Buying a mobile robot? You must ask your supplier these three questions

More smart manufacturers are turning to robotic technologies to help streamline their logistics operations. 

Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are a cost-effective way to eliminate cumbersome manual processes – and improve worker safety. 

AMRs come with a range of different specifications and options. Therefore, it’s important to find the best technology available for your application. That ensures you’ll be well prepared for any logistics challenges ahead. 

Here are three vital questions that will help you determine the best mobile robotic technology for your application: 

1. Is the navigation reliable and maintainable? 

Unlike inflexible conveyor systems or semi-flexible autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs), AMRs can move throughout busy environments without requiring any facility modifications. This makes it much easier to change the floor layout when necessary. 

AMRs first create a base-line map of the facility using their sensors. They then compare this map with what they “see” during their operation. This enables them to automatically change route to avoid sudden obstacles. As there is no need to pre-designate a path, autonomous robot navigation is more flexible than AGVs, reducing their total cost of ownership. 

Be sure to choose AMRs that can detect ANY obstacles, not just the “expected” ones. Most AMRs have little trouble detecting objects between floor level and average knee-height, but they might miss objects hanging from the ceiling or drawers sticking out unexpectedly from cabinetry. Side lasers are extremely beneficial if your facility contains such obstacles. 

Thanks to our exceptional robot navigation technology, Omron makes AMR installation easy.  

This white paper explains how simple to use Omron mobile robots can be. 

2. Can the AMRs collaborate in a fleet? 

When logistics companies see the advantages a single mobile robot in their facilities, it’s not surprising they often want to implement more of them. More businesses are now developing AMR fleets to drive their operations.  

And by using a fleet management they can automatically allocate tasks more efficiently.  

There are two main ways to identify a good fleet management system. Firstly, you should determine whether it manages traffic so that robots are not blocking each other’s paths or waiting too long for others to pass. The second has to do with efficient job management and whether the jobs are completed in the least amount of time with the least distance travelled overall. 

A good fleet management system can even “look ahead” and predict which nearby robot will be available soon to work on the next job. It’s also important for it to manage the schedule so that each robot can disengage to automatically recharge its battery. 

Check out our mobile robotics portfolio to discover automation logistics solutions to suit your needs. 

3. Do the AMRs have the right safety measures?  

AMRs are quite different from industrial robots. They can operate around people without needing to be fenced off in giant, heavy-duty cages. However, there are still some safety concerns of which you should be aware. It’s important to make sure your supplier maintains a strong focus on mobile robot safety.  

Stable stopping is a common issue. This depends directly on the robot’s centre of gravity, which changes when the robot is fully loaded. Make sure the AMRs can detect obstacles in the way early enough to stop smoothly.  

With Omron’s technology, you can also program zone sets into the AMR area scanners to react to unexpected obstacles depending on level of severity. 

In an emergency evacuation, mobile robots don’t need to get out of the facility. However, they could get in the way of people escaping if they continue to work normally. 

Therefore, your external alarm system should be tied in with the robots’ internal messaging to coordinate their actions. 

Interested in learning more about our AMR technology?

Contact the experts at Omron today.