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Tag: automation

IFOY Test Report: Jungheinrich PowerCube

Posted on by David Priestman

We turn our attention to the Jungheinrich PowerCube as we continue our look at all the IFOY Award finalists ahead of the announcement ceremony in Dortmund on June 22nd.

IFOY category: Intralogistics Robot

More efficient, faster and extremely flexible – as an automated compact storage system for containers, Jungheinrich says the PowerCube sets new standards in warehousing. Through vertical stacking of containers and time-saving storage, retrieval and transfer with high-performance lithium-ion shuttles, the easy-to-integrate warehouse solution ensures efficient processes, impressive space utilisation and a maximum increase in profitability in the era of e-commerce and just-in-time delivery.

IFOY Test Report

Since the storage and retrieval units of the PowerCube automatic compact tote storage system do not drive on top of the tote rack but underneath it, the height of the individual tote stacks can be easily adapted to the respective building infrastructure. Accordingly, it is possible to react to obstacles and, for example, adapt sloping roof shapes to the racking system, which can be up to 12m high.

Another important feature results from the 2D track system on which the shuttles perform their service. The system can be installed on standard industrial floors in accordance with DIN 18202, and floor unevenness can be levelled with levelling feet according to standards.

The maximum load of a container stack is 750kg. Containers designed for the application are used, which can take a load of up to 50kg. The maximum interior size of the containers is designed to allow the transport of standard KLTs (length x width x height: 600 x 400 x 290mm). Jungheinrich might roll out further container dimensions in the future. The PowerCube system containers are compatible with other automation solutions from the manufacturer and can also be used outside the compact storage system with the help of externally connected conveyor technology. Storage and retrieval stations or picking workstations have been implemented accordingly, but could only be visually inspected during the IFOY TEST DAYS, as could the entire system.

The newly developed shuttles move through the plant at a maximum speed of 4m/s and an acceleration of up to 2 m/s/s. The vehicles are designed for the simultaneous transport of two containers. In doing so, the shuttles are able to move automatically at the level below the rack. Since the shuttles operate at floor level, no platform is required to perform maintenance work.

With the help of appropriate relocations, the shuttles reach the containers required to process an order. During the relocations, which are limited due to the storage strategies used, another feature comes into play: The potential energy of the lifted container stacks is used for shuttle recuperation.

Shuttle charging stations are located at the workstations, but can also be installed at other locations within the plant. A fast-charging function creates the conditions for 24/7 operation of the warehouse system. A central element of the vehicles, the number of which can be adapted to the throughput requirements of the respective operator due to their scalability, is the lifting platform. This is shaped in such a way that the container is picked up positively and safely. Any positioning tolerances of the shuttle in both directions of transport can be compensated for by means of a compensation mechanism. As a result, reliable container handling is guaranteed at all times.

IFOY test verdict: Perfect use of space and time: This is how Jungheinrich defines the demands placed on the automated, compact and scalable PowerCube system. The pilot application, a retail company from Switzerland, will show whether the expectations are met. In any case, the potential is there.

IFOY Innovation Check

Market relevance: The market share of compact vertical storage systems has grown steadily over the past 10 years due to their broad applicability in production and retail with low storage space consumption. With the PowerCube, Jungheinrich is addressing a customer segment where storage heights of up to 12m with a variable height profile are desired, e.g., due to sloping ceilings. Since this applies to many existing buildings, the market potential of the solution is high. The economic efficiency is said to be given already from approximately 100 sq m storage area. The first pilot systems are currently being implemented.

Customer benefit: Due to the larger and more flexible warehouse height compared to market leader AutoStore, the PowerCube solution can achieve even better space utilisation. The robots operating underneath the store can transport up to two totes at higher speeds, making them more efficient. They can transfer totes more directly and with shorter access times (approximately two to three minutes) to output stations or conveyor systems. Maintenance is user-friendly at floor level. The installation time of less than six months is good but not exceptional, but extensions can be made almost without interruption during operation. Installation is possible without levelling the floor and different container heights can also be used.

