OTTO Motors Executive to Discuss the Future of Mobile Robots at AMR and Logistics Week

At the Autonomous Mobile Robots and Logistics Week, exhibitors will share the latest developments in automation for supply chain applications. OTTO Motors will discuss how operations can benefit from both of the most common types of mobile robots.

David Northup, director of product management at OTTO Motors, will participate in a session on "The Best of Both Worlds: The Future of AGVs and AMRs." It will be at 2:15 p.m. ET on Monday, Oct. 10, at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston.

OTTO Motors provides autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for materials handling inside factories and warehouses. With over 3 million hours of driving experience, the Kitchener, Ontario-based company said it is trusted for mission-critical deliveries in the most demanding industrial environments.

A unit of Clearpath Robotics Inc., OTTO said that 70% of its customers are Fortune 500 companies and include some of the world’s most recognized brands, including GE and Toyota. It will be at Booth 1211 at the AMR and logistics conference.

AGVs and AMRs aren't mutually exclusive

Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) have served the industrial world well for decades, noted OTTO Motors. Repeatedly and reliably executing the same material handling tasks, AGVs can provide the safety, reliability, and business continuity that human workers cannot, it said.

However, in the past few years, AMRs have started displacing AGVs because of their dynamic decision making, according to the company. Robotics developers have created systems that are as safe as AGVs but more flexible like a human driver, OTTO said.

Manufacturing and warehousing decision makers are now faced with a difficult choice: simplicity and predictability, or intelligence and flexibility? Northup's talk asks, “Why not both?”

OTTO Motors will also highlight the deployment of its robots at Mauser Packaging Solutions. That customer has expanded its AMR deployment to a second facility. OTTO systems have increased uptime and enhanced throughput by 600% at Mauser.

OTTO Motors expands partner network

In addition, OTTO Motors launched an autonomous forklift and has partnered with Siemens and Honeywell. The company also recently released analytics software to provide greater visibility into materials handling processes.

Last month, OTTO Motors said Guidance Automation Ltd. has become the first reseller of its AMRs in the U.K.

"Often, automation is seen as a complex disruption which will completely overhaul existing processes -- particularly for SMEs [small and midsize enterprises]," said Paul Rivers, managing director of Guidance Automation. "But logistics businesses do not need to completely understand or have the skills and knowledge to achieve automation success."

"Instead, we will be doing this for the customer," he added. "We will ensure that the software is up to date, maintain the AMRs and provide additional functionality with our top modules, and provide the support required to make the transition to automation seamless.”

About the AMR and Logistics Conference

The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) is presenting the AMR and Logistics Week, which is co-located with The Vision Show. The events run from Monday, Oct. 10, through Friday, Oct. 14.

A3 said it is North America's largest automation trade association. Its members include nearly 1,100 robotics makers, component suppliers, systems integrators, end users, academic institutions, research groups, and consulting firms.

See Robotics 24/7's special coverage page, and we will be reporting from A3's events next week.