Subscribe

Tag: robotics

DHL extends Locus Robotics collaboration

Posted on by David Priestman

DHL Supply Chain has agreed to expand its collaboration with Locus Robotics. Initial investments in assisted picking robots have proven effective in commercially scaled operations, and this multi-million dollar agreement will enhance DHL’s wider Accelerated Digitalisation Strategy.

By 2022, the supply chain specialist plans to take on up to 2,000 robots, then being by far the largest customer of Locus Robotics worldwide. The assisted picking robots are mostly used in e-commerce or consumer warehouses to help with picking and inventory replenishment, thereby increasing efficiency and accelerating delivery processes.

“It is particularly important for us to be able to consistently optimise our supply chains – assisted picking robots are very effective in this respect,” says Markus Voss, Global CIO & COO DHL Supply Chain. “So far, more than 500 assisted picking robots are already in industrial use in our warehouses in the USA, Europe and the UK. By the end of 2021, another 500 robots are to be added in a total of more than 20 locations.

“The collaborative picking technology has clearly proven its effectiveness and reliability in modern warehousing. More locations have already been identified with concrete implementation roadmaps for the remaining robots, which we will deploy in 2022. However, the overall potential for assisted picking robots in our DHL warehouses is much bigger, so we are confident that we will meet the targets we have set ourselves together with Locus Robotics.”

Further implementing these robots is one step in DHL Supply Chain’s Accelerated Digitalisation Strategy. Assisted picking robots help reduce time spent on manoeuvring pushcarts through warehouses, lower physical strain on employees, and increase picking efficiency. Assisted picking robots display images of goods to be picked, calculate optimal navigation routes and reduce required training time.

“Also, they can be swiftly integrated into the warehouse system landscape via DHL Supply Chain’s Robotics Hub and are well received by staff. In addition, during peak operational periods the robots provide an optimal solution for capacity expansion as we can swiftly bring in more robots with minimal onboarding effort to the existing fleet.

“Our expanded partnership with DHL reflects the increasing demand for warehouse digitalisation worldwide to meet today’s exploding fulfilment challenges,” said Rick Faulk, CEO, Locus Robotics. “Locus is proud to be a valued technology resource that is helping DHL realise their strategic vision of digital transformation.”

The pandemic has accelerated the booming trend of e-commerce, which makes the labour-intensive picking process in e-fulfilment play an even bigger and more critical role in meeting high end-customers’ demands. These trends speeded up the introduction of new technologies and automation in various industries, but especially in warehousing. It has also shown what the “supply chains of the future” may look like and that the world must quickly adapt to new challenges.

DHL Supply Chain is constantly assessing which of the implemented technologies will make their way into the warehouses permanently in order to further optimise processes. In addition to these tangible robotic solutions, DHL Supply Chain relies on software and cockpit solutions that can provide real-time information on the status of the global service logistics network of their customers. Accessing the pool of big data and implementing algorithms and artificial intelligence has proven to be a “game changer” in global supply chain planning and will be rolled out further.

Robot vision and AI combine for advanced automation

Posted on by David Priestman

Robots are gradually becoming an integral part of modern processes in logistics and many other industries. Replacing humans with robots for specific tasks brings many benefits – from higher productivity and efficiency to decreased costs and minimised risk of injuries. Freeing employees from repetitive jobs for more valuable, high-impact tasks that require creativity and critical thinking increases their motivation and eagerness, which, in turn, eliminates the risk of human errors.

Automation is certainly the way to go for any forward-looking business – but how to choose from the immense amount of solutions that are available on the market? What makes a solution better or more advanced than others?

For a robot to be able to perform tasks that were done manually before – and to do it as reliably as humans and even better – robots need to “see” and “understand”. That’s the essence of the most advanced high-tech smart solutions that enable businesses to push their processes to the next level of innovation and modernity.

Automation solutions that boost logistical processes

One of the leading companies in the sector of vision-guided, intelligent robotics for industrial applications is Photoneo. The company combines its in-house developed 3D machine vision systems with advanced AI algorithms to provide smart automation solutions for logistics, e-commerce, and other sectors. Photoneo’s automation systems help logistical companies process large volumes of parcels, boxes, and other items by deploying robots equipped with high-end 3D vision and intelligence.

