AMRs help eliminate manual processes in autonomous RFID inventory system

Self-navigating mobile robotic technologies, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), can help support a variety of payloads and provide a foundation to verify contents of warehouse containers.

By Kyle O'Brien February 2, 2023
Courtesy: Omron Automation

Autonomous mobile robot insights

  • Autonomous mobile robots are designed with built-in safety features that can carry large amounts of weight and are useful in logistics and warehousing operations.
  • AMRs are designed to move autonomously through dynamic and peopled environments without facility modifications after being taught by a programmer.

T&W Operations provides smart radio frequency identification (RFID) inventory products and looked automate all manual and forklift-dependent processes for shipping/receiving and warehousing. Building upon earlier versions, the company used autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to replace all manual processes. Both applications — the shipping/receiving RFID system and the manufacturing RFID system are autonomous.

Heavy-payload AMRs with RFID, safe navigation enabled the company to build a complete, labor cost reduction solution for warehouses, improving accuracy and cleanliness in logistics and warehousing facilities while mitigating the challenges of today’s labor shortage. Key benefits of the new solution include:

  • A hands-off RFID verification application. Whether it’s quality system checks, manifest generation, or another need, the AMRs facilitate an automated conveyor system.

  • Mobile bases that safely carry heavy payloads. The AMRs have built-in safety features that can carry more than 3300 lb, including T&W’s expandable towers that reach up to 30 feet.

  • Mapping technology that responds to obstacles in real time. The AMRs have self-navigating software that detects objects in the way and finds the easiest way to get around them, ensuring safe movement around human workers.

Leveraging RFID with automation

T&W’s original Tower Inventory System (TIS) required a few manual and forklift-operated processes. To make it easier for customers to implement RFID-based content verification, the company used AMR technology as a foundation for the T&W Expandable Robotic Tower Inventory System (TIS-ER).

Figure 1: The T&W Expandable Robotic Tower Inventory System (TIS-ER) uses Omron Automation LD-250 mobile robot with a payload of up to 120 kg (265 lb) for a reach of 10 ft, and the Omron HD-1500 heavy-duty mobile robot with a payload of 1500 kg (3307 lb) for a reach of 30 ft. The mobile “tower” travels autonomously through warehouse aisles, collecting RFID tag data and communicating to the warehouse management system. Courtesy: Omron Automation

Two AMRs were used for the inventory system, one of which used the Omron LD-250, a mobile robot with a payload of up to 120 kg (265 lb). The system can expand to a height of 10 feet, all of which is mounted atop the LD-250 to operate in warehouses with inventory racks less than 10 feet tall.

For warehouses with higher racks, another version used the Omron HD-1500, a heavy-duty mobile robot with a payload of 1500 kg (3307 lb), which supports a system that can expand to heights of 30 feet. This provides benefits to warehouses with tall racks since all inventories can be scanned and analyzed in one sitting. While the AMR moves, the tower adjusts to varying rack and ceiling heights.

T&W also created an AMR-based product to help customers use RFID in the manufacturing space. The AMR is fitted with a powered conveyor that picks up containers while contents are validated against a contents database to ensure the package contains items needed for the next operation.

Once this operation is complete, the robot retrieves the container via the automated conveyor and proceeds to the RFID portal where the contents are verified without human interaction.

Figure 2: T&W’s TIS-ER is designed to retrieve the container via the automated conveyor and proceeds to the RFID portal where the contents are again verified without human interaction. Courtesy: Omron Automation

Autonomous mobile robots use navigation software, avoid obstacles respond to a dynamic real-time environment

AMRs are designed to move autonomously through dynamic and peopled environments without requiring any facility modifications. After an initial “teaching” session in which an operator directs an AMR to create a map of the facility, the onboard self-navigating software will determine the best routes to reach a given destination and identify any unexpected obstacles in the way. AMRs can work as part of a coordinated fleet.

AMRs are easy to setup and are flexible for re-deployment amid any changes to warehouse layout, maximizing space usage. Since they have built-in, safety-rated laser scanners and are programmed with safety settings that prevent collisions with obstacles (including humans), they can operate in close proximity to human workers and other equipment to decrease risk of injury or damage.

The AMR-based products also help maintain cleanliness while maintaining 100% inventory accuracy by eliminating human interaction. They let warehouse associates to engage in more fulfilling and creative tasks by leaving routine contents verification work to an autonomous system.

Kyle O’Brien is industry manager – logistic at Omron Automation. Edited by Chris Vavra, web content manager, Control Engineering, CFE Media and Technology, cvavra@cfemedia.com.