Novelty / Innovation: Although the principle of the vertical compact storage system is not new and no serious differences to AutoStore are to be expected in terms of key figures such as compactness, throughput, costs and energy consumption, access from below is an innovation that permits new forms of use such as variable ceiling height and significantly higher storage bays and simplifies maintenance. Technical innovations in detail are the container loading weight of 50kg, an intelligently designed flap mechanism to hold the container stack in the shaft, a mechanical tolerance compensation for the container pick-up, and a quick-charge function for 24/7 operation of the robots without downtime.

Functionality / Type of implementation: PowerCube is a well thought out and high-quality solution with many potentials beyond the capabilities of AutoStore. The bins have been purposefully redesigned for the solution. Due to the operation from below, the maximum container stack weight is limited to 750kg, though. Energy recovery by the robots takes place during access. However, the system could only be inspected mechanically, not in operation. Use for refrigerated and frozen areas is in the works.

Verdict: The PowerCube vertical storage system, which has been implemented to a very high standard of quality, impresses with the possibility of flexible use of space thanks to variable heights of up to 12m and the use of the robots underneath the storage area, which results in easier maintenance and many options for dispensing goods from the system as well as a connection option to conveyor technology. A high throughput is achieved by the simultaneous pick-up of up to two totes with a load of 50kg each by one robot and its high speed.

Market relevance ++
Customer benefit ++
Novelty / Innovation +
Functionality / Type of implementation ++
[++ very good / + good / Ø balanced / – less / — not available]

 

IFOY Test Report: Continental AMR IL 1200

Posted on by David Priestman

In the run-up to the handing out of the IFOY Awards in Dortmund on June 22nd, we are running through all the 2023 finalists and share the verdict from the IFOY test conducted during the evaluation by an expert jury in March. Our next entry (alphabetically speaking) is the AMR IL 1200 from Continental Automotive Technologies GmbH.

Category: AGV / AMR

IFOY Test Report

The AMR IL 1200 automates the flow of materials in production plants, warehouses or logistics centres. The robust industrial truck is equipped with field-proven technologies: Lidar sensors for 360° detection of the environment, 3D camera systems, intelligent software and an optional ultra-wideband (UWB) transmitter for precise live tracking of the industrial truck in the fleet make the AMR a valuable device. The vehicle autonomously executes transport orders, can avoid obstacles and calculate alternative routes. An optional fleet management system can coordinate a larger fleet of AMRs.

The most important innovations of the AMR Il 1200 compared to its predecessor include an increase in travel speed to up to 2m/s, which enables even faster transport while maintaining the same level of safety. The prerequisites for this safety are created by an optimised sensor concept, which leads to an improvement in all-round protection. The optimised drive components and a reduction in the turning circle make the AMR IL 1200 even more agile and powerful than its predecessor. The company’s signature robustness and durability of the hardware combined with several new superstructures, including Cart, Load Module and Top Roller, ensure that unlike its predecessor, the AMR IL 1200 can be used for multiple applications. Other features of the industrial truck include a compact design and integrated lifting system for loads up to 1.2 tonnes.

On the course set up for the IFOY TEST DAYS, the Continental team deliberately kept the distance between the side walls at one of the transfer stations for the floor rollers (dimensions: 1,200 x 800mm), which serve as transport aids, small. In this way, the manufacturer wanted to show how precisely the autonomous industrial truck can drive into such stations.

IFOY test verdict: The AMR IL 1200 is designed for transporting loading aids in the manufacturing industry and logistics. The focus is on production logistics with heavy pallets, such as those found in the automotive industry. To broaden the application portfolio for the vehicle, various superstructures and load handling attachments are available. The compact and modern design should also be emphasised. The technical equipment allows mixed traffic with other industrial trucks and people. Calculations by the manufacturer show that the efficiency gains achieved by using the AMR IL 1200 result in savings of up to 80% of operational costs in terms of in-house transport of loading equipment.