These systems include the Universal Depalletizer for automated unloading of pallets laden with mixed types of boxes and the Singulation and Sorting System for robotic processing of large, unstructured loads of parcels and envelopes.

The basic principle of both systems is that they first scan an entire pile of items, recognize the individual objects in the pile, localise them and decide which one to pick, and then send a command to the robot to perform the picking action. The robot is equipped with a vacuum gripper with a suction cup and can achieve a picking accuracy of ±3mm.

The cycle time is only limited by the speed of the robot. The Universal Depalletizer can generally unload 1,600 boxes in one hour and the Singulation and Sorting System can process 2,500 parcels per hour.

Robotic vision – seeing in 3D

Photoneo equips robots with its industrial-grade PhoXi 3D Scanners, which provide a point cloud resolution of up to 3 million 3D points and an accuracy of 25-500μm across its five models. Each model is suitable for a different scanning range – from 15cm up to 4m.

The scanners provide superior performance even in demanding light conditions, such as brightly lit halls, thanks to the ambient light suppression technology. Their powering versatility allows users to use a single cable to get both electric power and data connection – the Power over Ethernet. Alternatively, the devices can be powered by 24V. Thanks to the IP65 protection rating, PhoXi 3D Scanners are dust-tight and protected against low-pressure jets of water coming from any direction and at any angle.

Besides PhoXi 3D Scanners, which enable robots to “see” 3D scenes that are static, Photoneo also developed a revolutionary technology that enables a high-quality 3D reconstruction of moving objects. The industrial 3D camera named MotionCam-3D enables a snapshot area capture of scenes moving up to 140km/h with a resolution of up to 0,9Mpx (and 2Mpx in the static mode). It’s five models, ranging from S, S+, M, M+ to L, enable the recognition of small packages as well as large boxes coming on a conveyor belt, for instance.

Robotic intelligence and the most advanced approach to object localisation

After a scan is made, it is transferred to a 3D texture dataset to be processed by Photoneo’s AI algorithms. For object segmentation and localisation on the basis of texture and 3D data, the systems use the most advanced approach to object classification and pattern recognition – a convolutional neural network (CNN). Because the network was trained on a large dataset of objects and thanks to its ability to generalise, it can quickly recognise even objects that it has never “seen” before.

Therefore, the parcels and boxes may come in any shape, size, material, colour, texture, position, or orientation. The objects may be irregularly shaped, deformed, placed randomly, and even tilted at an angle. The systems also master challenging surfaces such as black, glossy, or covered with various pictures, patterns, shipping labels, or protruding tapes. The depalletisation solution is even able to easily differentiate gaps between the individual boxes and those between their flaps.

Photoneo systems for automated depalletisation and singulation and sorting of parcels are universal, which enables them to work with any type of boxes or parcels out of the box, without requiring any further training. Another big plus is that the systems are compatible with a wide range of robot models.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RbGpQWp-O4

 

Körber and Balyo sign strategic partnership

Posted on by David Priestman

In signing a strategic partnership, Körber and Balyo, an integrator and developer of advanced autonomous fork-lift robots, will provide businesses worldwide with the latest technology in autonomous material handling equipment (MHE).

Balyo bridges the gap between traditional material handling equipment (MHE) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). This includes forklift trucks, tow tractors (for tugging applications), stackers (for floors/low level pallet movements) and reach-robots (for high racks). Through PL-d level safety sensors and proprietary ‘Driven by Balyo’ technology for autonomous operations, robotic MHE can be seamlessly integrated into existing operations without the need for additional or change in clients’ infrastructures.

Robots are already increasingly supporting businesses around the globe to tackle challenges in goods movements in the warehouse. The partnership opens up new opportunities to businesses. Kӧrber will work with Balyo to integrate its range of robotics to overcome challenges associated with full pallets, bulk movements and heavy goods. The result is flexibility, agility and scalability – smoothly increasing throughput and productivity with company growth.

