Robotics and Its Use Cases: A Deep Dive into Warehouse Robotics Part 1

The smart factories or operations floors that we are used to seeing in sci-fi movies are here as we speak. Warehouses, one of the central components of the logistics industry, have been using robots for the last few years to boost their productivity, in terms of operational speed as well as scale. 

In other words, the primary goal behind the rising use of warehouse robots is to minimise manual labour via automation as the robots surpass the load capacity and endurance of their human counterparts by several fold. Additionally, robots prove to be invaluable for hazardous tasks. 

A Snapshot of the Presence of Warehouse Robotics

Such is the growing competition in the e-commerce, retail, and other consumption-oriented industries that fast-tracking operations is no longer just a convenience, but rather a necessity to survive the market. At the same time, labour shortage across industries also fuels the need for a higher throughput. 

Given the fierce growth rather the market players are aspiring to, the global warehouse robotics market is projected to grow at a staggering 19.6% CAGR between 2023 and 2033, according to a report by the renowned market research company, Grand View Research. The report also informs that the warehouse robotics market worldwide already has a massive valuation: $ 4.31 bn, as measured in 2022. 

In this blog, we will discuss the different types of warehouse robots and their use cases to concretely understand the game-changing influence of robotics on automation in warehousing. Let’s jump right in! 

An Overview of Warehouse Robotics

An umbrella term for automation ecosystems, such as robots or robot-like components which run on cutting-edge technologies such as Machine Learning, Warehouse Robotics is leveraged in many stocking and logistics-heavy environments.  

These automation tools are used for several strenuous tasks, including picking, packing, and transporting heavy and light items alike fast, thereby ensuring that key workflows run smoothly and productivity is optimal.  

Digging Deep into Warehouse Robotics: What are the Different Categories of Robots Used in Warehouses?

Here are the types of robots commonly used in warehouses:

Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs)

This category of robots can transport shipments or goods from one workflow to another on a predetermined path, guided by tracks, magnetic strips, and sensors, among other types of path-markers.  

The key difference between AGVs and established in-warehouse transportation devices, such as pick carts and forklifts, is that these AGV counterparts have to be either powered by manual efforts or manned by a worker. AGVs, on the other hand, can move autonomously on their set path, saving the business the cost of manual labour, while improving overall productivity.  

Much like AGVs, there is another kind of robot, which is used for transportation—Automated Guided Carts (AGCs). However, AGCs are primarily for lighter cargos compared to AGVs, but the basic principle of their functioning is similar. 

Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs)

In the context of warehouse robotics, AMRs perform similar tasks to AGVs and AGCs, but there is a major difference in the manner in which AMRs function. While the guided vehicles are dependent on path-markers, AMRs use sensors and complex obstacle avoidance systems to move around the cluttered and busy warehouse floors. 

Given their advanced nature, AMRs need to be run on software using machine learning (ML). The smart technology of AMRs makes them the perfect scalable robot, as they can learn new workflows and layouts effortlessly.  

While AGVs and AGCs use Rail tracks, sensors to detect electromagnetic current of wires laid in the floor, or magnetic strips, Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) in warehouses mostly use a different set of navigation technology.  

Label-based navigation is one such technique that AMRs use to move around. The robot in question uses sensors that can read labels which look like QR codes. These codes, pasted on doors, racks, pallets, bins, etc., help the device understand the layout of its surroundings.  

AMRs can also be trained to navigate using lasers; the robot follows an employee around the warehouse, thus creating a mental map of the layout. Some Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) in warehouses are also equipped with photometric cameras, which help the robot guide itself with the help of the images taken by the camera and processed by image recognition.  

Another guidance system involves geo-tagging different landmarks in the warehouse. Due to geo-tagging, AMRs can understand their location in the warehouse by comparing the geo-guidance system’s inputs with a reference map of the warehouse. 

One of the most cutting-edge navigation technologies in autonomous robots is LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging). With this technology, robots use a sensor which emits ultra-fast invisible lasers in every direction and processes the light bouncing back to understand its surroundings, thus creating a map. As the speed of the sensor is incredibly fast, the robot can also navigate in an environment with moving objects such as manned tools, other robots, and workers. 

Articulated Robotic Arms

These robotic devices can be used for picking, packing, sorting, palletising (stacking), etc. The classic heavy lifting done by workers is eliminated or significantly reduced with the help of robotic arms. These arms can be used at several junctions of the warehouse workflow.  

For example, when it comes to inventory management, robotic arms can be used to lift and carry item which needs storing or retrieval. Similarly, at conveyor-based DWS (Dimensioning, Weighing, and Scanning) Systems in e-commerce warehouses, these arms can be timed according to the conveyor speed to sort freight. Thus, robot arms are also one of the types of Sortation Robots.