Technology group W"artsil"a, in partnership with logistics company DHL, has successfully completed a pilot in which mobile robots were used to streamline warehouse operations.
According to the companies, mobile robots developed by Fetch Robotics were used to simplify point-to-point material handling at W"artsil"a's warehouse in the Netherlands.
The autonomous mobile robots have a loading capacity of 78kg, and can cover a distance of two metres per second. Workers are able to interact with them via touch-screen, and send them on their journeys at a push of a button.
W"artsil"a and DHL say the aim of the project is to analyse and investigate the potential of using the latest technological innovations in the daily operations of a warehouse environment. The companies say they plan to run a similar pilot project in SA soon.
"There are exciting times ahead as we gear up to work side-by-side with robots in our operations. This technology allows us to seamlessly improve our customers' supply chains, whilst relieving our employees from much of the physical effort and keeping them safer," says Paul Stone, CEO of DHL Supply Chain Africa and MD of DHL South Africa.
The companies say the mobile robot system simplifies tasks, allowing workflows at the warehouse to be set up and modified quickly. The intelligent robots recognise their location and surroundings, and can differentiate between dynamic and static obstacles, enabling them to take evasive action to work safely with and around employees.
"This new generation of smart mobile robots can impact the logistics industry through enhancing people capabilities. They enable people to perform tasks faster and save energy, thus improving efficiency," explains Melonee Wise, CEO of Fetch Robotic.
"Our relationship with DHL is a great accomplishment. We were able to deploy our robots in the facility in a matter of days and rapidly improve on-site productivity, while increasing the safety of warehouse employees."
California-headquartered start-up Fetch Robotics develops and manufactures collaborative, autonomous mobile robot solutions for the warehousing and intralogistic markets. The company uses deep robotics expertise to provide reliable collaborative autonomous mobile robot solutions for material handling and data collection.
DHL says the robots are not intended to replace human talent, but rather to work alongside employees.
"Our colleagues took centre stage during the trial. The robots are designed to work alongside employees, and to relieve them from physically strenuous tasks. The robots alone took over a walking distance of more than 30km per day, thereby increasing productivity and safety within the warehouse working environment," says Denis Niezgoda, robotics accelerator lead, DHL Customer Solutions and Innovation.
W"artsil"a and DHL say they intend to bring the pilot project to SA, to help the local business gain greater understanding of the added value of robotics in a warehouse environment.
"We have had a successful pilot in the Netherlands and the benefits realised are highly rewarding. We would need to pilot the solution in the South African market to see if similar benefits can be realised before we can firm up deployment plans," concludes Stone.
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