The solutions also enhance employee safety and efficiency. A safer work setting is provided through smart safety and stop-and-go features – scanning the environment in real time for obstructions and instructing the robotic truck or tow tractor to move or stop accordingly. The robotic lift trucks also overcome labour shortages. Rather than replacing employees, the solution enables them to carry out more valuable tasks while working alongside the robots.

Pascal Rialland, CEO of Balyo comments: “We are very pleased to pursue this collaboration with Kӧrber as we continue to develop a partner network that meets local and global needs for industry verticals and logistics customers. Kӧrber’s expertise in warehousing and logistics and their global presence reinforce the complementary nature of our two companies and are a major asset for deploying Balyo complementary solutions to our customers.”

Nishan Wijemanne, Global Leader AMR/Robotics, Körber Business Area Supply Chain explains: “Flexibility, adaptability and precision are everything in today’s supply chain. Our partnership with Balyo is a testament to Körber’s dedication to offer the right tools to make this a reality. Robotics bring a new level of performance to warehousing and logistics. Our expertise combined with Balyo’s unique solutions will empower business around the world to conquer today’s complexities and to evolve with consumer and industry demands to capitalise on all the future holds.”

Webinar: Intelligent automation with smart robots

Posted on by David Priestman

Geek+ is presenting a webinar entitled How to deliver intelligent automation in supply chain & logistics, showing how companies can benefit from autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and how smart logistics solutions are helping a wide range of businesses build supply chain resilience and gain competitiveness.

Today, businesses everywhere face a wide range of challenges caused by the rise of e-commerce and widespread labour shortages. As CoVID-19 and following safety measures have intensified the need for online shopping, warehouse professionals have started to consider the benefits of robotics-driven automation for more efficient supply chain operations. AMRs are flexible, cost-effective, and scalable – a must to respond quickly to changes in demand and increase business resilience.

Robotics is a fast-growing industry – and so are the trends and opportunities for how robots can be applied. Powered by algorithms and intelligent software, robotics-enabled logistics solutions, such as Goods-to-Person and Bin-to-Person solutions, continue to evolve.

The are many benefits provided by AMRs. First and foremost, they support the existing workforce, making labour more productive by taking over time-consuming tasks such as finding and moving around the warehouse. Once an incoming good has been registered, a robot will choose the quickest route to find and move the item to an employee positioned at a workstation.

They also offer opportunities for optimizing warehouse layout. Due to the robots’ size and robot-compatible racking, more racks can be installed for more storage capacity. By optimising labour and real-estate utilisation, robotics-powered warehouses can lead to a three-fold increase in labour productivity and improved inventory capacity by 40%.

Want to know how your company can benefit from AMRs and how smart logistics solutions are helping a wide range of businesses build supply chain resilience and gain competitiveness? Sign up for Geek+’s webinar “How to deliver intelligent automation in supply chain & logistics”, hosted by Geek+’s Simon Houghton, Head of Sales & Marketing for UK & Ireland, and James Mottershead, Solution Specialist – Voice & AMR, Körber Supply Chain. The free, 1-hour long webinar will be on 27th May, 11:00BST/12:00 CEST. Places are limited. Sign up here for the webinar.

About the hosts

Simon Houghton has been part of the distribution, logistics, and supply chain sectors for over 30 years, having worked for large systems integrators, warehouse storage companies and managing a national distribution centre for over 10 years. He leverages his supply chain experience to help customers solve their pain points with robotics solutions which he sees as changing how we view automation in the warehouse environment in the next decade.

James Mottershead has 20 years’ experience within the logistics industry such as a Purchasing and Warehouse Manager. At Körber, he works in partnership with the Development, Implementation, and Sales teams. In his role, he reviews and understands complex logistics operations to find solutions to operational and IT problems, ensuring that “best practice” processes are always adhered to.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE WEBINAR

Geek+ improves Siemens’ storage efficiency by 250%

Posted on by David Priestman

Geek+, a global AMR leader, has successfully deployed AMRs in Siemens Switchgear Shanghai’s factory. By implementing a fully automated and flexible system, combining four AI-driven robotics solutions, the world-leading manufacturer has committed to provide better service to its customers and join industry 4.0.

