Improve Flexibility and Agility With Mobile Robots

Unlike fixed conveyor systems, which provide throughput but are rigid, mobile robots can change in fleet size or routes depending on the seasonal needs or the types of items to move.

Automated guided vehicles (AGVs), autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), and self-driving lift trucks can relieve bottlenecks in warehouses and factories – especially when used with the latest fleet management or orchestration software. Such technologies promise to augment workforces under strain while making operations more efficient and flexible.

With numerous mobile robot suppliers to choose from, end users need to specify their payloads, pain points, and expectations for return on investment (ROI). This free Special Focus Issue provides examples and examines the following:

• Mobile robots are not yet created equal – size and specialization
• How machine vision and AI help guide mobile robots
• Considerations when evaluating suppliers, accessories
• When human staffers should be “in the loop” 
• Flexing fleets with robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) models
• How to optimize processes with AMRs and software