AMRs The Future Automation Solution for Warehouses

The future of automation solutions for warehouses, Distribution centers and factories is Mobile Automation instead of relying on fixed automation systems, most notably?Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs).

Market research firm Interact Analysis predicts more than 4 million AMRs will be deployed globally by the end of 2027, with the segment growing between 30% and 40% through the forecast period. Besides AMRs, growth is also expected for automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous lift trucks.

In short, much of the automation going into warehouses and plants will be mobile. That fact begs the question: Are the wireless networks and charging infrastructure deployed today ready for this future?

Providers of cellular network technology and wireless charging solutions say operations need to assess whether they have the right communications and charging infrastructure in place to support all the robots that are going to be zipping around a site.

New networks and charging won’t take hold overnight, though some companies are diving in to modernize the communications and charging infrastructure that mobile robots and AGVs need to keep running smoothly.

AMR providers say they typically can get good connectivity with most WiFi networks, though some may need to be tweaked to achieve adequate signal. As for chargers, while robotics vendors typically provide chargers, now vendors are specializing in wireless chargers that promise advantages over contact-based units.