Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are a kind of technology that is swiftly gaining popularity inside warehouses globally. This kind of robot is designed to navigate a warehouse or distribution center on its own, without necessitating human intervention. They have sensors and software installed that let them traverse the facility, locate and grab wares, and carry them to their destination.

Autonomous Mobile Robot Benefits

A great benefit of using AMRs within warehouses is the increased capability they are able to bring. Through automating duties like material transportation and handling, AMRs can considerably limit the time and labor necessary to finish these jobs. This can lead to quicker order processing and transport times, and decreased fees for labor.

A second advantage of AMRs lies in their tireless hours of operation, without any requirement for breaks or rest. This enables material handling facilities to optimize their throughput and efficiency, due to the fact that the robots can operate continually without becoming fatigued.

AMRs can also increase safety in material handling facilities, because they have installed sensors and software that allow them to prevent crashes with other people and objects. This reduces the chance of injuries and accidents in the facility, which is notably important in places that include heavy lifting and other physically demanding jobs.

Types Of AMRs

There are a few assorted kinds of AMRs currently on the market, respectively designed for particular tasks and environments. A few prevailing implementations of AMRs include:

• Order Picking AMRs: AMRs are available in a wide diversity of styles that attempt to cut down on picking-related travel time. Utilizing AMRs to take goods to the picker gets rid of travel time for hourly workers and can be significant in terms of cost and efficiency.
• Sortation AMRs: Sortation can benefit greatly from implementing autonomous mobile robots. Varying kinds of AMRs have a variety of handling equipment. They can be equipped with anything from tilt trays to cross belt systems, and can be helpful in returns handling, e-com fulfillment, and high speed parcel sortation.
• Inventory AMRs: Currently order fulfillment depends on having precise, transparent inventory visibility—understanding where the item is in the warehouse, distribution center, and entire supply chain. However, arranging inventory movement and reconciliation can be demanding and time-consuming for very large and complex operations. AMRs that are integrated directly with an inventory structure can exceptionally lessen the time and expenditures required to maintain maximum effectiveness and order exactness.

AMR Implementation

Deploying AMRs in a material handling facility necessitates extensive planning and consideration. It is essential to closely assess the duties that that AMRs will have to perform, and ensure that they are configured with the necessary software and sensors to address these jobs efficiently. It is also important to plan for the floorplan of the material handling facility and the possible influence on other processes and systems, like the storage and material handling systems.

One of the challenges of deploying AMRs is the need for incorporation them with existing processes and systems. AMRs usually must be integrated with warehouse management systems (WMS) and other software systems in order to work well. This sometimes takes significant effort and materials, and could require the development of proprietary software or connection with third-party systems.

An additional difficulty is the necessity for recurring maintenance and support. AMRs need frequent maintenance and software updates in order to keep operating correctly, and it is important to have a plan in place to make sure that such caretaking is completed in a timely and careful fashion.

Talk To A Warehouse Automation Expert

Altogether, autonomous mobile robots will bring substantial up sides to material handling facilities, such as elevated productivity, safety, and efficiency. To ask about designing and setting up an AMR project, contact a warehouse automation representative at Raymond West now.

Raymond West's Fresno facility serves much of the Central Valley, including Fresno, Clovis, Madera, Visalia, Tulare, Lindsay, Hanford, Lemoore, Los Banos, Santa Nella, Dos Palos, Firebaugh, Kettleman City, Coalinga, Avenal, Mendota, Kerman, San Joaquin, and all surrounding areas.

Raymond West | Fresno Material Handling Equipment Supplier

2935 S Elm Ave #101
Fresno, CA 93706
(559) 264-7500