IFOY Innovation Check:

Market relevance: The AMR IL 1200 vehicle from Continental, which has been further developed based on a predecessor vehicle, automates the transport of floor rollers in the 1200x800mm format on which euro pallets, large load carriers or comparable load carriers are transported. The market for this type of transport, correctly located by Continental itself in the production logistics of the automotive industry and the metal processing industry, has great relevance there. However, transports with floor rollers of this format are by no means used in all companies, which is why the market relevance is only rated as balanced.

Customer benefit: The manoeuvrability of the vehicle enables good user benefits. In addition, the user benefits from the vehicle’s extensive sensory equipment, which leads to the expectation of robust and trouble-free operation, as the impressive demonstration on the IFOY TEST DAYS exhibition floor showed. With the vehicle’s steering software, the functionality can be well adapted to different operational environments and tasks.

Novelty / Innovation: In the vehicle class for transporting floor rollers with pallets, a larger number of solutions are available on the market. The particularly flat and compact design combined with the multiple monitoring of the driving area, also above the scan level of the safety sensors, give the vehicle a good level of novelty that makes it stand out in the named market segment.

Functionality / Type of implementation: The AMR IL 1200 performs transport tasks reliably and also offers autonomy functions to avoid obstacles on blocked sections. The load pick-up and load delivery are solidly designed. The approaches to specified sources and sinks of a transport network require more driving surface than an area-moving vehicle with the implemented three-wheel chassis but were reliably demonstrated in the demonstration operation.

Verdict: Vehicles like the IL 1200 have a market but transports with floor rollers in the 1200x800mm format are by far not used in all companies. The manoeuvrability of the vehicle provides good benefits for the users. In this flat form combined with the good manoeuvrability, the vehicle is new and offers good functions for the user.

Market relevance Ø
Customer benefit +
Novelty / Innovation +
Functionality / Type of implementation +
KEY: ++ very good / + good / Ø balanced / – less / – – not available}

 

NEXT Streamlines Order Processing

Posted on by David Priestman

Geek+, a global leader in mobile robots for logistics, and NEXT, the British multinational clothing, footwear and home products retailer, have announced the success of their automation collaboration in NEXT’s Dearne Valley Pallet fulfilment centre. In 45,000 sq m of warehouse space, 250 Geek+ robots handle both goods-to-person picking and order sorting processes for NEXT’s e-commerce operations.

Faced with high demand and operating in the volatile fashion industry, NEXT decided to streamline its processes and scale up efficiently to meet new customer requirements. To achieve this goal, it  has sought efficient solutions including selecting Geek+ as its robotic warehouse automation partner. The hybrid “Pick-and-Sort” solution is the result of the successful co-development process between the two companies.

Liam Jenkinson, Site Manager at NEXT, said: “Working with Geek+ has been a positive experience for us, both from the start and with the ongoing support provided. The flexibility offered by Geek+’s picking and sortation system is critical to our operations, and the integration between our Warehouse Management System and Geek+’s Robot Management System is seamless. As our business continues to expand, we are planning to extend the warehouse and replicate the success of this project in the new space.”

NEXT Manages Wide Variety of Products

The process begins with the Geek+ P800 picking robots, which retrieve the pallets from the pallet transfer area and move them to the storage area for picking. Once a picking order is initiated, the robot transports the rack to a multifunctional workstation that is utilised for both the picking and sorting procedures. Once the picking is completed, the operator deposits the item onto the S20T sorting robot. The S20T robot then transfers the goods to the designated chute for the depot, while the parcel heads downstairs for packing. The flexibility of the Geek+ solution enables NEXT to manage a wide variety of products that differ in size, weight, and velocity of sale.

With this solution, NEXT can process 16,000 units per day. According to NEXT, the efficiency of the automated process is twice that of manual picking.

Brian Lee, VP of EMEA Region at Geek+, said: “NEXT is a visionary customer that placed their trust in us. We are proud to have fulfilled our promise and provided NEXT’s warehouse with our intelligent and flexible warehouse automation solutions. We are eager to replicate it in more warehouses across the UK, Europe, and around the global.”

