Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024 - MD-8

MiR Insights software helps track KPIs, identify issues, and correlate data across robot fleets, while heatmaps
provide intuitive visual details for monitoring and optimization. (Image: MiR)
Adaptable AMRs Enable a Wide
Range of Applications
As AMRs become pervasive worldwide,
innovative new top modules make
these automation workhorses applicable
for an even wider range of applications.
Flexible and adaptable AMRs provide
a powerful platform with an open interface
that allows the robots to be
customized to fit many different workflows.
These nine typical applications
with different top modules illustrate how
companies can optimize workflows from
warehouse to assembly line.
Karakuri System: For fully automated
solutions, companies integrate
a Karakuri system on top of an AMR.
This gravity-based system with mechanical
linkages allows the rack to offload
and onload onto the robot. A Karakuri
system can fully automate the process
of loading and unloading onto an assembly
line for maximum efficiency. If
the mobile robot is integrated into the
ERP system, this solution can eliminate
human interference as the robot is
automatically summoned, connects to
the fixed Karakuri system, and loads
and offloads.
Conveyors: When AMRs are deployed
with a conveyor top module, they can
work as the adaptable link to fixed conveyors.
This is often part of a fully automated
solution where the AMR moves
sub-assemblies from warehouse to production
or between assembly lines. This
adds flexibility and agility, as the AMRs'
routes and positions can be quickly
adapted as needed. Heavy-duty conveyor
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top modules broaden the use of AMRs
even for large products delivered to
finished goods.
Towing: An AMR equipped with a
hook top module can automatically pick
up, transport, and drop off carts, identifying
them by April Tags or QR codes.
This versatile system can collect existing
carts of different sizes and heights.
Pallet Lifts: Heavy-duty AMRs can
take over pallet movement with customized
pallet lifts and racks. This helps
reduce safety hazards of forklifts in populated
areas.
Static Racks and Shelves: Shelf units
are a simple and cost-effective way to
automate the transportation from warehouse
to assembly line. Shelves or racks
can be purchased or built on-site, matching
existing formats, and are simply
mounted on the robot with four bolts.
Forvia uses a fleet of mobile Krakuri robot system to
pick up monoliths in its warehouse. The robots then
transport the monoliths over a long distance and
deliver them to production, where they pick up
empty boxes. They run 24x7, ensuring consistent
material delivery for maximum operational uptime.
(Image: MiR)
Static shelves are mostly used in semi-automated
solutions where an employee
summons the mobile robot via the robot's
interface on a tablet, fills the shelves
with material and sends it on its way.
Mobile Cobots: Exciting new applications
use a collaborative robot arm
mounted on an AMR to automate tasks
such as machine tending. The AMR allows
a single robot arm to manage multiple
machines for maximum utilization.
Carts: Shelf carrier top modules allow
AMRs to autonomously pick up, transport,
and deliver existing internal carts
and bins. The robot maneuvers under
the cart and lifts it to transport entire
carts with raw materials from the warehouse
to production, pick up empty
carts and take them back to the warehouse,
or take a new cart with other
sub-assemblies to another assembly line.
Automotive supplier Valeo transports small parts using a MiR250 robot that tows specialty designed carts with
racks using an attached hook. (Image: MiR)
Motion Design, April 2024

Tech Briefs Magazine - April 2024

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