Autonomous Pallet-Moving Robot Debuts

Ocado Intelligent Automation (OIA), part of Ocado Group, has introduced Porter AMR, a pallet-moving autonomous mobile robot (AMR) that navigates warehouses to automate several warehouse workflows such as cross-docking, bulk-item picking, putaway, and pallet movement.

OIA’s patented system-directed software intelligently orchestrates each Porter autonomous pallet-moving robot – or a whole fleet of them – to reduce travel times and avoid warehouse congestion. Ocado’s Fulfillment Execution System (FES) groups orders to maximize case picking, optimize route plans and reduce steps between picks. Meanwhile, machine learning prioritizes and plans pallet stacking intelligently to avoid product damage.

“Porter from OIA automates low-value, manual tasks and fosters a more productive workplace by supporting associates, increasing case picking rates, and automating the movement of high volumes of inventory,” said Jeff Larson, Director of Solutions Design for Ocado Mobile Robot System at OIA. “Companies in third-party logistics, retail, e-commerce, distribution, and healthcare can maximize warehouse productivity and scale operations up or down easily without depending on manual forklifts and expensive certified forklift drivers.”

Automates Point-to-Point Movement of Pallets and Cages

Porter picks, moves and places pallets directly from the floor with precision, even when they are aligned back-to-back. It recognizes its surroundings to safely handle and transport heavy loads autonomously and can be configured to handle cages, increasing flexibility and expanding fulfillment capabilities.

Porter AMR features:

• An onboard touchscreen with live front-camera view, enabling associates to safely maneuver Porter in manual mode.
• A 3,300-pound (1,500 kilograms) payload capacity to transport densely packed pallets.
• The ability to transport one pallet or two roll cages on a single trip.
• Dynamic task-switching software that seamlessly transitions Porter between inventory movement and case-picking tasks as operational needs evolve.
• Advanced built-in sensors to detect, recognize and handle any open or closed standard pallet types, including Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool (CHEP), Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and European Pallet Association e.V.(EPAL) pallets.
• A slim, counterbalance-free design with a tight turning radius to operate in pallet lanes as narrow as 51 inches (1.3 meters) wide.

Streamline Warehouse Operations with Robust Integrations

Porter integrates with existing wall-to-wall fulfillment platforms, Warehouse Execution Systems (WES), Warehouse Control Systems (WCS) and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), to seamlessly prioritize tasks with minimal disruption and increase warehouse productivity. These systems can collaborate to:
• Pick and pass complex orders across multiple robots.
• Automate inbound and outbound pallet movement from Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS) from OIA or other Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
• Connect to robotic arms to deliver or pick pallets from palletizing and depalletizing areas.

Intelligent Navigation Supports Warehouse Safety

Porter’s advanced vision system enables it to navigate safely and autonomously without requiring infrastructure changes or manual intervention. Moving at speeds of up to 4.5 miles per hour, the AMR dynamically adjusts its speed when detecting people or equipment in the area, ensuring workplace safety. Porter intelligently parallel parks itself in aisles to reduce congestion, keeping operations seamless for both robots and human associates.

Porter AMR is a component of the Ocado Mobile Robot System (OMRS), an advanced fulfillment system for intelligent workflow orchestration.

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