This improved efficiency has not only enabled NEXT to handle a record volume during the last Christmas season without requiring additional labour, but it has also allowed it to push the cut-off time from 18:00 to 22:00 while still meeting its next day delivery promise. One of the advantages of the Geek+ solution is its scalability. To meet its growing demand, NEXT introduced 50 additional S20T robots earlier this year.

 

MFCs Benefit from Robotic Sorting Systems

Posted on by David Priestman

Installing outdated intralogistiics technologies will prevent micro-fulfilment centres from achieving the efficiency gains ecommerce retailers are looking for, writes Xia Huiling, founder and chief executive of LiBiao Robotics.

With online shoppers demanding more convenient and ever faster order fulfilment speeds, many online retailers are choosing to invest in micro-fulfilment centres (MFCs). MFCs are usually small footprint facilities capable of enabling fast local pick-up or delivery and are located within major population centres – close to a retailer’s customers.

So, given that the key driver for opening an urban MFC Is the ability to fulfil orders in the shortest possible time frame, why would an internet retailer specify handling methodologies or intralogistics technology for their MFC that could slow the process down? After all, your MFC unit may be in the ideal geographical location to give rapid access to your client base but that counts for nothing if the materials handling system within the building is delaying the time it takes for orders to leave the facility.

Thanks, in part, to the fact that they achieve the same parcel throughput statistics as traditional conveyor systems and yet require a significantly smaller area within which to operate, autonomous mobile robot (AMR) parcel sortation systems are increasingly seen as an ideal solution for MFC applications where, due to a site’s urban location, the square footage available is usually restricted.

And the ability to make the most of an MFC’s cramped conditions isn’t the only advantage that modern AMR systems can claim over traditional conveyor technology. Unlike conveyor-based sorting systems that often have to be completely shut down if a fault develops at any point ‘on the line’, a malfunctioning robot causes no discernible drop in a site’s throughput capacity: the problem unit is simply and quickly removed and replaced meaning the parcel sortation process never stops and the MFC is able to continue to provide the kind of swift customer response for which it is designed.

Light and easy to construct and dismantle with no fixed infrastructure requirements, modular AMR sortation systems, such as LiBiao’s ‘Mini Yellow’ series, can be easily scaled up to cope with any spikes in throughput. Capacity is increased by simply introducing additional robots as required and once the busy period has passed, units can be removed again just as effortlessly. And the technology is also fully portable – meaning systems can be switched between sites if required.

Sortation robots are easy to maintain. For instance, software errors are fixed remotely, which removes the need for an engineer to make a site visit and contributes to an AMR system’s low lifetime running costs.

Micro-fulfilment operations can increase speed, agility, and competitiveness in response to some of the challenges caused by the rapid and sustained growth of eCommerce. But implementing out-dated intralogistics technologies that are neither agile nor speedy, will mean your MFC will fail to generate the expected results, so it is essential that executives identify the solutions that will allow customer demands to be met and generate long-term value for their business.

 

Sustainable Automation

Posted on by David Priestman

Automation can help get more out of less, making it intrinsically sustainable. Automation and strategically planned intralogistics can enable businesses in diverse industries to become more eco-friendly. Global intralogistics specialist, Cimcorp has customers in two core sectors – grocery retail and the tire industry – and sustainability is becoming increasingly important in both.

Energy Efficiency

The increasing focus on sustainability, combined with high energy prices, means that energy efficiency is more important than ever. The benefit of Cimcorp’s robotic technology in terms of energy use is tangible, as the company’s gantry robots feature low energy consumption. With the structure of each gantry robot formed from aluminium, they are lightweight yet robust. As the robots are not heavy, they accelerate and move fast, optimising all the potential handling capacity for products moved in the distribution centre.

In addition, gantry robots can carry multiple crates or cases simultaneously, instead of just grabbing one. Cimcorp’s robotic crate solutions enable a maximum load of 250 kilograms at a time, with stacks being up to 2.5 meters tall. This means that high volumes can be moved and handled quickly and efficiently.

Cimcorp’s robots also reuse energy. Braking energy is recovered to the power grid, making the robots even more energy efficient. The robots can gather and feed back approximately 30% of the energy.

