The need for robotics has skyrocketed in recent years. Distribution centers need to add flexibility and scalability while reducing labor, and robotics can do just that.

Robotics and automation providers offer a range of applications for distribution and fulfillment that are now tried and true. Costs have come down and companies can see ROI within a year of their investment.

For high and low volumes and for almost all product types, there is an application of robotics with the flexibility and ROI you need.

Early adopters can attest to the successful application of robots used to improve pick, pack and ship operations.

Robotics often takes the place of traditional material handling equipment such as conveyor. Conveyor is a permanent, fixed-in-place solution which entails long lead times for implementation. Robots, on the other hand, can be deployed with relative ease, and the number or robots can be increased or decreased to accommodate forecasts. Companies also have the option of acquiring robots through a lease or subscription service, known as Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS), for additional flexibility and scalability.

Following is a brief overview of the types of robotics solutions available for the supply chain today.

Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) – An AMR is an automated load-carrying robot which operates on typical floors and sometimes in areas shared by pedestrians. An AMR carries a tote, batch of totes or a pallet depending on whether it is a pick-assist AMR or pallet-handling AMR. Some specialized models carry multiple levels of totes or cartons and operate as mobile AS/RS mini-load cranes (discussed later).

Goods-To-Person Pick Systems (GTP) – GTP are systems designed to utilize building vertical space and separate the robots from the pickers. The robots are tasked with bringing inventory bins to pickers and taking inventory totes back to an active pick storage location. GTP are like shuttle systems but without the constraints of shuttle being bound and captive to an aisle or level.

Pick and Place Robotic Arms – When it comes to unit picking, Pick and Place Robotic Arms include vision systems and gripper technology to pick individual units out of one carrier or tote into another. They are also successfully used to induct individual units onto sorters or to automate a put-wall. There are versions of robot arms that are mounted onto AMRs and are mobile, but most applications are for robot arms that are in a fixed location surrounded by a safe envelope to protect people. Robot arms are also commonly used in palletizing and de-palletizing processes or layer picking operations.