Robotics
With the demand for robotic systems increasing dramatically in the last couple of years, many manufacturers see a good business opportunity in further developing warehouse robotic systems. The end-to-end experience may even extend all the way to your front door soon.
The future is here...Or so they say. Lately, there have been ongoing speculations whether the technological development has advanced in such measurements, that soon enough physical and human labour could be completely replaced by robotic machinery. This is quite expressed in e-commerce, as the business is solely focused on electronic networks. When it comes to e-commerce warehouse, it is safe to say that these humongous storage facilities are certainly in need of some robotic assistance. So is this how the rise of the machines begins or is it simply a much needed innovation in the manufacturing department?
The Beginning
In 2003, after a failed online grocery delivery business, Mick Mountz recognized a need for modification in the flexibility and material handling systems. This is how Kiva Systems were born. This company which manufactures mobile robotic fulfilment systems was bought in 2013 by Amazon, changing its name to Amazon Robotics, making this the second largest acquisition in its history. Today, Amazon uses about 20.000 Kiva robots spread across 10 of Amazon’s warehouses. Its material handling systems are used nowadays by major companies like Office Depot, Walgreens, The Gap, Gilt Group and many more. Of course, this was just the beginning, as many e-commerce businesses have recognized the need of goods-to-person automation and are already developing these autonomous mobile robotic systems.
Leading Robotic Warehouse Systems
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As the demand for these systems has been drastically increasing in the last couple of years, many manufacturers saw a good business opportunity, hence the ever-growing number of start-up companies. When Amazon bought Kiva Systems, many of its customers moved their businesses to alternative systems, Fetch Robotics being one of them. This start up company from Silicon Valley was founded in 2014 and has already developed a complete pick and pack system. Its robotic team consists of a mobile base called Freight whose main goal is to transit objects through the warehouse; and the advanced mobile manipulator Fetch, that can pick up items from the shelf weight up to almost 6 kilos. This robotic team is designed to work alongside human workers, performing all kinds of basic warehouse activities.Beside Fetch Robotics, it is worth to mention Grey Orange, an Indian start-up business with its Butler System. It is designed to pick and transfer portable shelving systems to the Put Station. Also, Hitachi has recently developed a warehouse robot that has the ability to grab items directly from the shelf and place them into the shipping containers. Of course, this is nearly the start of these start up companies, as the e-commerce business is only going to grow more in the next years and soon enough, the robotic systems are truly going to take over the warehouse business in entirety.
Advantages
It is safe to say that with the increased demand for products, online shopping, e-banking and overseas shipping, these enormous companies cannot rely solely on human labour anymore. The benefits of incorporating robotic systems into their field of work are immense. There are many systems that work together with humans like ewp for example, which makes certain operations easier to handle. But, not only are these robots more efficient and perform certain tasks faster than humans, they can also reduce logistic and fulfilment costs. Not only this, but robots can work without breaks, everyday of the week, without requiring any training whatsoever, which represents a major benefit as well. Robotic systems also do not have the need of paid vacations or health insurance, which is also a plus for the financial department. This can be very useful, especially during the holiday seasons, as there will be no need of hiring additional workers. These robots can also perform simple operations and repetitive tasks which could save human workers from fatiguing and tedious work.Complete Automation
Does this mean that soon we will be facing complete automation? Will humans completely be replaced by robotic systems in the near future? Some claim that this outcome is quite possible. After all, the price of robots is decreasing quite drastically and robots which can perform tasks without human interaction are already gaining high recognition in important fields like medicine and agriculture. Amazon has announced using flying drones, which do not require human management. Certainly, this kind of fallout is quite possible, but there are some important questions that will need resolving. What will this mean for the economy? How many people are going to lose their jobs? And does this mean that artificial intelligence will take over the human world?| By Lana Hawkins | Embed |
Author Bio - Lana Hawkins is a student of Architecture from Sydney, Australia. She loves writing about home decor, but her truly passion is landscaping and garden design. She enjoys cooking for her family and friends in her free time.
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