Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) are increasingly becoming the most effective solution to help customers optimize internal logistics, reduce costs and increase productivity while addressing labor shortages. While the COVID-19 pandemic has plagued most businesses, mobile robotics is still seen by Interact Analysis as one of the most promising emerging technologies, playing an important role in manufacturers' race to adopt flexible and safe digital work practices.
AMR does not require additional infrastructure, but uses built-in sensors, cameras and intelligent software to safely and efficiently navigate around people and devices. When new workflows are added or production requirements change, users can easily program, update and optimize robotic tasks. Using AMRs, manufacturers are able to let workers focus on high-value work that directly drives profits, rather than taking them off workstations for low-value work like carts. As with most new technologies and robots, strategies for deploying AMRs in factories vary widely from company to company, but whether in simple semi-automated or fully automated applications, from the moment of installation, AMR can start to create value.
AMRs can be part of highly complex fully automated solutions: these robots can be customized to work with different top modules, such as pallet racks, conveyors or cobots, human robotic arms. The software can be integrated into various existing systems, such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and Warehouse Management System (WMS), to ensure that materials are readily available when needed, with the advantages of automatic, efficient and consistent, It also generates valuable data to understand the efficiency of material transport. An integrated AMR also ensures timely delivery of materials at every process stage, allowing equipment and operations. People to maintain high productivity at all times, while sophisticated fully automated custom solutions deliver high returns, maximizing logistical throughput .
However, for some companies, it makes sense to start these automation projects on a small scale. One of the main advantages of AMR mobile robots is that they are flexible, adaptable and scalable, allowing companies to adopt a phased deployment approach, focusing on simple implementation at the beginning of the project and waiting until the robot is familiar with customization. solution. Mobile robots can be deployed and redeployed very simply, using different top modules, and initially a simple pallet rack structure can be placed on top of the robot using just a few bolts. In a simple implementation, the communication with the robot is mainly handled through the robot interface on the tablet, and the employee can summon the robot simply by pressing a button. This approach does not fully unleash the full potential of the robot and requires manual pickup and unloading, so the process is not fully automated. On the other hand, this approach is less risky and can be deployed quickly, and as employees become more familiar with robots and understand how best to deploy AMRs into factories and workflows, they can become more valuable.
