Types of operations carried out by the inventory robots
An example of an indoor application for robots is in inventory management, where robots can operate in areas separated from non-instructed people. These robots are already in use in public warehouses and stores. Inventory robots are responsible for tasks such as counting and refilling stock and inventory. They operate in environments that are typically low in dynamicity and have a wide range of autonomy, from line-guided vehicles and optical markers to free navigation without any artificial marks. Apart from localization and navigation tasks, inventory robots also have versatile grippers that can pick up a wide range of payloads and optical item detection capabilities to ensure proper material flow in a mixed product range.
Level of distributio of inventory robots
Fetch Robotics was one of the first companies to enter the mobile robotic market and commissioned systems for automated "milk-runs." After navigating to the proper inventory, Fetch can autonomously segment and detect items on the shelf, selecting the best one to fulfill the order. Magazino presented a similar system, where their system Toru is an autonomous pick-robot for shoeboxes used at Zalando. Other similar systems were presented by Alibaba Quicktron, GreyOrange, Gideon Brothers, Swisslog CarryPick, and Omron. Mobile manipulators have been offered by various companies to combine the advantages of mobile manipulators and traditional warehouse AMRs. For instance, Boston Dynamics and Otto Motors presented trials of collaboration between a handling robot to pick up boxes and build pallets, and the mobile robot platform Otto to demonstrate how heterogeneous robot teams can speed up warehouse processes.
Robotic solutions for inventories offer several benefits, such as decreasing the need for manual labor for a tedious task and increased inventory accuracy. Additionally, the possibility of 24-hour operation allows for restructuring inventories overnight for a more efficient material flow during the day when human workers are present. The same considerations as in other indoor mobile robotics applications apply. In the case of navigation without optical markers, no adaptations to the environment are required. Incremental installation without overly high initial investments is often possible.
Cost-benefit consideration and marketing challenges for inventory robots
However, marketing challenges may arise when introducing robotic solutions to public spaces, such as shops and stores, and ensuring their safe and autonomous operation.
Robotic solutions for inventories offer significant advantages such as reduced manual labor for tedious tasks and improved inventory accuracy. Moreover, they enable 24/7 operations that facilitate restructuring of inventories overnight, leading to more efficient material flow during the day when human workers are present. Similar considerations to other indoor mobile robotics applications apply, and navigation without optical markers eliminates the need for environmental adaptations. Additionally, these solutions can often be incrementally installed without requiring excessively high initial investments.