Reinventing Manufacturing and Logistics with Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs)
Published on : Thursday 02-07-2020
Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are the key trend to execute operations and transformation of the manufacturing and logistics industry. The innovation in mobile robotic technology results in the transformation of traditional features into increased flexibility and diversified applications, along with it enables the navigation features under an uncontrolled environment with a higher level of understanding.
Currently, the autonomous mobile robots are focusing to expand the application area of the AMRs and increase its capability to adapt to different industries such as eCommerce, industrial, and commercial offices. The growth of the eCommerce industry expands the need for rapid fulfillment of AMRs across the delivery and material handling, as it getting cumbersome to take on-board people and create a kiosk on the operational floor. Also, the AMRs are highly efficient in ensuring the delivery of the product and intra-factory product handing.
The Robotic Industries Association (RIA) is estimated that the incorporation of AMRs is not possible without the adoption of automation on the factory floor or through the supply chain in order to faster the supply of products in the manufacturing & logistics companies’ plants. The automation such as shelf scanning, product passing, and floor cleaning are the main processes in the plants that can execute with the help of AMRs with the minimum implementation cost.
Growing safety concerns worldwide, the Robotic Industries Association (RIA) set to launch new standards in 2020 that focused on the safety of people around AMRs: the R15.08 American National Standard for Industrial Mobile Robots and Robot Systems – Safety Requirements.
Unique Understanding Ability of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs)
Initially, the AMRs are used in space exploration applications primarily by NASA. Moreover, the growth in innovation and development across the industrial ecosystem creates the scope for mobilization of robots. Moreover, the rising demand for flexibility and diversifying applications in the manufacturing and logistics sector, along with the easy implementation and programming of AMRs are further raise its demand and adoption in the end-use plants through making attractive operational floor to end-users.
Considering the features of AMRs, these autonomous robots have a high ability to navigate at uneven industrial situations through the use of sensors, blueprints, artificial intelligence, and 3D or 2D vision among others. The use of AMRs are strengthening the factory floors of the companies in the manufacturing and logistics sector, as they are highly innovative compared to a traditional automatic guided vehicle (AGV). The continuous growth in the development of AMRs in terms of operational capabilities to meet the need from the end-users is expected to create opportunities and expand the demand of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in the manufacturing and logistics sectors in the coming years.