Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 5.15
…Airside operations function alongside cargo and baggage ground handling logistics. Customer-facing terminals house security checkpoints and retail outlets. Runways, taxiways, ramps, and large grass fields make up most of the land area, while restaurants and stores inside terminals are compressed into expensive real estate. “When I think of an airport, it's like a small city,” said Cole Wolfson, director of the xBridge innovation center at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT). “There's just about every industry that you can think of that operates here. And so there's boundless opportunities to find new and better, or more efficient ways of doing things.” As…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 3.81
…Minimizing footprint while maximizing workflow One challenge manufacturing and logistics warehouses must consider is how to accommodate the footprint of robotic workcells. The goal is to limit how much floor space each robot takes up. “In brownfield-type sites where there's already existing work cells set up, you don't worry about fencing in a human,” Caldwell said. “But there are only certain amounts of access points in and out of any kind of workflow.” While complete fenceless operation is suitable for many applications, Caldwell said the most common deployment involves work cells with some amount of guarding. “That's typically the best…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 9.01
…at rates that provide cost-effective automation of replenishment and reverse logistics. “In today's busy ecommerce and fulfillment warehouses, thousands of different SKUs arrive on mixed or homogenous pallet loads every day,” said OSARO CEO Derik Pridmore. “The variance and multiplicity of pallet stacks, mixed pallet stacks, box construction and box conditions can easily exceed millions of possibilities. OSARO’s robotic depal system is the perfect teammate for DAC’s robotic box opener and decant system because it can maintain a high rate of in-bound merchandise, 24x7.” What to expect from DAC, OSARO at MODEX The fully integrated system on display in Atlanta…
Found in Robotics White Papers & Archives, with a score of 39.18
Reverse logistics is often considered a costly and time-prohibitive endeavor. Especially during the busy holiday seasons, retailers focus heavily on order fulfilment and delivery to consumers. But it’s that next step in the process that often creates a warehouse bottleneck. As part of the reverse logistics process, robots can help alleviate concerns with warehouse backlogs and, from a financial standpoint, give returned items another shot at selling to consumers. E-commerce organizations continue to grow, but so too do their complexities with inventory, logistics, supply chain and warehouse management. Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) work alongside humans to reduce the bottlenecks associated…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 21.37
…eloquently described one of the biggest challenges in the reverse logistics and robotics discussion: teaching robots how to identify objects, even when the same item is presented in different boxes and in various conditions. Humans can view a box - or more specifically a collection of boxes - and decide how to pick and sort them most efficiently. How will robots and cobots designed and trained to work alongside humans learn those skills? Calibrating AI perception is an ongoing challenge that robot developers and reverse logistics operators continue to tackle by evolving to handle the overflow of inventory flowing into…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 18.38
…2023. These hefty dollar amounts showcase just how necessary reverse-logistics operations remain as part of an organization's customer service process. Bedford, MA-based Berkshire Grey develops robotic sortation systems for retail and e-commerce distributors. In its “2022 State of Retail & eCommerce Fulfillment Report” the company found 72% of executives believed they would lose customers if they didn’t offer free returns, and 80% who saw increased returns in 2020 needed to increase headcount to accommodate. The survey of chief supply chain officers also found 51% of executives believed implementing automation will increase employee satisfaction, and 43% believed it will lead to…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 10.42
…companies in the industry to make B2C [business-to-consumer] e-commerce logistics easier for our clients,” she added. “With Ambi Robotics, we were able to develop a sortation system that solved a particular need and scaled it quickly across our ecommerce hubs, adding capacity for our clients ahead of peak season.” Pitney Bowes accelerates parcel sortation As global parcel volume exceeds 161 billion pieces annually, logistics and delivery organizations are seeking automation that can quickly scale to meet their needs, noted the latest Pitney Bowes Parcel Shipping Index. The Stamford, Conn.-based company said it provides shipping and mailing technology, logistics, and financial…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 5.85
…a critical but precious resource used in production, while logistics companies often begin their focus by reducing the miles traveled. This can involve mobile robots and electric vehicles, minimizing the use of diesel, or adding alternative fuels to the mix. How, then, does a major retailer like Macy’s define sustainability, and what are the levers it is pulling to meet its goals? “Each company defines sustainability in a way that enables their business to be successful,” Evans began. “Our goals are around taking care of people, managing our environmental impact, and bringing sustainable products to life for our customers.” Just…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 7.30
…to help optimize supply chains, serving manufacturers, distributors, third-party logistics providers (3PLs), and omnichannel retailers. The company, which has offices in Carmel, Ind., and Chicago, also provides consulting and managed services. At ProMat 2023, enVista executives explained their roadmap for helping customers integrate robotics. Last month, MHI accepted the company into its SLAM Industry Group. (In this case, SLAM refers to “scan, label, apply, and manifest,” not simultaneous localization and mapping.) “The last 100 feet of the warehouse are critical for efficient operations, high throughput, and customer satisfaction,” stated enVista. Robotics 24/7 recently spoke with Dennis Andre, director of enVista,…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 14.26
…Ambi Robotics’ entry into automated induction, middle-mile sortation, and reverse logistics as we build upon the success of the 80 flagship AmbiSort A-Series systems deployed across the US.” The AmbiSort B-Series is the company's second system. The company also offers the AmbiSort A-Series, which is a small sorting system. In October, the company raised $32 million in funding. In total, the company has raised $65 million, according to Crunchbase. AmbiSort B Series offers flexibility Ambi Robotics noted the AmbiSort B-Series is modular. Customers can configure the system to their precise sorting needs, seamlessly integrating automated induction, sorting, item manipulation, and…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 12.56
…to OPEX. Advanced Robotics said it focuses on intelligent logistics solutions that are unique to the Hungarian and CEE regional markets, using robotics as well as artificial intelligence technologies to solve warehouse and factory logistics operations, saving time, energy, and cost. “Perfect Pick is a great solution for e-commerce fulfillment and micro-fulfillment because of its scalability and narrow footprint,” said Nicolas Dewit, director of business development - Europe, Middle East, and Asia (EMEA) for OPEX Warehouse Automation. “Perfect Pick utilizes a warehouse’s vertical space, increasing throughput, reliability, and effectiveness.” Advanced Robotics will also sell SureSort item-sorting system Advanced Robotics will…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 10.07
…projects, Concordance has experts dedicated to emergency preparedness, third-party logistics (3PL), and reverse logistics. It integrated LocusBots with its warehouse distribution network. The companies said the robots provide a scalable and flexible way to optimize productivity in the order-fulfillment process by significantly increasing throughput and lowering order cycle times. The LocusBots can reduce unproductive walking time, eliminate maneuvering heavy manual carts through warehouses, and reduce the overall physical demands on employees, said Locus. In addition, the supplier said its AMRs can improve ergonomics and overall workplace quality. Following the initial deployment at its warehouse in Tiffin, Ohio, Concordance is now…