MiR to Feature Latest Autonomous Mobile Robot Innovations at Automate 2023

Mobile Industrial Robots ApS today announced that it will show its latest autonomous mobile robots, or AMRs, at Automate in Detroit next week. Attendees can see the company's full range of AMRs for manufacturing and warehouse environments, learn how MiR Insights optimizes AMR fleets, and hear about the role artificial intelligence can play in maximizing the value of AMRs, it said.

“Advancements in AMRs, from artificial intelligence to fleet management and data-analysis capabilities, make the decision to automate or expand robot fleets to handle new applications easy while delivering increased efficiencies and faster ROI [return on investment],” said Jane Heffner, director of sales for the Americas at Mobile Industrial Robots, in a press release.

“Seeing our user-friendly and highly flexible robots in person -- whether in limited motion at the booth or full out in the AMR Technology Demonstration booth -- makes it clear how they can benefit nearly any organization," she added. "It’s what keeps our customers, especially some of the largest multinational enterprises worldwide, coming back for more AMRs to handle even more logistics applications within their facilities.”

Odense, Denmark-based Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR) claimed that it is the global market leader in AMRs that can quickly, easily, and cost-effectively automate internal logistics and optimize materials handling.

Booth to show AMRs and MiR Insights

Mobile Industrial Robots plans to display its AMRs at Booth 4032 in the Huntington Place convention center. It will also offer expanded demonstrations at the AMR Technology Demonstration Center, Booth 450, on May 22 from 1:00 to 1:30 p.m. and May 24 from 3:15 to 3:45 p.m. (EST).

Featured robots will include the MiR250, which is capable of transporting materials up to 250 kg (551 lb.), along with the MIR600 and MiR1350, which the company said are the first IP52-rated AMRs designed for transporting heavy materials through challenging facilities.

MiR said its AMRs can navigate smoothly and safely among people and other transport equipment in dynamic environments -- even on busy trade show floor. Sensors, 3D cameras, and the latest laser-scanning technology ensure 360-degree vision for precise and safe navigation and operations, it noted.

The company will also feature, upon request, an in-depth video demonstration of its newest software suite, MiR Insights, in operation at a customer facility. This cloud-based tool enables fleet owners to track and analyze the operations of its robots and get actionable insights that can improve their performance. MiR Insights' key features include:

• Data dashboards: Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as distance driven, completed missions, and robot utilization rate
• Heatmaps: Track robot activity over both time and physical locations, as well as visualizes areas with poor Wi-Fi coverage and potential robot traffic bottlenecks

MiR discusses how AI can speed robot deployments

With AI dominating the headlines, James Davidson, chief architect at MiR, will present a conference session on “AI for AMRs: A Synergistic Approach to Unlocking the Value of Autonomous Mobile Robots for Your Operation.”

The session is scheduled for Monday, May 22, from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. in Room 320. Davidson said he plans to simplify the conversation around AI and focus on the AMR landscape, highlighting how AI is -- or soon will be -- unlocking incremental value for a company’s operations.

“Adopting AMRs into wide-scale operations is still in its infancy, and artificial intelligence could well be the critical component needed to accelerate adoption worldwide,” he said. “While AI has developed into somewhat of an abstract and confusing buzzword across all industries, the potential is massive and wide-reaching, and real-world use cases with AMRs already demonstrate the benefits AI can offer.”

Partners expand MiR AMR demoes

In addition to Mobile Industrial Robots' booth and the AMR Technology Demonstration Center, Automate attendees can see MiR AMRs at the following partner booths:

• Wauseon Machine (Booth 4439)
• Alliance Automation (Booth 200)
• GCG Automation (C&E; Booth 5520)
• Rhino (Booth 3752)
• Motion AI (Booth 1035)
• Humatics (Booth 5415)
• Applied Automation (Booth 4039)

Founded in 2013, Mobile Industrial Robots asserted that large, midsize, and small enterprises use its mobile robots in industries ranging from manufacturing and logistics to healthcare. The company said it has nearly 220 distributors and certified systems integrators in 60 countries.

In 2018, Teradyne acquired MiR, and in 2022, Teradyne combined it with AutoGuide Mobile Robots to deliver an AMR product line from low to heavy payloads.

MiR has regional offices in Holbrook, N.Y.; San Diego; North Reading, Mass.; and Georgetown, Ky. It also has offices in Singapore; Frankfurt, Germany; Barcelona, Spain; Tokyo; Seoul, South Korea; and Shanghai.

Editor's note: For more around Automate 2023, visit Robotics 24/7's special coverage page.