ARBO-friendly order picking

Without driver and without damage

Gobotty's new AMR can bring both carts and trolleys to workers. It is one of the features of the new OL 450-S. The AMR picks up carts fitted with crates, providing a flow of goods in and out. The transport is also smart. The software features AI, allowing vehicles to continuously adjust routes themselves when warehouse or production areas call for it.

The AMR is brand new, says Arie Verhoeven, director of Gobotty. “This product, like many of our vehicles, was developed based on challenges faced by the logistics market. There are a lot of companies in the industry where order pickers fill a cart. Once order picking is complete, a vehicle is needed to pick up the collected items at the end of a path and take them to a packing station. In many cases, companies now use forklifts for this purpose, even though they are often too large for the location and therefore not ideal. Besides, just go find forklift drivers.”

As far as Verhoeven is concerned, the OL 450-S is a much more convenient solution for getting goods to employees. “Two customers are already working with the vehicle,” he says. One customer operates in the postal sector; the other is a plant business. At the postal customer, the vehicle checks if cars from the postal company are at the planned location, then scans if the door is open and then places the trolly. At the plant store, the AMR brings trolleys to an employee who can then add a plant to the load. Practical experience shows that unlike forklifts, the autonomous vehicle does not cause damage.

Autonomous and omnidirectional

The AMR is widely applicable and can operate fully autonomously. In addition to mail and flower processing companies, Verhoeven sees applications for automotive and metal goods factories. “But actually this vehicle is suitable for all locations where forklifts are not the ideal solution and employees add value with items from boxes,” he said. The wheels are omnidirectional, allowing the vehicle to move in any direction."

Working at height

What makes the OL 450-S multifunctional is the combination of a solid base, coupled with the smart application of Gobotty and the software-based control equipped with AI. “Employees benefit from the ability to work at height. The vehicle presents the right bucket at the desired height. The OL 450-S can be equipped with a scanner and linked to an MES or WMS system for control.” As far as Verhoeven is concerned, the AMR replaces employees pushing carts in addition to forklifts. “This AMR can lift crates as well as trolleys and take them away, thus taking the walking work away from employees.”

Logistics, manufacturing and flower sector

The AMR incorporates ‘a lot’ of AI, the Gobotty director states. “Upon implementation, we take a scan of the paths at the company and give the vehicle commands. With that, it knows where it can and cannot go. If there is a pallet or fixed object in the way, the AMR tries to avoid it. The vehicle also adjusts the route itself and then improves it in the system.” Verhoeven sees many opportunities to apply the OL 450-S within companies in the manufacturing industry, logistics and also the flower sector. “Not only because of its internal deployability, but the vehicle can also be automatically combined with our solution for outdoor areas, such as the Induros.”