Fuller Trucks Mean Fewer Trucks

A Warehouse Control System helps to organise intralogistics and streamline the overall supply chain in a more sustainable way. Through optimising the loading of delivery vehicles, intelligent software enables space to be utilised more efficiently, leading to fuller trucks and therefore fewer trucks. This means fewer kilometres being driven and less pollution from exhaust fumes.

Automation can have a huge impact on sustainability in the grocery retail industry, where a faster supply chain enables longer shelf life, leading to less food waste. Optimising intralogistics can reduce the time taken for produce to travel from field to store by up to half. Cimcorp has successfully accelerated the intralogistics of food and beverage customers around the world. Examples include helping Mercadona, Spain’s biggest grocery retailer, to move produce to stores in under 24 hours and helping Olvi, the Finnish brewery, to move warehouse stock as orders to stores in under 24 hours when needed.

Reusable Crates

Many modern grocers utilise reusable plastic crates (RPCs) to replace cardboard boxes as the method of transport for fresh produce from the farm to the store shelf. Capable of thousands of journeys, RPCs have a long and sustainable lifecycle. Cimcorp’s automation solutions work perfectly with RPCs.

Automation also enhances sustainability in the tyre industry. Automated tyre intralogistics significantly reduces scrap in all process areas. With Cimcorp’s Warehouse Control System, tyre manufacturers can minimise intermediate storage and avoid unnecessary scrapping of materials. If there is any disruption to the manufacturing process, all individual tyre components can be tracked and traced to avoid scrapping of the whole inventory.

Fives Modernises La Poste Group’s Network

Posted on by David Priestman

Fives, one of the world’s most preferred partners for transforming supply chain facilities, has once again been chosen by La Poste Group for continuing the modernisation of its Colissimo network. This new project, which illustrates its confidence in Fives’ turnkey handling solutions, is part of a vast programme to renovate its parcel delivery network.

In 2017, Colissimo, the parcel delivery brand of La Poste Group, began a renovation programme covering its overall delivery network in France. This programme included the renewal of existing logistics facilities as well as the setting-up of new sorting systems to enhance the delivery service within and outside France.

Since the beginning of this ambitious plan, Fives has been playing a key role through the design and installation of handling systems in Douvrin and Les Arcs-sur-Argens, and in participating in the realisation of the sorting solution in Pontcharra. All those systems are already handed over and fully in production since 2019 and 2020 respectively.

These successful completions have driven Colissimo to select Fives again for equipping a new handling system in Rouen, Normandie: the two companies have been collaborating for several years in various projects based on the highly-valued GENI-Belt technology muchly appreciated for its intrinsic reliability and accuracy.

Fives’ engineers have designed the final system layout in collaboration with Colissimo’s experts to come up with the best possible solution that complies with both functionality expectations and customer’s budget.

The system will be equipped with two overlapped GENI-Belt cross-belt sorters with a length of more than 1km, several GENI-Feed high-speed induction lines and hundreds chutes to feed minivans, roller cages and trucks to deliver parcels locally and internationally.

Scalable solution

In summer 2024, Colissimo will be able to sort more than 300,000 items a day in its Rouen Normandie’s hub. However, we know that nowadays parcel flows are unpredictable: for this reason, Fives has designed a scalable solution that can increase the system capacity up to 116% of its nominal throughput with the minimum effort and investment.

“We are proud to collaborate once again with such an important player as La Poste Group,” states Benjamin Le Moult, Sales Manager & Key Account Manager GeoPost at Fives Intralogistics SpA. “After many projects completed for La Poste Group seeing that they trust again in our company, illustrates that the expertise collected in all these years of activity and the efforts we have made to fine-tune our technologies, have paid off.”

 

Flooring ‘Revolution’ for Warehouse Robots

Posted on by David Priestman

Hi-Level Mezzanines is launching Hi-Tile, an innovative robot-ready flooring system that meets the demands of the booming global logistics automation sector. Hi-Tile uses robust interlocking 7mm textured PVC tiles to create what it describes as the most durable, cost-effective flooring on the market.

