In the spring of 2016, I drove to Devens, Mass., to see something truly new in the post-Kiva era: Autonomous mobile robots in a production setting at a Quiet Logistics e-fulfillment distribution center. Locus Robotics, the startup company founded by Bruce Welty and Mike Johnson, was still more concept than commercial product, but even then, Welty envisioned a multi-billion-dollar business for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in the warehouse. A little over a year later, I had the opportunity to watch another first: a mobile piece-picking robot from IAM Robotics at work at Rochester Drug’s distribution center in New York. While…
FANUC America, supplier of robotics, CNCs, ROBOMACHINEs and Industrial IoT solutions, reports a new alliance with TITANS of CNC to help bridge the skills gap. The education platform offers students the support, education and training to help prepare them for careers in high-tech manufacturing. It also provides machinists, programmers and shop owners a better understanding of the advanced processes that will help them maximize productivity and remain competitive. In support of the TITANS of CNC Academy, FANUC will donate its latest automation products including the CR-15iA collaborative robot and a five-axis ROBODRILL machine tool with an LR Mate 200iD robot.…
At Cabka North America in St. Louis, Mo., workers at 11 injection molding machines spent their days unloading plastic pallets and manually trimming and stacking them for transport to the warehouse using forklifts or pallet jacks. The repetitive and physical work at the 400,000-square-foot facility made it difficult to retain workers, while forklifts on the floor lead to safety concerns. A new fully automated production line including mobile robots (Mobile Industrial Robots, or MiR) has improved safety and productivity. To automate the process and improve safety, Cabka designed a fully automated production line. The new line includes a mobile robot…
Cobot provider Productive Robotics (Booth 6685) highlighted its American-made OB7 collaborative robots or “cobots” as a means of easily creating safe, efficient automated processes. At the booth, uses that can be seen include the OB7 CNC machine tending on a mill, an application enabled by Productive Robotics’ OB7 CNC Package. The package comes equipped with a 7-axis collaborative robot arm as well as all the necessary accessories needed to connect to any type of CNC mill, lathe, or other CNC machine. Another application being shown is OB7’s standard 5 kg model loading and unloading parts in and out of a…
Mobile Industrial Robots (Booth 9435) launched the MiR250, a collaborative autonomous mobile robot (AMR) that is faster, safer and more agile for operations where space is at a premium. Capable of traveling at 7.2 kph, the robot is lower and narrower than other AMRs, enabling it to efficiently navigate limited spaces such as door openings as small as 80 cm, small elevators and under tables. Artificial intelligence leverages onboard cameras to identify people and nearby objects, providing additional operational context and insight. Consider the example of a picker or lineside employee. If the robot’s target destination is blocked from the…
Vecna Robotics (Booth 9807) is showcasing its innovative, autonomous materials handling solutions this week at Modex. Focused on maximizing both human and robotic capability, the company is transcending traditional automation to help create fulfilling jobs, increase productivity and encourage innovation. The world’s first continuously improving multi-agent orchestration engine, Pivotal transforms any OEM piece of materials handling equipment into a flexible, autonomous system. A proprietary, continuously improving software, the orchestration engine delivers value for customers in the distribution, warehousing and manufacturing sectors. It automates crossdocking, line-side delivery, replenishment, case-picking, and oversized/non-standard SKU delivery. “Pivotal not only manages the orchestration, but it…
Innovative robotics pioneer Soft Robotics (Booth 3627) has announced the first robotic solution specifically designed for the handling of product returns. An extension of the SuperPick plat-form, the SuperPick Polybag Picking System is a new, end-to-end robotic materials handling solution designed to solve unconstrained materials handling challenges in labor starved mar-kets and can integrate across a variety of applications. “Reverse logistics and returns handling have become the center of attention for many e-commerce companies as recent studies have shown that 41% of people who purchase items online do so with the intention of returning at least part of their order,”…
TensaBelt has transformed its workflow since incorporating 3D printing for functional validation on its product design process, the company says. This technology has enabled them to create many iterations of each part at a low cost, ensuring the ability to achieve the desired result when developing its queue management systems. If you have recently been to a museum, a concert or a movie premiere in Europe, chances are you’ve stood next to one of TensaBelt’s products. From Barcelona to the world, Tensabelt designs, produces and distributes devices for queue management systems such as barriers, cones and roll-up belts. Currently distributing…
Prime Robotics (Booth 8837) has unveiled a groundbreaking robotics platform for warehouses, known as the Auto Shelf. Unlike previous Autonomous Mobile Robotics (AMR) systems, the Auto Shelf can actually integrate into every shelf. As a result, all shelves can move and interact with workers directly and immediately. And, due to the Auto Shelf’s fully patented design, they will drive themselves to their own destinations when-ever they’re needed. In turn, every shelf is now a robot that has intelligence, leading to faster pick speeds and enhanced inventory accuracy, as employees no longer need to pick up or move shelves. Consequently, human…
ForwardX Robotics (Booth 1207) recently launched in the Americas what it claims is the world’s only computer vision-based AMR fleet, which has already been installed in logistics, manufacturing and retail facilities abroad. The company is offering a free two-year warranty and a “Pay When You Achieve ROI” campaign for the turnkey solution, and guarantees 99.5% uptime in 24/7 operations. It uses deep learning and reinforcement learning algorithms to deliver enhanced localization, more accurate obstacle avoidance and more efficient path-planning in dynamic environments by integrating inputs from RGB, RGBD, LiDAR, radar, and ultrasonic sensors. A centralized fleet management system manages robot…
Locus Robotics, a market leader in autonomous mobile robots for fulfillment warehouses, today announced the addition of a new international client CEVA Logistics, one of the world’s leading asset-light based supply chain management companies. CEVA has deployed autonomous mobile robots from Locus at its Roosendaal, Netherlands location to handle online order fulfillment for their retail partner selling household and consumer goods. “At CEVA, we are committed to innovation for our business and our people,” said Bart Beeks, Managing Director of North Europe, CEVA. “The addition of Locus to our operation is helping us to quickly achieve that vision.” Since launching…
Conveyco Technologies (Booth 1614) is showcasing its new Proof of Concept (POC) program for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). The new program allows organizations to conceptualize, emulate and validate AMR system’s performance prior to financially committing to an entire system. “Organizations are seeing the results AMRs can deliver. However, they are overwhelmed by the sheer amount of options that are available and where this technology can be applied within their operations,” said Ray Cocozza, president. “The Conveyco AMR POC Program is designed to address this fear by providing a scalable approach to select the best technology and tune the concept before…