Warehouse Robotics: Benefits of using Robots in the Warehouse

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Warehouse robotics is the use of automated systems, industrial robots and specialized software to transport materials, perform tasks and streamline warehouse processes. Robotics in warehousing is necessary in today’s age of rising e-commerce as it is able to operate continuously without fail.

Types of Warehouse Robots

There are various types of robots in the market today which serve various purposes and that are designed differently for specific roles in the industry. The following are the major types of robots used in the warehouse.

Autonomous Mobile Robot: Autonomous Mobile Robots(AMR) are loaded with warehouse maps and safety scanners embedded with 3D cameras which allow them to navigate within the warehouse without mishaps.
Automated Guided Vehicles(AVG): Kiva robot is an Automated Guided Vehicle robot which helps in transporting materials or products from one place to the other using sensors, magnetic stripes, or track embedded in the warehouse.
Automated Guided Carts: Automated Guided carts carry smaller carts as compared to Automated Guided Vehicles.
Aerial Drones: Drones are already being used in the warehouse for locating inventory, tracking inventory and with the cameras they are able to easily scan the products.
Articulated Robotic arms: This is a type of pick and replace robot which has multi-jointed limbs used to handle products within the distribution centers and warehouses. The arms can maneuver products, move, turn and lift and can therefore be used for picking, packing, receiving, storage and palletizing.
Goods-to Person technology: This technology includes goods-to-person picking industrial robots that deliver items to the picking stations.
Automated storage and retrieval systems: The automated storage systems is integrated with the warehouse management system to enable it process orders which also helps in speedy storage and retrieval of goods.
Collaborative robots(Cobots): These industrial robots work collaboratively with human workers by following the human pickers so that they can drop the picking items in the bins which are carried by these robots. Cobots are picker staff best friends because they are able to speed up their order duties efficiently.

Key needs linked to automated warehouses

A robotic warehouse is part of today’s modern business and it does not rely on its installed systems, but also on elements such as the following:

Operator Training: To accelerate your teams learning curve, programs need to help update worker’s skills by focusing on digitizing tasks and automated systems.
Software indispensable role in warehouse robotics: Industrial robots would be useless without the various layers of software by which they are connected and the different types of software means they can communicate and execute movement of orders.
Preventive maintenance program: You need to develop a preventive maintenance program which is capable of avoiding unexpected disruptions which may hamper warehouse activities.

Benefits of using Robots in the Warehouse

There is no doubt that warehouse robotics will increase the productivity and efficiency of the human workforce especially when it comes to transporting heavy products. Here are some of the benefits associated with warehouse robotics.

Reduces manual labor and mental strain: Industrial robots are able to take up work that is dangerous and time consuming such as picking, packing, manual scanning and inventory counting.
Reduces warehouse costs: Robots unlike human workers are able to perform dangerous tasks without having to worry about their safety. They also able to work efficiently without wastage which leads to cost-saving.
Improves the accuracy and efficiency of the warehouse: The use of industrial robots makes sure there is hardly any chance for errors
Efficient picking capabilities: The robotic arm has been developed into an autonomous mobile robot that can travel quite far within the warehouse and carry carts where products can be stored and transported to the workers.

Conclusion

Warehouse robotics can take strenuous and repetitive tasks such as (picking, receiving and putting-away) which improves employee engagement and retention by relieving them from and repetitive tasks. Operational executives are now investing in industrial robots for autonomous solutions in order delivery.

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