Labour shortages and e-commerce growth are spinning the automation spiral faster than many expected. According to the text provided by www.inboundlogistics.com, companies have acquired 70 percent more automated mobile robots (AMR) and automatically controlled vehicles (AGVs) this year than last year. “100,000 of these devices have been delivered worldwide,” writes author Sandra Beckwith.

The Managing Director of Interact Analysis even predicts that this number will increase sevenfold by 2025. A large part of innovations is aimed at introducing new methods of automation and material handling in warehouses. Here are, according to inboundlogistics.com, seven approaches that celebrate the greatest success.

Intelligent robots with 3D vision

Traditionally, warehouses rely on the human senses. Until now, only a person has had the ability to see items so that they can quickly evaluate their size, colour, and/or shape, and decide in real time how to deal with them. , Kindred Powered by Ocado Group recently introduced the INDUCT robotic system, which works with artificial intelligence by selecting, manoeuvring, and placing stock items on a conveyor belt or tilting sorter. Intelligent robotics allows the software to constantly learn how to be faster and more accurate.

Software manufacturer Plus One Robotics is working with robot maker Tomkins Robotics. The result is a solution for automated picking, innovated by “sight”. Finally, robotic arms can perceive, manipulate, and grasp objects just like humans. It should be added, however, that they are still more effective than robots in identifying stock items, so they provide remote support and are available when the system alerts of a problem.

Collaboration on a prototype

The Collaborative Innovation programme is considered to be the most inspiring co-operation between companies. Pitney Bowes, a US postal technology company, has tested Ambi Robotics’ AmbiSort package sorting

system at its e-commerce centre in Ontario, California. It has added over 60 robots to its eight centres specializing in sorting packages for the last mile before delivery to the US Postal Service facility.

“We helped build this solution as partners, providing information on what worked and what didn’t, and how to improve the software and solutions,” said Stephanie Cannon, Senior Vice President, Pitney Bowes.

After completing the project, they installed eight sorting systems and eight robots at the Pitney Bowes’ Stockton e-commerce centre in California. It is now fully functional, and will serve as a prototype for further installations.

Rental of robots

In order to provide customers with the simplest and most flexible access to robotic technologies possible, Pitney Bowes/Ambi Robotics has offered the possibility to rent them, instead of buying them. The “Robots as a Service” (RaaS) product is expected to expand very quickly. The RaaS market is expected to grow from $ 12.6 billion in 2020 to more than $ 41.3 billion in 2028.

Modular conveyors

The MechLite portable roller conveyor that LogistiQ came up with is another innovation in the field of bale sorting. It allows e-commerce centres to quickly install sorting capacity in smaller spaces than is possible with traditional conveyor systems.

“We can provide similar sorting capacity in a floor plan of up to 600,000 square feet, with an installation time of 4-6 weeks, instead of 12 months, which will provide companies with huge capacity very quickly,” said Al Sparling, Business Development Manager. He commented on a recent situation where a customer in a large warehouse lost equipment due to tornado damage: “We received the order on Tuesday, and the following Tuesday our client was already sorting packages in a new building.”

Plastic pallets with uniform dimensions

Other low-tech innovations include moulded plastic products (crates, containers, and pallets) that have consistent dimensions, so that they can be easily integrated into high-speed systems. For example, ORBIS Corporation’s new Odyssey plastic pallets are designed for newer shelving systems.

“Adjustable plastic pallets optimize storage and offer dimensional consistency for automated equipment, but also help reduce product damage by protruding nails or broken corners that cause products to fall out,” said Alex Hempel, Director of Retail Supplies. At the same time, in his opinion, they are a more sustainable alternative to wooden pallets.

Safe onboarding of warehouse employees

StrongArm Technologies, an industrial safety company, noted that 60 percent of newly hired warehouse workers left or were laid off within the first 90 days. Examining the reasons why this happened, even though these people seemed to be made for work in a warehouse, brought about a fundamental change in onboarding.

The company found that new warehouse workers worked four times faster during recruitment than they could work after recruitment. In fact, they worked as fast as they could, in order to get a permanent job. But when some felt they were failing or afraid of injury, they quit. StrongArm recommended letting participants learn and improve at a slower pace.

“On one side of the warehouse, we had a much slower running conveyor belt that allowed new employees to get a feel for the job,” says Petterson. “It simply came to our notice then. The sense of security levelled off, and the warehouse staff began to feel confident and comfortable.”

The company thereby helped alleviate staff shortages by increasing the retention of new employees by 45 percent, while reducing their injury rate.

Co-operation on fork-lift trucks

The Raymond Corporation develops forklifts that increase the efficiency and accuracy of picking stock items.

“We’re adding features that integrate the truck into the warehouse management system,” said David Norton, Vice President for Customer Solutions and Support.

Options such as zoning and positioning provide operators with a more efficient way to get to the next pick, making it easier for them to focus on picking, rather than where they are within the facility or aisle. The company is working to make its handling equipment even smarter. At the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), a team of researchers is examining how groups of forklifts can work together autonomously, to complete a range of tasks.

“We focus on location and navigation – sensors and readers, so that the vehicle knows where it is, where other vehicles are, and how it will avoid vehicles and make decisions on the way to the goal,” explained Michael Kuhl, Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering.