Logistics robots: the rise of automation in warehousing

Logistics robots are a growing trend that has really taken off in recent years. The progressive complexity of warehousing and the demand for agile and efficient operations have caused companies to invest in automating movements as well as the different areas in the facility with automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS). To get more news about Logistics Robotics, you can visit glprobotics.com official website.

The boom in logistics robots responds to the need to reduce costs and optimize processes to improve competitiveness. As opposed to conventional equipment, logistics robots ensure maximum throughput 24/7 if required, in addition to the safety of the goods, the operators, and all other elements involved in the warehouse.

What are logistics robots?
Logistics robots encompass any autonomous system or machine used to automate product flows, maximize safety, and boost productivity in warehouse operations.

The implementation of new technologies in any warehouse process — e.g., goods receipt, storage, stock management, order processing, and shipping — has led to these robots becoming more prominent. These solutions work with full autonomy to perform functions such as transferring products between two points, preparing orders, and storing products on racks.

More and more businesses are considering the introduction of robots in their logistics tasks to eliminate the risk of mistakes and ramp up productivity. This is reflected in the recent McKinsey study Automation has reached its tipping point for omnichannel warehouses, which puts the annual growth rate for the warehouse automation market at 23%, reaching $51 billion by 2030.
Which robots can be used for logistics?
In logistics automation, different machines and robots are employed to streamline processes, reduce logistics costs, and minimize the risk of accidents. Depending on the operations performed, the following robots can be used:

Goods receipt and dispatch. Product receipt and dispatch tasks can be carried out with logistics robots such as automatic truck loading and unloading systems, which make it possible to insert and remove pallets from trucks autonomously and with minimal operator intervention. Automatic conveyors for boxes and pallets can also be used to speed up goods receipt and dispatch, two key warehouse processes with the highest number of daily movements.
Storage robots. This category features stacker cranes — for both boxes (miniload) and pallets — which stand out for their capacity and agility when storing and retrieving items from the racks. There are several types of stacker cranes, including single-mast, twin-mast, and AS/RS trilateral stacker cranes. These logistics robots move horizontally and vertically in the storage aisles, inserting and removing pallets from the racks automatically. Businesses with a high volume of goods inflows and outflows can also opt for another very common automated solution: the automated Pallet Shuttle. With this compact storage system, an electric shuttle glides inside the storage channels, expediting pallet loading and unloading.
Order picking. AS/RS for boxes exemplify the concept of logistics robots in order preparation. A single storage solution can include both a stacker crane for boxes and a conveyor for boxes; with this configuration, the operators remain at their pick stations, preparing orders according to the goods-to-person method. Another option to facilitate picking are industrial robotic arms, tasked with performing pick and place, i.e., removing products from one location to place and organize them in another.
Internal goods movements. Logistics robots such as box and pallet conveyor systems are one of the most effective solutions for facilitating movements of goods in the warehouse because they make it possible to build very varied configurations to connect the various zones in the facility. Another conveying system used to link different areas in the warehouse are electrified monorails. Driven by an electric motor, these automatic trolleys move along an electrified rail suspended from the ceiling or fixed to the floor of the warehouse. Lastly, companies also turn to automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) or autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to transport goods between the various working areas.
Transportation. Drones have recently touched down in the logistics sector. Their technology enables them to transport and deliver customer orders by air. Although still being tested, this solution would bring advantages such as lower costs, faster order deliveries (compared to conventional distribution by truck), less highway traffic, and as a result, a significant reduction in pollution. This type of delivery would be especially useful in urban areas. But also has great potential in remote and isolated rural areas.