Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.60
Just a few years ago, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) were the new kid on the technology block. Only a few vendors were in this space, targeting large distribution centers focused on e-commerce, and one of these vendors (Kiva ) got bought up by the biggest e-commerce player of them all—Amazon. Today, dozens of vendors offer AMR solutions, and others offer piece-picking robotic arms. There are different AMR approaches, too. Some solutions follow a “goods-to-person” principle in which robots bring mobile shelf units filled with items to a workstations, while other AMRs meet up with human pickers in the aisles to…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.60
In April, MHS Global, a materials handling automation provider and systems integrator, and Fortna Inc., a warehouse distribution software provider, announced their intention to merge. The combined entity today said it will be known henceforth as FORTNA. The former MHS and Fortna said they combine decades of experience in the design, development, and delivery of omnichannel and parcel distribution solutions. The Atlanta-based company claimed that it gives customers “a uniquely versatile end-to-end path forward to optimize operations in the face of continual upheaval.” FORTNA said it has the scale and capabilities to help customers and partners meet increasing consumer demands…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.59
Fox Robotics recently announced that its installed base of FoxBot autonomous trailer loader/unloaders (ATL) has unloaded over 2.5 million pallets since the company introduced it in 2019. At Manifest 2024 in Las Vegas, Fox Robotics displayed its autonomous forklift on the show floor. Autonomous forklifts in the warehouse “We created the Fox Robotics autonomous trailer loader/unloader to solve for the very critical automation of the warehouse gateway – the shipping and receiving dock,” said Marin Tchakarov, CEO and President at Fox Robotics. “In doing so, we’ve unlocked the last piece of the end-to-end automation puzzle, enabling logistics operators across many…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.58
Integrating robotics software and hardware for piece picking can be challenging, so SVT Robotics Inc. has worked with RightHand Robotics Inc. to develop a prebuilt connector between SVT’s SOFTBOT Platform and the RightPick 3 item-handling robot. “By connecting to the prebuilt standard integrations of our SOFTBOT Platform, RightHand Robotics customers who adopt the RightPick 3 system can now deploy without the need for custom integration code,” stated T.J. Fanning, vice president of sales at SVT. “Integrators offering flexible, automated piece picking will be able to connect and integrate this robust solution faster than ever before.” SVT Robotics said SOFTBOT enables…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.55
The already competitive market for mobile robots continues to go global. OTTO Motors today announced a series of partnerships to make its autonomous mobile robots available to a global audience. The Kitchener, Ontario-based company also said it has successfully completed third-party assessments to demonstrate that its products meet or exceed all relevant safety standards in Europe and the U.S., including ANSI/RIA R15.08, which it helped to define. “One of the things that sets OTTO Motors apart is our process-first approach to automating material handling,” stated Rick Baker, chief revenue officer of OTTO Motors. “It is how we’re able to achieve…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.54
Plus One Robotics, a provider of AI vision software and solutions for robotic parcel handling, announced that it has recorded over 1 billion successful picks across its fleet of parcel induction and depalletization robots. The San Antonio-based company was founded in 2016 and surpassed the 500 million pick plateau in October 2022. Robotic integration comes at an integral time for logistics “Reaching 1 billion picks is an incredible achievement that speaks to the trust that our customers have placed in our technology and to the hard work of our entire team,” said Erik Nieves, co-founder and CEO of Plus One…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.53
ProMat DX this week included exhibits, keynotes, and educational sessions for manufacturing and supply chain professionals from over 140 countries. Among them were numerous discussions around robotics and automation. This year's ProMat was different from previous conferences and trade shows. The materials handling event had been co-located with Automate at McCormick Place in Chicago for several years, but after the last in-person event in 2019, the organizers of the two events decided to go their separate ways. ProMat 2021 was also virtual, but organizers said they expect to return to Atlanta for Modex 2022 (the events alternate years). Here are…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.53
OSARO Inc. today announced that it is integrating its pick-and-place robots with Geekplus Technology Co.'s warehouse automation. The new allies said they will offer businesses a “one-stop solution” and a strategy to boost the return on investment of their autonomous mobile robots, or AMRs, and automated storage and retrieval systems, or ASRS. “At OSARO, our goal is to provide reliable robotic systems that make automation easy, which is why the seamless integration of our picking robots with Geek+ systems is so valuable for quick and easy deployment,” said Derik Pridmore, CEO of OSARO, in a press release. “We’re pleased to…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.53
Most warehouses are just beginning to automate, but those that have are already reaping the benefits. Locus Robotics Corp. today announced that its mobile robots have surpassed 1 billion picks. The Wilmington, Mass.-based company noted that this achievement came only 59 days after it recorded 900 million units picked. “Reaching our 1 billion pick milestone underscores the critical business value that Locus’ proven technology brings to our customers around the world every day,” stated Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics. “The need for cost-efficient robotics automation is a must-have as e-commerce volumes continue to increase and the labor shortages persist.”…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.48
In that same report, CBRE states that the average cost to return a $50 item is as much as 66% of the original sales price – up from 59% in 2020. That means greater pressure on already-thin profit margins and the risk that a successful, if challenging, peak season grows less successful over time. For sellers, that means time is of the essence. The longer it takes to get product back onto warehouse shelves, the larger the discount required to re-sell that item, especially in fashion categories with less than 90-day cycles. So, getting returns back into active, available inventory…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.45
The end-to-end supply chain is a critical part of today's globally competitive enterprise. Shipments get sorted, packaged, and loaded for delivery, ultimately making their way to customers. Within these processes, there are many moving parts, and robots can improve the efficiency of many of these functions. Whether they work alongside people or relieve them to do other value-added tasks, tireless robots have matured in the past few years to be an intrinsic part of many logistics operations, from the dock to the destination. What can robots do in modern supply chains? With advances in perception, manipulation, and mobility, groups of…
Found in Robotics News & Content, with a score of 4.44
Warehouses and distribution centers, or DCs, can make or break a supply chain. Within these facilities, efficient order-fulfillment operations can meet demand, satisfy customers, and adapt to anything ahead. On the other hand, inefficiencies lead to order delays, costly errors, and even bigger problems when unexpected disruptions arise. With so much on the line, it’s no surprise that nearly every company is looking for ways to make their warehouses and DCs run better and faster. But what may come as a surprise is the relatively low adoption rates for one of the best solutions out there: automation. Warehouse automation benefits…