Siemens Switchgear Shanghai started to consider automation after the company experienced a surge in demand for customised equipment, putting a strain on an already complex production process subject to inefficient storage of raw materials, labour-intensive material handling, and low visibility of the production process. After evaluating several automation solutions, the company chose the Geek+ solution to realise a more dynamic and efficient production process.

Through the seamless collaboration of four types of AI-driven logistics robots, including P800 Goods-to-Person robot, C200S Bin-to-Person robot, four-way shuttle, and heavy-load handling robot M1000, Geek+ has consolidated the process for receiving raw materials, quality checking, storing, outbound collection, and transportation of raw materials from storage to the production line. With 2-3 times more storage capacity, 99.99% accurate operations, 2.5 times storing efficiency, outbound collection process improved by 2.15 times, and 30% less manual labour needed, Geek+ has helped the customer streamline operations and realise an intelligent upgrade.

Intelligent robots can be easily integrated with other equipment and existing infrastructure, allowing a more dynamic installation. This has allowed the manufacturer to secure record-high production levels throughout the implementation process. Additionally, intelligent robots enable real-time visualisation of inventory as well as the unification of material information and the physical logistics scenarios, making it easier to follow, control, and adjust the manufacturing process.

Flexibility also implies a more responsive system that, powered by intelligent algorithms and heat map software technology, will adjust the logistics operations daily according to the production plan, for maximum efficiency.

Yong Zheng, CEO and founder of Geek+, says: “We are very happy that Siemens Switchgear Shanghai has chosen our solutions and look forward to continuing to work together to improve the production process. Since the life-cycle of products is becoming shorter and shorter while requirements for more customisation continue to rise, there’s a general need for more flexibility in industrial settings.

“Autonomous mobile robots represent a flexible automation technology that allows companies to adjust to market changes and realise rapid capacity expansion. Compared with traditional automation solutions, robot deployment is faster.”

By automating using Geek+‘s wide range of robotics hardware, Siemens Switchgear Shanghai has committed to providing better customer service and a safer environment for warehouse employees. Through the integration of big data and the opportunity to fine-tune the system, the manufacturer will continue to evolve and compete globally as we move towards industry 4.0.

Universal Robots unveils enhanced cobot

Posted on by David Priestman

Universal Robots (UR) is launching an enhanced version of its best-selling robot – UR10e – with an increased payload of 12.5kg, creating new possibilities for applications such as palletising, machine tending, and packaging. The robot’s price remains unchanged. “Universal Robots is committed to continuous improvement based on meaningful conversations with customers and our ability to address critical market opportunities. Our customers have already deployed UR cobots on a wide variety of palletising applications. Over time, they have identified opportunities to utilise our UR10e cobot in handling tasks with heavier items,” says Kim Povlsen, President of Universal Robots.

“In response to this demand, we have enhanced the UR10e to support greater payloads, providing customers with exciting new deployment capabilities.

”The enhanced UR10e retains the small footprint, intuitive programming experience, uncompromising repeatability, commitment to quality, and trusted performance that Universal Robots customers have come to expect, but its increased payload capacity means that users can now do more:

  • The UR10e can now be used in palletising applications with cartons weighing up to 10kg and a 2.5kg gripper
  • The UR10e is now more versatile for other material handling tasks, too, such as loading and unloading heavier workpieces in machine tending deployments and packaging of heavy items
  • The enhanced UR10e’s greater payload takes more weight from the hands and shoulders of humans, leading to improved ergonomics and working conditions. With overexertion and repetitive motion accounting for an estimated 24% and 8% of workplace injuries respectively in the US alone, this provides significant relief to human workers

“Humans are not designed to lift heavy goods repeatedly, but our cobots handle these tasks with ease. By taking over unergonomic activities, UR cobots boost productivity, improve product quality, and help businesses rethink how to best use the creative and problem-solving abilities of their workforce –all while keeping people safe,” says Kim Povlsen.