Hi-Tile’s high point load, electrostatic resistance and anti-slip surface make it an ideal partner to robotics solutions. It is already in use by Geek+ Robotics and with Locus’ Directed Picking technology.

“The tile option is a great way to create a perfect floor very, very quickly,” says Simon Houghton of Geek+ Robotics.

“Hi-Tile is the cost-effective solution the market has been waiting for,” adds Chris Baxter, Hi-Level Mezzanines Sales Director.

Hi-Tile is being successfully used by clients including High Street retailers, supermarkets, 3PLs, specialist logistics firms and e-commerce wholesalers. Installations range from 200 to 9,000 sq m for warehousing, production, automation and robotics environments.

The right time

Launch of Hi-Tile comes at just the right time. The global logistics automation market was valued at £30.16 bn and is expected to reach over £93.11 bn by 2027, according to UK Manufacturing, which credits the demand for industrial robots as driving much of that growth. Warehouse automation experts expect to see an increase in adoption over the next five  years, driven by the ongoing labour shortage, a more integrated warehouse and the introduction of better and more affordable solutions.

Hi-Tile is not only half the price of steel plates on timber board, it is also moisture resistant so avoids the cracking and blistering seen with epoxy resin floors. Minimal subfloor preparation is required, so Hi-Tile flooring can be installed over uneven or damp slabs. With a 10-year wearability warranty, it is described by Hi-Level Mezzanines as an outstanding improvement on brittle phenolic (laminate) decking panels.

More advantages include a range of 11 colours so clients can demarcate particular areas of floor for walkways or storage areas, or for health and safety reasons. Hi-Tile is quick to install and easy to clean and maintain. Made of 100% recyclable PVC, it also has green credentials.

Created by Hi-Level Mezzanines’ structural engineers, the innovative Hi-Tile system was tested with a global robot provider in China – with 68,000 cycles on a 150kg payload – and a leading supermarket chain in the UK. Hi-Level Mezzanines then acquired sole rights to sell it for use with robotics on mezzanines in the UK and mainland Europe.

 

Improved Vacuum Grippers from COVAL

Posted on by David Priestman

COVAL offers manufacturers a range of vacuum grippers suitable for handling of parts of various sizes, weights, and materials. This gripper range has been extended with the latest CMS HD series multistage vacuum pumps, developed by COVAL.

COVAL’s range of vacuum grippers is based on two complementary solutions. The CVGL is characterised by its lightness and great adaptability. It is available as standard in several lengths, power ratings, and gripping interfaces.

The MVG, on the other hand, offers the possibility of configuring the gripper to allow it to be perfectly adapted to each application by determining the length, width, gripping interface, and vacuum generator while guaranteeing extreme lightness. It offers a tailored solution that integrates perfectly with handling robots.

COVAL’s new generation of vacuum grippers now incorporate the latest CMS HD series of vacuum pumps. These pumps have a heavy-duty design for high reliability even in harsh environments (IP65), capable of ensuring 50 million cycles. A factor of the pump’s longevity is their modular design which allows specific configurations and targeted maintenance of specific parts to optimise repairability. As a result, the new generation of CMS HD multistage pumps adds to the vacuum grippers’ reliability and adaptability.

Vacuum Grippers Become Intelligent

The new COVAL vacuum grippers offer a choice of three multistage vacuum pump configurations, depending on the needs of the integrator or end user: non-piloted, piloted, and communicating. The communicating configuration, which makes the vacuum grippers easier to use and parameterise, is obtained by integrating the CMS HD VX version of the multistage pump.

The VX pump version features an IO-Link communication interface, compliant with the international IEC 61131-9 standard, for fast and cost-effective installation, continuous diagnostics, centralised parameterisation, and efficient communication with higher-level protocols (EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, EtherCAT, etc.). It can also support a Human Machine Interface (HMI) with NFC interface, enabling the operator to read and modify setup parameters and diagnostics from a mobile device (Android or iOS) using the dedicated COVAL Vacuum Manager app.

