AMR solutions are revolutionising logistics automation land. New technology is making it more attractive for many warehouses to start automating. Automation can now be applied on a smaller scale and is easier to expand and relocate. This allows solutions to grow effortlessly with an organisation's turnover and development.
AMR solutions
AMRs (Autonomous Mobile Robots) are being used for a wide range of logistics applications. What makes this technology unique is the use of a large number of self-driving vehicles. These robots transport totes, boxes or loose products to predetermined drop-off points. Previously, these were moved using conveyor belts. However, these systems are inflexible, take up space on the floor and always follow the same fixed route for transporting totes or boxes. Moreover, the capacity is fixed, and the layout of the warehouse has to be determined in advance, which can only be adjusted later at high cost. In addition, it is often costly to expand capacity.
With AMRs, each vehicle has its own capacity, which in itself is not very high. Think of 30 to 50 movements per hour. But many vehicles can easily be added, making capacity flexibly adaptable. It is even possible to temporarily deploy extra vehicles during peak loads. In addition, each vehicle can take its own route and routes can be easily adjusted. This greatly increases flexibility in use.
Examples of AMR solutions
AMRs are used for a variety of applications and can be equipped with additional functionalities, allowing totes to be taken in and out of racks. Some examples include:
- AMRs for horizontal transport of boxes between storage systems and pick stations, packing stations, shipping sorting lanes and more.
- AMRs that track and support order pickers in order picking.
- AMRs that provide sortation of a wide range of individual products or boxes.
- AMRs that take care of inbound and outbound bins.
- AMRs that take care of moving pallets, roll containers and other load carriers.
- Etc
AMRs that move totes in and out of totes racks, combined with AMRs that then transport these totes to picking stations, open up an entirely new market for Goods-to-Person solutions within the mid-market segment. This market segment is too small for sophisticated shuttle and mini-load systems, but sufficiently large and mature to invest in both automated systems and the know-how to implement them effectively.
AMRs for sorting individual items, are suitable for warehouses for which a sorting installation is not a good fit and too expensive, but where advantages can be gained by collecting goods in batches and sorting them later at order level. It also allows whole boxes to be knocked out, which can then be sorted to customer orders at item level. The sorting capacity can grow dynamically with the organisation, both in terms of the number of items to be sorted and the number of addresses to which products have to be shipped.
AMRs for supporting order pickers, are great for making the work of warehouse workers lighter and more efficient in existing warehouses. Pulling or pushing an order-picking trolley is an extra task for employees that takes up extra energy and time. As the AMR, possibly with several order picking totes, follows the order picker, its work becomes more attractive. As more totes and orders can be taken at the same time, efficiency increases. In the first hour of the day, it may still yield little efficiency gains; in the last hour, however, a lot.
AMR solution providers
At the Logistica Next trade fair, several exhibitors presented their AMRs. These AMRs are offered both by specialists, who only offer AMRs, and by many advanced system integrators. Because the system integrators can also offer AMR solutions for various functions, they expand their service portfolio and can better help their customers.
Integration of AMR in total solution
AMRs are always part of a total logistics concept. The use of AMRs opens up new opportunities for warehouse logistics, but they must be properly integrated into the complete system. The controls at WMSand WCS level must be adapted accordingly. However, this offers huge opportunities for flexible, expandable and relocatable logistics solutions. It is important to avoid seeing AMRs as a stand-alone solution, as the added value of such systems is often limited. However, when AMRs are integrated into an overall concept, they can contribute much more to the efficiency and effectiveness of the logistics process.
Author: Eric Hereijgers
St. Onge Company
www.stonge.com
