiring employee assistance. They are equipped with software and sensors that enable them to traverse the storage location, track down and retrieve items, and carry them to their destination.

Autonomous Mobile Robot Benefits

A primary advantage to using AMRs in warehouses is the enhanced productivity they can bring. Through automating jobs such as material transportation and handling, AMRs are able to drastically reduce the time and labor needed to complete these tasks. This leads to quicker order processing and delivery times, as well as reduced prices for labor.

An additional advantage to AMRs lies in their tireless hours of operation, without the need for breaks or rest. This allows material handling facilities to increase their productivity and efficiency, due to the fact that the robots can work constantly without experiencing tiredness.

AMRs also can increase safety in warehouses and distribution centers, as they have installed sensors and software that allow them to avoid impacts with different objects and people. This can lessen the risk of accidents and injuries in the workplace, which is notably important in environments that include heavy lifting and other physically demanding tasks.

Types Of AMRs

There are a few unique types of AMRs that can be obtained on the market, each designed for particular workspaces and jobs. A few frequent applications of AMRs include:

• Order Picking AMRs: AMRs come in an extensive variety of designs that strive to limit picking-related retrieval time. Using AMRs to bring items to the picker eliminates travel time for hourly workers and can be substantial in terms of efficiency and cost.
• Sortation AMRs: Sortation can benefit greatly from the use of autonomous mobile robots. Varying kinds of AMRs have a variety of handling equipment. They can be equipped with everything from tilt trays to cross belt systems, and can be useful in returns handling, e-com fulfillment, and high speed parcel sortation.
• Inventory AMRs: Modern order fulfillment is dependant on having accurate, transparent inventory visibility—knowing whereabouts the product is within the warehouse, distribution center, and entire supply chain. However, coordinating inventory transportation and reconciliation can be challenging and time-consuming for very large and elaborate operations. AMRs that are integrated directly with an inventory database can significantly reduce the time and expenditures needed to maintain maximum efficiency and order exactness.

AMR Implementation

Deploying AMRs in a warehouse or distribution center necessitates careful consideration and planning. It is essential to carefully look at the tasks that that will be performed by the robots, and make sure that they are outfitted with the required sensors and software to perform these tasks properly. It is also necessary to account for the configuration of the material handling facility and the potential impact on other processes and systems, like the material handling and storage systems.

A possible difficulty of implementing AMRs is consolidating them with current systems and processes. AMRs often need to be connected to warehouse management systems (WMS) and other software systems in order to work well. This sometimes takes considerable effort and materials, and might necessitate the creation of custom software or incorporation with third-party systems.

One more challenge is the requirement for ongoing maintenance and support. AMRs require regular maintenance and software updates in order to go on functioning effectively, and it is important to create a plan to make sure that such duties are completed in a punctual and successful way.

Talk To A Warehouse Automation Expert

Overall, autonomous mobile robots will bring considerable benefits to distribution centers and warehouses, such as increased productivity, efficiency, and safety. To ask about designing and implementing an AMR program, talk to a warehouse automation expert at Raymond West now.

Raymond West's Stockton facility serves much of the northern Central Valley, including Stockton, Lathrop, Lodi, Tracy, Modesto, and Merced.

Raymond West | Stockton Material Handling Equipment Supplier

19107 Christopher Way
Lathrop, CA 95330
(800) 675-2500