Latest Innovations in Warehouse and Distribution Robotics

Photo by Oleksandr Canary Islands

While the use of robotics in warehousing and distribution is nothing new, technological advances have propelled the supply chain industry forward rapidly. Warehouses today look drastically different than just ten years ago, and in another ten years, they will likely have changed even more with growth in automation and robotics. 

In 2019, the Global Warehouse Robotics Market was valued at 6.12 billion, and by 2025, it is expected to reach 25.8 billion, with 45% of all manufacturing being performed by robotic tech by then. 

This comes as no surprise, as key market trends have indicated a need for more accurate and efficient capabilities in fulfillment and distribution centers. The robotics industry makes this possible with significant technological advancements that can improve logistics efficiency. 

This article will take a closer look at how robotics is changing the warehousing and distribution landscape, as well as some of the latest innovations and automation trends. 

Robotics: The Future of Warehousing and Distribution

We are in the midst of what is considered the fourth industrial revolution, which is expected to bring great changes in logistics and distribution. With growing client bases and increasing demand for more efficient shipping fulfillment, warehouse automation is experiencing rapid growth. 

Some of the factors fueling this growth include the recent boom in e-Commerce businesses and the need for rapid fulfillment, the labor shortage in the warehouse industry, and the threat of environmental protection laws. Warehousing and distribution have a significant impact on the environment, but these impacts can be lessened with increased efficiency provided by robotics and automation. 

Robotics is also making a difference elsewhere in the supply chain. Automation is also creating change in the manufacturing industry making it easy to invest in robotics with significant cost savings. Using robotics is more cost-effective and has a higher ROI. Not only do robots not need to be paid a wage, but the cost of purchasing robotic tech is also decreasing. 

As a whole, robotics, and automation significantly improve efficiencies in the supply chain and logistics industries. In warehousing specifically, these advances help with improving storage capacities, retrieval systems, and inventory management, and they also reduce error and product damage. They also cut down on the time it takes to complete tasks, which means better efficiency and more productivity all around. 

The Latest Robotic Innovations in the Warehousing Industry

With the rapid advancement of technologies, robotics are now being used in warehousing and distribution in numerous ways. 

Cloud Robotics

Cloud computing is a trend that is sweeping through just about every industry, but when you combine cloud computing with robotics engineering, you get an application that is perfect for the warehouse setting. Cloud robotics enables all robots in a warehouse to essentially share one brain, which results in a whole fleet working seamlessly to get the job done. 

AGVs and AMRs

Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and automated mobile robots (AMRs) are affordable robotic systems that are easily trainable to perform a wide range of tasks and operations. Unlike automated storage and retrieval systems, AGVs and AMRs are scalable and don’t require changes to an existing floor plan or infrastructure. 

RaaS

Robots-as-a-Service is a type of mobile robot offered by Fetch that are essentially replacing conveyors. These scalable robots are much more compact and have a lower cost of entry, making them a trend with smaller logistics companies. 

Drones

Though the logistics of indoor use of robotic drones are still being worked out because of navigation issues, it is expected that we are not far off from seeing fleets of drones flying around warehouses. Warehouse drones could make locating and identifying inventory much more efficient, affordable, and scalable. 

Cobots

Cobots is simply a shortening of the term collaborative robots, which are designed to work together with humans on task completion. Instead of replacing warehouse workers, these robots can assist them in making their jobs much easier and enable higher levels of productivity. 

Boston Dynamics’ Spot 

Boston Dynamics, inventors of the autonomous Spot robot, are routinely making upgrades that can be incredibly beneficial to the warehouse industry. The concept with Spot is that various industries, such as logistics and distribution, can use this autonomous robot to significantly improve inspection workflows. 

Because of its sensors and cameras, along with other advanced technologies and systems, Spot can see the world differently than humans can. In other words, this robot is much better at detecting things that the normal human eye cannot, which allows for a safer, more efficient warehouse environment. 

The robot has advanced gas sensors, for example, which enable it to detect invisible gas leaks that are undetectable to humans. This ability to detect gasses and vapors present is extremely beneficial to settings where hazardous chemicals and gasses are a potential risk.

Spot is also more capable when it comes to detecting light and energy on the electromagnetic spectrum. UV light, for example, carries more energy than visible-light waves do, making it dangerous to humans — but not to Spot. Spot has advanced light detection and ranging (LiDAR), which makes it more capable of thermal inspection and generating 3D maps of physical objects and barriers, which helps with navigating warehouse spaces. 

Wrapping Up

While robotics are revolutionizing the warehouse industry, it’s essential for companies to be mindful of how they are implementing warehouse robotics. These advanced technologies bring new levels of efficiency and productivity, but if implemented too quickly and without a plan, they can also disrupt workflow and create more challenges. 

So before investing in new robotics, consider the genuine needs of your facility and develop a strategy for training and performance goals. It’s also wise to implement in stages rather than upgrading everything at once to give workers time to adapt to working with new robotics systems.