E-commerce Industry’s Growth upsurged over 44% in 2020, and the E-retail sales exceeded over 4.2 trillion U.S dollars worldwide. This phenomenal growth in industry demands the efficient functioning of warehouses. Inefficient picking method, limited workforce, high labor cost, employee safety are some of the chief obstacles in achieving warehouse efficiency.
The Two LA startups, InVia robotics– a provider of next-generation warehouse automation solutions and Rufus Labs -producers of intelligent wearable warehouse technology, have announced their partnership to offer “Picker robots” to meet the rising demand for warehouse productivity
These picker robots are robotics as a service model, which allows the user to pay only for the services of the robots, eluding the costs for robot ownership. It comes with a 10-hour powerful battery with a self-charging feature. It has an extendable lift that can reach up to 7ft, making it easy to work with the upper shelves. It is small in design but operates at a speed of 5mph.
InVia command directs the routes of these compatible picker robots in the warehouses. These robots also come with an industrial suction cup to pick the tote of the ordered goods and hold it securely as they wander through the warehouse. After picking up the tote of the order, it reaches the stationary worker and informs them about the quantities of items to fetch from each tote. After this process, Picker robots carry the totes and rearrange them back on the shelves.
InVia’s pick mate tool, an intelligent interface, assists the employees in picking the items and according to the quantities of the orders, and these metrics display on any smart-screens. Unlike other automation technologies, InVia’s picker robots work independently without waiting for other people to finish their work. It decreases the overall cycle time and helps in reducing the walking time of workers so that they can engage in working with the orders.
InVia’s picker robots can work non-stop. They can run around the clock to arrange the order to be picked up for the next day. It comes with precise accuracy and can double the productivity efficiently.
Lynn Wu, a professor at the Wharton School, specializing in the way new technologies change employment and management practices, said: “Even in the simple tasks of moving products from shelf A to Shelf B, then bringing them to a box, a human has to be involved.” The Startups also proclaimed that their goal is not to replace the human workers but to create an environment in which they work together to achieve overall efficiency.
Picker robots would help to achieve growth in small warehouses by assisting in the rapid delivery process.
Source: DOT.LA