With these pump capabilities, the new generation of COVAL vacuum grippers become even more versatile and perfectly compatible with the robot systems at the heart of Industry 4.0.

Thanks to their great modularity and ease of integration in all contexts, CVGL and MVG vacuum grippers can be found in many industries: packaging, plastic, metal, and wood for handling porous and non-porous objects.

 

Brightpick Autopicker on show at LogiMAT

Posted on by David Priestman

Brightpick, a leading provider of warehouse automation solutions for order fulfilment, will be demonstrating its recently announced Brightpick Autopicker at LogiMAT booth EO31 (April 25-27, 2023, in Stuttgart, Germany). Designed for ecommerce and grocery order fulfilment, Brightpick Autopickers move around the warehouse, retrieve product storage totes (bins) from shelving, and robotically pick items from those totes to consolidate orders directly in the aisles.

The fully autonomous, end-to-end robotic solution takes less than a month to deploy, enables warehouses to reduce their picking labour by 95%, and cuts costs for order fulfilment by half. It can reliably pick groceries, cosmetics, personal care products, electronics, pharmaceuticals, apparel and more with 99.9% accuracy.

“The response to Brightpick Autopicker has been fabulous so far and we look forward to showing off its capabilities to the European market,” said Jan Zizka, CEO and co-founder of Brightpick, who will be at LogiMAT with the Brightpick team. “Never before has there been a commercially-available robot capable of autonomously moving around the warehouse and picking items as it goes.”

A typical Brightpick Autopicker fleet in a warehouse consists of 15 to 100 robots. The entire fleet and fulfilment process is orchestrated and optimised by Brightpick Intuition software, which allows users to remotely monitor and control all aspects of their fulfilment operations, tracking every robot, order, tote and item code in real time. Brightpick Autopicker is fully patented and powered by proprietary machine vision and AI algorithms. Its advanced AI algorithms have been trained on more than 250 million picks to date and use machine learning to improve with each pick.

Brightpick Autopicker also comes with Goods-to-Person capabilities for items that require human dexterity and can autonomously find the nearest human to complete a pick if needed.

The robots work with standard warehouse shelving and totes, enabling fast deployment and easy integration with any warehouse environment, including existing operations and mezzanines.

The solution has 99.5% uptime, no single point of failure and is easy to maintain. Brightpick Autopickers can also be used to replenish storage and consolidate orders across different picking zones. Additional Brightpick Autopickers can be easily added to increase throughput for seasonal peaks.

Several companies in the US and Europe plan to roll out Brightpick Autopicker in their warehouses in 2023. The Brightpick solution is available in two purchase models: robots-as-a-service (RaaS) and capex (outright purchase).

Brightpick CEO and co-founder, Jan Zizka, Chief Revenue Officer and co-founder, Branislav Pulis, and director of product, Martin Mrva, will all be at LogiMAT along with other Brightpick team members.

 

Plus One Demonstrates Human-in-the-Loop Solutions

Posted on by David Priestman

Plus One Robotics, a provider of advanced robot perception software and solutions for parcel handling systems, will be demonstrating its human-in-the-loop remote supervisor software, Yonder, in booth 6C11 in Hall 6 at LogiMAT 2023 at the Messe Stuttgart convention centre.

By participating in the Yonder demonstration, attendees will be provided an opportunity to act as a ‘Crew Chief’ and remotely control and command a robot in the Plus One Utrecht Customer Experience Centre to pick and place using their de-palletising system for random mixed pallets. With Yonder, remotely located humans can supervise multiple robots from any location, speeding the robot’s ability to handle exceptions. The AI system learns from this intervention to further improve its capabilities if similar situations occur in the future, helping to minimise downtime and enabling 24/7 fulfilment.

PickOne with Yonder enables companies to be more efficient and cost effective with very precise, high-speed robotic picking and automated sortation. Using award-winning AI vision software in conjunction with the company’s unique end-of-arm robot grippers, PickOne optimises the picking and depalletising of mixed parcels, bags, pallets, and products for high-volume ecommerce fulfilment and distribution centres.

 

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