Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) have proven to increase the productivity and reduce the cost of warehouse automation operations. While the costs of AMRs continue to drop, even as their capabilities increase, there are often hidden, and sizable, costs associated with their deployment. Heres what to look for, and how to mitigate their impact.
By Jason Walker | July 29, 2020
You may be looking to accelerate your automation projects to increase safety and adjust to new demands. Because of their versatility, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) have become the preferred method for automated material handling versus inflexible AGVs or fixed conveyors.
Intangibles Have ConsequencesIf you are considering employing AMRs, you are likely started researching different models and price points to fit your operation and budget. In recent years, AMR capabilities have increased while unit costs have come down making them a real possibility for small and medium-sized businesses. But there are hidden costs to consider, which can delay deployment and reduce the AMRs value to workers and the organization as a whole.
When adding an AMR to your operations, it is vital that you account for both initial, and ongoing, setup, deployment, and reconfiguration efforts that can become expensive if the robot is not easy to use.
As frustration mounts, deployment delays can occur, adding further risk and cost to the overall project.The workforce should be collaborating with the robot, so how will they control the robot? The workers who set up, deploy, and test the AMRs should be empowered to configure the user interfaces too. They will know better than anyone how to set up those devices. But that only works if the devices are accessible to them and easy to master.
How to Get the Most From Your AMRTo realize an AMRs full potential and avoid unexpected costs, look for easy-to-use mobile robots that are designed for the workforce who are on the job today. For this, I recommend paying close attention to the following:
Investing in better tools for workers will make it easier to attract and retain other great workers.
Benefits Beyond Traditional ROIChoosing easy to use mobile robots designed for the workforce will benefit them and impact their company in ways that go far beyond traditional ROI calculations. Workers will be able to put these tools to work immediately and minimize lost time for extensive training.
Workers using great tools are more engaged in their work. They can focus on valuable tasks and leave the monotonous, backbreaking work to the robot. They go home daily with more energy for their families and have a better quality of life. Investing in better tools for workers will make it easier to attract and retain other great workers.
In short, the value of an AMR can extend far beyond automated material handling, but to realize these gains requires a system that can be quickly and easily operated by workers on the job today.
Editors Note: Robotics Business Review would like to thank Waypoint Robotics for permission to publish this piece (lightly edited). The original can be found HERE. All views, thoughts, and opinions expressed therein belong solely to the author.
About the AuthorJason Walker is the CEO and Co-founder of Waypoint Robotics, which develops and manufactures fully autonomous mobile robots that are easy to use, industrial strength, and designed to be setup and used by the workforce that is on the job today. Prior to founding Waypoint, Walker was the Co-founder and Director of Operations at CyPhy Works where he served as Lead Roboticist and Principal Investigator for CyPhy Works contracts with agencies such as DARPA, NIST, and the National Science Foundation. Walker helped grow CyPhy Works into a leading tethered drone supplier in North America. Before co-founding CyPhy Works, he was the quality, reliability, and testing manager for the Roomba vacuuming robot at iRobot. Walker received a BSEE with a concentration in Robotics and Control Systems from Kansas State University and is a lifelong entrepreneur.
https://twitter.com/ImRobotMechanichttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonwalkerlinkedin/
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The Hidden Costs of Autonomous Mobile Robots - And How to Avoid Them - Robotics Business Review
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