Feedback from UR partners has been extremely positive; MBO Postpress Solutions in Germany has integrated the UR10e as part of its CoBo-Stack stacking cobot. “Increasing the payload of the UR10e will make our MBO CoBo-Stack much more profitable for our customers by expanding their application possibilities to include larger packages and heavier products, such as perfect bound or saddle stitched catalogues and brochures,” says Sebastian König, Head of Research & Development at MBO Postpress Solutions GmbH.

In addition, the updated UR10e also provides plug-and-play compatibility with products from Universal Robots’ UR+ ecosystem of hardware and software peripherals, ensuring that users can quickly and easily get started with collaborative applications.

Nicolas Lauzier, Senior Product Manager at Robotiq comments: “The greater payload of UR10e makes a big difference to palletising applications by enabling users to handle loads up to 12.5kg in weight. And with 25% greater automation potential, it also means that the UR10e can help whenever there is a single line that needs to palletise a wide range of products of different weights.”

Orders can be placed with UR distributors globally now, with shipments of the new UR10e scheduled to start in the second half of June 2021.

 

 

Starship quadruples autonomous deliveries during pandemic

Posted on by David Priestman

Starship Technologies, a leading provider of autonomous delivery services, has announced that its delivery numbers have quadrupled globally since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the service is now available to one million people around the world.

“This past year has been a game-changer for autonomous delivery, moving adoption ahead by years,” said Ahti Heinla, Co-founder and CEO of Starship Technologies. “When we launched commercial delivery three years ago, we didn’t expect to be at the point we are today. We marked the significant milestone of one million deliveries in January 2021 and we’ve since surpassed 1.5 million deliveries. These rapid developments have also helped us scale the business, so we can provide a lower cost of delivery than any other option available.”

As well as offering a reliable way to protect vulnerable populations and adhere to social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, contactless delivery offerings such as Starship’s service have also proved to be a vital revenue stream for local businesses. In the last 12+ months, Starship has partnered with 40 independent merchants in Milton Keynes and Northampton, enabling these companies to offer a delivery service to local residents that they didn’t previously provide in order to continue operations.

One of these businesses that has thrived in the last year is St Mary’s Chippy, a local fish and chip takeaway in Milton Keynes offering contactless delivery using Starship’s fleet of 100+ robots in the town.

“Over the last 12 months during the pandemic we’ve faced a very difficult time as have many local businesses with the lockdowns and guidelines around when and how we’ve been able to stay open,” said Tony Paolucci, Owner of St Mary’s Chippy in Milton Keynes. “However, partnering with Starship has provided a lifeline as it has enabled us to offer delivery services to customers that we didn’t provide previously as a walk in takeaway. In the last year we’ve seen our order numbers grow by 15% through using the robots. It’s a fantastic service!”

Starship Technologies operates commercially on a daily basis around the world. Its zero-emission robots have made more than 1.5 million autonomous deliveries, more than any other autonomous delivery company in the world, travelled millions of miles and make more than 80,000 road crossings every day. The company has raised $102m in funding to date.

The Starship Food Delivery app is available for download on iOS and Android. To get started, users choose from a range of their favourite food or drink items, then drop a pin where they want their delivery to be sent. They can then watch as the robot makes its journey to them, via an interactive map. Once the robot arrives, they receive an alert, and can then meet and unlock it through the app.

RMGroup partners with ASTI Mobile Robotics

Posted on by David Priestman

Robotics and automation specialist RMGroup has announced a distributor partnership with ASTI Mobile Robotics, a leading European manufacturer of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs). The move will see RMGroup include AGVs and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in its extensive product portfolio of packaging machinery and robotic automation solutions.

ASTI Mobile Robotics Group, with offices in Spain, Germany, France and United States, provides automated intralogistics solutions for large manufacturers, helping them to optimise productivity, streamlining production processes and cutting operational costs.

The company specialises in the engineering of Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs), serving global blue-chip customers across a wide range of sectors, including automotive, aerospace, food, e-commerce, pharmaceutical and cosmetics. As part of its commitment to excellence and continuous improvement of its products and services, ASTI Mobile Robotics invests heavily in research and development year after year.

Having recently become the first integrator in the UK to be accredited under the RIA/BARA Robot Integrators’ Certification Scheme, the RMGroup supplies and manufactures a wide range of manual and automated packaging systems, including manual bagging machines, weighing systems, robot palletising systems, bulk filling and material handling systems, as well as supplying high-speed form fill and seal packaging lines.

