Warehouse operations are essential components of the modern supply chain. One area where technology has made significant strides is robotics. Robots can perform monotonous, repetitive, and tedious tasks, allowing human employees to focus on more complex operations. In this article, we compare the best robots for warehouse operations.
Kiva System by Amazon Robotics
The Kiva System by Amazon Robotics is one of the most well-known robots for warehouse operations. It uses robots that are approximately the size of a coffee table to move and transport shelves, bins, and other items around the warehouse. The robots communicate with each other and the warehouse management system to optimize routes and speed up the time it takes to retrieve items. These robots can carry a weight of up to 700 pounds and travel up to five miles in an hour.
Fetch Robotics
Fetch Robotics offers two types of robots that can perform warehouse operations: the Fetch Mobile Manipulator and the Freight Mobile Robot. The Mobile Manipulator combines an autonomous mobile base and flexible robotic arm to move items around the warehouse. The Freight Mobile Robot is designed to move around the warehouse autonomously and has a carrying capacity of up to 1500 pounds. These robots can work up to 24 hours a day and can navigate through the warehouse without the need for a structured environment.
Locus Robotics
Locus Robotics robots are designed to work alongside human employees, helping to increase productivity and speed up the time it takes to complete tasks. These robots are specifically designed to move order shipments from A to B, covering up to 100,000 square feet per facility. They can travel up to roughly four miles per hour and have a maximum carrying capacity of approximately 36 kg. This set up ensures that robots don't replace human employees but supplement their work.
GreyOrange
GreyOrange offers two types of robots: Butler and Sorter. The Butler is an autonomous mobile robot designed to transport products from one point to another seamlessly. It can carry items up to 160 kg and move at a speed of 1.2 meters per second. The Sorter, as the name suggests, sorts packages based on their sizes, dimensions, and delivery routes. It can sort up to 6000 packages per hour, allowing companies to speed up their delivery operations.
These robots are just a few examples of the best robots for warehouse operations. Companies such as Symbotic, IAM Robotics, and 6 River Systems have also made significant strides in developing robots for warehouse operations.
Conclusion
Robots have the potential to revolutionize the way in which warehouses operate. They can help companies optimize their operations, increase efficiency, and reduce costs. The robots listed above are just a few examples of the technology that is currently available. Choosing the right robot for your business will depend on a range of factors, including the size of your warehouse, the specific operations you perform, and your budget.
References
- "Kiva Systems: An Innovation," Harvard Business Review, accessed August 20, 2021, https://hbr.org/product/kiva-systems-an-innovation/UE1012.
- "Fetch Robotics: Autonomous Mobile Robots for Warehouses & Factories," Fetch Robotics, accessed August 20, 2021, https://fetchrobotics.com/.
- "Locus Robotics," Locus Robotics, accessed August 20, 2021, https://www.locusrobotics.com/.
- "GreyOrange: Global Supply Chain Robotics Company," GreyOrange, accessed August 20, 2021, https://www.greyorange.com/.