Warehouse robotics is advancing at pace — but are we really getting close to facilities that can operate with almost no people?
In the latest episode of Logistics Business Conversations, Paul Hamblin is joined by Volker Sadowski of BEUMER Group to look at how robotics is changing parcel handling, warehouses and distribution centres.
The discussion covers robotic picking, AMRs, labour shortages and one of the biggest challenges in automation: what happens when the technology encounters something it cannot handle?
Sadowski explains why exception handling can make or break a robotic system, why flexibility is becoming such an important requirement for warehouse operators, and why mobile robotics could have a major role in helping businesses scale without committing to fixed capacity years in advance. Pasted text Pasted text
The conversation also tackles the big question of the “dark warehouse”. While highly automated operations are already technically possible, the final few percentage points can be the most difficult — and most expensive — to automate. Pasted text
And looking further ahead, could humanoid robots become a realistic part of logistics operations within the next five years?
From robot picking and AMRs to humanoids and automated truck unloading, this episode explores just how close logistics is getting to the fully automated warehouse. Pasted text
Listen to the full episode below.
