Agile Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) and Automated Storage & Retrieval (ASRS) for Retail and Omnichannel

Description:

Welcome to our agile AMR, and ASRS systems for retail and omnichannel. We are going to introduce you to several technologies. At the end, we will be reviewing the benefits of each. So, make sure you stick around. Likewise, we will be taking questions at the end of this presentation, or just come to our virtual booth, call, or email us.

I would like to take a moment to level set this presentation. Conveyco is an integrator and represent the best of the best. Our customers business case, and their requirements are our only loyalty. We integrate all facets of a facility, not just one technology. This separates us from the manufacturers which they have a vested interest in what technology you purchase rather than what is best for you.

We use Conveyco’s seven-step methodology to find you, the RightFIT. We start with a deep dive, data analysis. We then move to design objectives to make sure everything is aligned. We evaluate alternative analysis to validate we have the best solution. Then we apply the lens of your business case, to look at all the vital criteria that will assure success including the return on investment.

We create a clear path to success including metrics and dates. Then we create our execution roadmap and lifecycle Nexus which helps assure that this system is going to be running successfully for months, years and even decades.

We have a lot of AMR Technologies at Conveyco. Today, we are going to focus on just a few the Go-Fer Bot… the Exotec Skypod System…   The high-density Stacker-Bot and then the Cube-Bot cube storage system. Each technology is a great hybrid AMR and ASRS system for the RIGHT application and organization.

Software is vital to the success of any AMR and ASRS system application. You will likely be implementing a WES software layer to optimize the AMRs. It is imperative to select a WES that is manufacturer agnostic. You might want to use multiple manufacture’s models and styles within your facility. A WES like Horizon allows you to implement all types of AMRs and other technologies quickly and easily.

The Go-Fer Bot is the first technology to examine. You have AMRs that go under a rack, lift the correct one and then deliver it to a workstation. It presents the bin to the operator to pick using pick to light indicators.  A task complete button is hit, and the bot takes the rack back to storage and a new one slides in for picking.

Some of the Go-Fer Bot’s features and benefits include saving up to two thirds of your labor. A standard workstation will give provide up to 300 lines / per hour / per person. We can turbo charge the workstation and hit up to 1000 lines / per hour / per person with 99.9% accuracy… and not to mention, two thirds the floor space savings and rapid deployment.

There are rack styles and options available.  These are just a few ways of handling inventory in the system. And the important thing is, you can have different styles in the same system and change them as needed.

This is simply illustrating how the Bots queue to eliminate operator wait time. As you can tell, the operator picks from the active bin, then moves to the next rack. No walking and searching.

The Stacker Bot AMR – ASRS system, utilizes totes. The Bot can store single or double deep. Each Bot can store and retrieve up to five totes… simultaneously. The Bot goes up and down the aisles and delivers them to a workstation or conveyor. Multiple Stacker-Bots work together to deliver the totes in the proper sequence and location.

Some of the features and benefits of the Stacker-Bot include spanning up to five meters tall… holds up to five totes at one time.  Can pick up to 400 lines / per hour / per workstation. The Stacker-Bot can double space capacity while reducing labor by 50% and providing up to 99.9% accuracy.

A perfect system for urban low ceiling environments and works great system to use mezzanine and create multiple levels of high-performance operation.

This is the Exotec high density Skypod system. This technology utilizes an AMR called the Skypod which simply goes into the aisle, climbs up the rack, extracts a tote and puts it on its back and brings it down and queue at a workstation ready to be picked.  Once picked, the AMR then returns the tote back to the rack.

Looking at the animation… you have non-powered rack… it is just rack.  The bots simply go up and down the lanes to its position. Then climbs the rack vertically to retrieve the tote. You can simply expand by adding more racks, more workstations, and more bots as your system requirements grow.

The Skypod system can reach up to 39 feet tall and deliver up to 550 lines an hour / per workstation utilizing two thirds less labor. Every Skypod is monitored by a human 24 / 7. So, any glitches, or issues are resolved in seconds and this is done from a central location. The system can utilize single or double deep storage capacity. Likewise, we can integrate robots to eliminate human interaction.

Cube storage systems. Basically, the cube storage system takes everything from a rack brings it into vertical columns. So, everything is stored in a rack structure with hundreds or thousands of vertical columns. The Bots run on the top of the system and dig to find and retrieve the right tote.

The system will provide 40 to 60% high-density storage and deliver up to 250 to 300 lines per hour per workstation. The system uses a natural slotting process in which less used inventory sinks down naturally to the bottom of the system. This system is great for operations who is order profiles are pure Preto and you have 4 to 6 hours to pre-move any SKU not in the top 5 rows.

Let us compare This is where it gets interesting.  When looking at space utilization under 15 feet, we can see that the Go-Fer Bot and Stacker-Bots are winners. When we hit the 15-to-20-foot utilization the Cube Storage system is the winner…  With Exotec Skypod right behind. Looking at up to 39 feet the Exotec Skypod is better than the Cube Storage system for storage density.

Next, we look at throughput. Most of our systems do not require any pre-sorting and sequencing. Their inventory is always accessible. However, the Cube System requires four to six hours to pre-sequence the inventory that is stored below the first five levels. For MRO and some warehouse applications this is fine, but in retail and omnichannel, orders must be taken and filled in the same day and most often within a few hours. Likewise, we look at hot picks. Our first three systems can put an order together in less than 5 minutes. The Cube Storage system speed will depend on whether the order’s required SKUs are in the top five rows or below… and how far below.

Technology integration is good on all the systems.

Maintenance accessibility, all the systems are good, but once again the Cube Storage system’s dense vertical columns make accessing anything in the middle of the system a challenge. The other systems always have their inventory and operations accessible.

Growing the system finds all the technologies very modular and flexible.

And our last criteria, WES reliability and flexibility is a differentiator. Our first three systems utilize a WES that is manufacturer agnostic and delivers a reliable and consistent performance. The Cube Storage systems rely on their integrator partners WES systems. So, if you use a partner with a strong experience, you are likely to be satisfied. If they are new or weak on software, you may be left wanting. Likewise, most of the manufacturer integrators are NOT agnostic and will likely lock you in to their ecosystem whether you like it or not. So, it is necessary to do your due diligence.

Each criteria will have a different value to each organization’s business requirements. IT’S important to really investigate to find your RightFIT solution!