Operating in the food & beverage, horticultural, aggregates, chemicals and agricultural industries, the company’s partnership with ASTI Mobile Robotics will provide a complementary offering.

Commenting on the partnership, RMGroup’s Rosie Davies, said: “Becoming a partner of ASTI Mobile Robotics provides a natural extension of our automation capabilities, meaning that we can now offer a seamless, integrated solution for all product and pallet handling requirements. Together we have a shared desire to remain the leaders in innovation within our respective fields, which will in turn provide a unique and unrivalled platform to support our customers.”

“We have key synergies with the RMGroup, who share similar core values. We very much look forward to developing our relationship in the future and creating opportunities to add value,” added Borja González López, ASTI’s partner network manager.

Interoperability solves robot fleet communication issues

Posted on by David Priestman

Meili Robots has created a report to explore the robotics market, highlight the pain points of robotic fleets becoming more diverse, and propose a universal solution as interoperability issues seem to be arising more frequently across industries.

As robotic fleets become more diverse and autonomous in both industrial settings and public spaces, it is now more important than ever to raise awareness of the wide variety of issues that can arise due to the lack of interoperability.

Along with increased robotics implementation and automation comes an extended focus on a number of technologies – such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, Industry 4.0 – which will continue to drive the robotics market growth.

The report covers the trends that are currently shaping the market, how certain technologies are influencing the robotics industry, how robotic fleets are becoming more diverse and autonomous, and what role interoperability plays in all this.

What You Will Learn:

  • Everything you need to know about interoperability
  • The most interesting trends in the robotics industry
  • What industry experts are saying about interoperability
  • Attractive opportunities and major challenges in the market
  • A case study about Project START

Click here to download the report.

GreyOrange forms UK partnership with Logistex

Posted on by David Priestman

GreyOrange, a global software and robotics provider that leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to optimise fulfilment operations, has partnered with Logistex, a provider of automated materials handling and WMS solutions for warehousing operations. The strategic partnership leverages Logistex’s influence in the UK market to support GreyOrange robotics-enabled fulfilment technology offerings in the region.

“Logistex has a long-standing history of supporting UK supply chain operations with technical expertise, operational support and a range of other supply and distribution solutions, making them the perfect partner to help GreyOrange drive UK operations and sales,” said Jeff Cashman, Chief Operating Officer, GreyOrange.

The partnership delivers solutions that combine Logistex’s LWS Reflex software with GreyOrange’s industry-leading AI-enabled software GreyMatter and Ranger series robots to expand both companies’ customer bases. LWS Reflex seamlessly unifies point automation into an integrated solution, providing management teams with clear, real-time visibility of overall operations and comprehensive management information through its complementary Business Intelligence system Analytex.

“As a global leader in robotics technology, GreyOrange in partnership with Logistex can provide UK customers with leading edge robotics solutions,” said Jerry Woodhouse, Managing Director, Logistex. “This is a strategically important development that meets the needs of UK warehouse operators facing the combined challenges of a rapidly moving ecommerce marketplace, rising costs and a reducing pool of available labour.”

The GreyMatter Fulfillment Operating System uses advanced fulfilment science to instantaneously evaluate order data and compose the best decisions in real-time to efficiently orchestrate people, processes and robots. The result is a fast, agile and precisely tuned operation equipped to perpetually meet the what-when-where expectations of every growing marketplace. GreyMatter rapidly responds to real-time exceptions and events, prescribes actions, and orchestrates integrated and frictionless performance across every fulfilment node.

As GreyMatter continuously assesses distribution centre performance, it deploys intelligent Ranger robots that are purpose-built to work with each other and people to handle a range of tasks across the DC, including transporting inventory to eliminate heavy-lifting and mile-walking for warehouse associates, supporting associates with picking and order consolidation, conveying inventory and packages, sorting packages by destinations, and transporting packages, pallets and trolleys.

 

Subscribe

Get notified about New Episodes of our Podcast, New Magazine Issues and stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter.