The use of autonomous robots is becoming more and more prevalent in all types of industry, increasing productivity while boosting safety and reducing costs at the same time. These solutions are key to warehouse automation, carrying out tasks that are difficult for human personnel to execute with the appropriate level of effectiveness and efficiency.
But these autonomous industrial robots come in a variety of different types, each suited to its own particular role. So how do you select the best option for your business? Read on to explore this in more detail.
Autonomous industrial robots are available in a number of different types. Generally, we divide these robots into categories based on their level of autonomy and AI.
1
Smart or intelligent robots do not rely on a programmed set of instructions as they operate. Instead, they are truly autonomous, gathering data in real time and making decisions according to these datasets. This makes them suited for more complex tasks in which environmental awareness and understanding is necessary.
Example: AMRs
Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) utilize machine learning and artificial intelligence to make sense of their surroundings and to grow their understanding as they operate. Often used for picking and packing orders in a warehouse environment, AMRs are revolutionizing industrial spaces by increasing efficiency and reducing costs across the board.
2
Adaptive robots will be programmed to an extent but will also gather data regarding their surroundings and their operating conditions. This makes them more sophisticated than their programmable counterparts, but less so than more fully autonomous devices such as AMRs.
Example: AGVs
Automatic Guided Vehicles (AGVs), are programmed to follow specific routes as they move around industrial spaces. However, they will need to be fitted with sensors that help them to respond to changes in their surroundings, supporting safe operation. The most sophisticated AGVs may be able to handle more complex environments, opening doors and negotiating obstacles as they travel around the site. These solutions are commonly deployed in materials handling operations, moving items from point A to point B.
3
Programmable robots work autonomously but require human input to tell them what to do. These robots are highly suited to repetitive tasks, such as precise manufacturing operations.
Example: Robot Arms
A programmable robot arm does not need to gather information from its surroundings. Instead, it will simply follow its programmed instructions, replicating each task with precision and reliability.
Investment in advanced automation needs to be worthwhile – it needs to be cost-effective and able to provide tangible advantages to your business. The clients we work with tend to agree that this investment is worthwhile, and they report a number of different benefits of adopting industrial robots within their own operational setup.
1
Robots are very well suited to carrying out repetitive tasks, over and over again, with no reduction in accuracy or speed. Your personnel, on the other hand, are not suited to this kind of work, and human error can prove expensive and damaging to businesses. Even well-trained teams can find themselves prone to errors and mistakes, which can increase operational costs.
With industrial robots, reliability is greatly increased. These robots can integrate directly with quality assurance and quality control processes, allowing organizations to effectively guarantee the quality of the products they offer. Again, this is simply not possible with even the very best-trained human teams.
2
Throughput is where businesses can maximize the return on investment with industrial robots. These robots improve efficiency, enabling more tasks to be completed across a shorter time period. The robots do not need breaks or periods of respite, enabling organizations to increase productivity on an enormous scale.
The solutions are not designed to replace human personnel but to support them by handling tasks that are not so suitable for these humans. Robots complete these tasks with increased speed and reliability, enabling businesses to promise more to their customers, and to their partners up and down the supply chain, and deliver on this time and time again.
3
When you deploy robots within your operational setup, you are helping to ensure optimized levels of safety right across your facility. Robotic solutions reduce the need for human personnel to move around the warehouse space, reducing the potential for accidents. Automated and artificially intelligent systems take many of the heavy lifting and repetitive inventory management tasks around the site, reducing the risk to human personnel.
All of this makes it easier for businesses to meet regulatory compliance requirements. All businesses have a duty to provide safe working environments for their personnel, and automated systems help to ensure this is the case.
4
With autonomous industrial robots working within your operational environment, you will be able to significantly reduce your reliance on human personnel and contracts. While industrial robots do not replace human operators and teams, you will find that you are able to scale effectively, adding new capabilities and extending capacity without needing to hire whole new teams of employees to cover this.
Increased efficiency will of course enable you to deliver on projects and orders more quickly, boosting your revenue. Meanwhile, enhanced quality control and reliability to help you to lessen the impact of shrinkage and wastage.
Here at Process Equipment & Controls, we work with clients to help them understand which robots are best suited to their specific needs. For instance, a smart or intelligent industrial robot will be necessary for introducing full automation in a complex and ever-changing environment like a distribution center. On the other hand, repetitive manufacturing tasks may be better served by a programmable robot – which will also require less initial investment. We apply our long-standing experience and expertise to help you strategize the best course of action for your business.
From here, we work alongside you and your teams to implement and manage this system. Our robot specialists ensure that you are not only getting the right autonomous system for the job but that you are getting the very best out of the solution.
Are you ready to harness the benefits of robot solutions and systems within your own business? Do you want to learn more about how artificial intelligence can revolutionize your industrial facility?
At PEC, we serve businesses small and large throughout the southern United States. We offer consultation services to help you determine the best way to integrate robot systems into your business. With our help, you can improve productivity, reduce the need for human intervention, and automate material handling tasks – such as autonomous delivery!
Contact us today to schedule a consultation. We look forward to helping you take your business to the next level!